Kenneth Preston
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| Kenneth O. Preston | |
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| Born February 18, 1957 | |
 Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston |
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| Place of birth | Mount Savage, Maryland |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/branch |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1975-present |
| Rank |  Sergeant Major of the Army |
| Battles/wars | Desert Storm Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| Awards | Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Meritorious Service Medal (4) Joint Service Commendation Medal Army Commendation Medal (5) Army Achievement Medal (3) |
Kenneth O. Preston (born February 18, 1957) is the current Sergeant Major of the Army in the United States. He was sworn in as the 13th Sergeant Major of the Army on January 15, 2004. SMA Preston has held a variety of leadership positions throughout his career ranging from Cavalry Scout to Sergeant Major and Command Sergeant Major.
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[edit] Early life
Preston is a native of Mount Savage, Maryland, and entered the Army on June 30, 1975. He attended Basic Training and Armor Advanced Individual Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
[edit] Military career
As Sergeant Major of the Army, Preston serves as the Army Chief of Staff's personal adviser on all enlisted-related matters, particularly in areas affecting soldier training and quality of life. He devotes the majority of his time to traveling throughout the Army observing training, and talking to Soldiers and their families. He sits on a wide variety of councils and boards that make decisions affecting enlisted Soldiers and their families and is routinely invited to testify before Congress.
Throughout his 30-year career, he has served in every enlisted leadership position from cavalry scout and tank commander to his current position as Sergeant Major of the Army. Other assignments he held as command sergeant major were 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, 3rd "Grey Wolf" Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 1st Armored Division in Bad Kreuznach, Germany, and V Corps in Heidelberg, Germany.
His most recent assignment was as the command sergeant major for Combined Joint Task Force 7 serving in Baghdad, Iraq.
[edit] Military education
His military education includes Basic Noncommissioned Officer's Course, Advanced Noncommissioned Officer's Course, First Sergeant's Course, M1/M1A1 Tank Master Gunner Course, Master Fitness Trainer Course, Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer's Course, and the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy.
[edit] Awards and decorations
Expert Marksmanship Badge with Rifle and Pistol bars
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Legion of Merit (with one bronze oak leaf cluster) |
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Bronze Star Medal |
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Meritorious Service Medal (with three oak leaf clusters) |
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Joint Service Commendation Medal |
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Army Commendation Medal (with four oak leaf clusters) |
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Army Achievement Medal (with two oak leaf clusters) |
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Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with oak leaf cluster) |
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Meritorious Unit Commendation |
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Army Good Conduct Medal (with 11 awards) |
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National Defense Service Medal (with one bronze service star) |
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Southwest Asia Service Medal (with bronze service star) |
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Kosovo Campaign Medal (with bronze service star) |
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Iraq Campaign Medal |
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Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |
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NCO Professional Development Ribbon (with award numeral 4) |
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Army Service Ribbon |
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Overseas Service Ribbon (with award numeral 5) |
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NATO Medal for Kosovo |
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Kuwait Liberation Medal |
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3 Overseas Service Bars |
[edit] References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kenneth Preston |
This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "[1]".
- Sergeants Major of the Army. CMH Pub. 70-63-1. By CSM Daniel K. Elder, et al. Describes the origin and growth of the Office of the Sergeant Major of the Army. Includes biographies of each of the Sergeants Major of the Army.
| Preceded by Jack L. Tilley |
Sergeant Major of the Army 2004—present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
