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. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 480 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (576 × 720 pixel, file size: 306 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Sergeant of the Army Kenneth O. Preston Secondary source: http://www. ... See also: 2003 invasion of Iraq and Gulf War (disambiguation) C Company, 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, 1st UK Armoured Division The Persian Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of 34 nations led by the United States. ... For other uses of the term, see Iraq war (disambiguation) The 2003 invasion of Iraq (also called the 2nd or 3rd Persian Gulf War) began on March 20, 2003, when forces belonging primarily to the United States and the United Kingdom invaded Iraq arguably without the explicit backing of the... The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. ... The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration and is the fourth highest award for bravery, heroism or meritorious service. ... The Meritorious Service Medal is a senior level military decoration presented to denote acts of non-combat meritorious service worthy of recognition. ... The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military award which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. ... The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military award which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. ... The Achievement Medal is the lowest of the United States military’s non-combat meritorious service medals. ... is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ... Sergeant Major of the Army insignia (U.S. Army) Sergeant Major of the Army flag (U.S. Army) The Sergeant Major of the Army is a unique rank in the United States Army. ... is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Cavalry Scout (or MOS 19-D) is a job title in the United States Army and originated with the United States Cavalry. ... This article is about a military rank and position. ... This article is about a military rank and position. ...

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. The Flag of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army The Chief of Staff of the United States Army (CSA) is the professional head of the United States Army who is responsible for ensuring readiness of the Army. ... In military service, an enlisted rank is generally any rating below that of a commissioned officer. ... The Congress of the United States is the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States of America. ...

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. Mount Savage is an unincorporated town in Allegany County, Maryland. ... is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... U.S. Army recruits learn about bayonet fighting skills in an infantry Basic Combat Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. ... This article is about United States Army post. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ...

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. The 8th Cavalry Regiment was organized as a regiment on 21 September 1866 at Angel Island, California. ... The 1st Cavalry Division (1st Cav Div) is a heavy armored division of the United States Army with base of operations in Fort Hood, Texas. ... Fort Hood, named after Confederate General John Bell Hood, is a U.S. Army post located halfway between Austin and Waco within the U.S. state of Texas. ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Shoulder sleeve patch of the United States Army 1st Armored Division, the Old Ironsides. ... Bad Kreuznach is the capital of the district of Bad Kreuznach, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. ... Map of Germany showing Heidelberg Heidelberg (halfway between Stuttgart and Frankfurt) is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. ...

His most recent assignment was as the command sergeant major for Combined Joint Task Force 7 serving in Baghdad, Iraq. A street map of Baghdad Baghdad (بغداد) is the capital of Iraq and the Baghdad Province. ...

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. The M1 Abrams main battle tank is the principal combat tank of the United States Army, the United States Marine Corps and the Australian Army, with three main versions being deployed starting in 1980: the M1, M1A1, and M1A2. ... The United States Army Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA) was established on July 1, 1972 at Fort Bliss, Texas, and began instruction in January 1973. ...

His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (w/oak leaf cluster), the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (w/three oak leaf clusters), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (w/four oak leaf clusters), Army Achievement Medal (w/two oak leaf clusters), Good Conduct Medal (nine awards), National Defense Service Medal (w/bronze service star), Southwest Asia Service Medal (w/oak leaf cluster), Kosovo Campaign Medal (w/oak leaf cluster), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (w/numeral 4), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (w/numeral 5), NATO Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), Joint Meritorious Unit Award (w/oak leaf cluster) and the Army Meritorious Unit Commendation. The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. ... Bronze and Silver oak leaf clusters An Oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on military awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. ... The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration and is the fourth highest award for bravery, heroism or meritorious service. ... The Meritorious Service Medal is a military award presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding non-combat meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969. ... The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military award which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. ... The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military award which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. ... The Achievement Medal is the lowest of the United States military’s non-combat meritorious service medals. ... The Good Conduct Medal is one of the oldest military decorations of the United States military. ... Ribbon for the National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal is a military decoration of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. ... The Southwest Asia Service Medal is a military decoration of the United States armed forces which was created by order of President George Bush on March 12, 1991. ... The Kosovo Campaign Medal is a military decoration of the United States armed forces which was established by Presidential Order of William J. Clinton on May 3, 2000. ... The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM) is a military decoration of the United States armed forces which was created by Presidential Order of George W. Bush in March 2003. ... The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal is a military decoration of the United States military which was created by Presidential Order of George W. Bush in March 2003. ... NCO Development Ribbons A Non-Commissioned Officer Development Ribbon is an award issued by the United States Army and Air Force to recognize those non-commissioned officers who have completed a prescribed leadership course at an NCO training school. ... Award numerals are decorations of the United States military which are attachments to certain ribbons and awards. ... The Army Service Ribbon is a military decoration of the United States Army which was created in 1981. ... An Overseas Service Ribbon is a decoration of the United States military which recognizes those service members who have performed military tours of duty outside the borders of the United States of America. ... NATO Medals for Yugoslavia and Kosovo The NATO Medal is an international military decoration which is awarded to various militaries of the world under the authority of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. ... Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), Fifth Class Ribbon The Wisam al-Tahir (Liberation Medal) was issued by the government of Kuwait for service during the Liberation of Kuwait campaign. ... The Joint Meritorious Unit Award is a military award that was established on June 4, 1981 by Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger and was implemented by Department of Defense Directive 1348. ... The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions. ...

He and his wife have three children.

Reference

• US Army Site
• SMA tours Iraq with message of Transformation

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