720th

720th

        I attended basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey from August to October 1975 and Advanced Individual Training at Fort McClellan, Alabama from October to December 1975. My first assignment was to Germany from January 1976 to January 1979.  I was promoted to sergeant before leaving Germany in 1979.  I arrived in Washington, D.C. and worked for a Joint Service Command, The Armed Forces Police Detachment until August 1979.  I reenlisted for Panama, C.A. where I served during the transition of the Panama Canal under President Jimmy Carter from August 1979 to July 1982.  I departed Panama for Recruiting duty in Altoona, Pennsylvania where I served until 1985 and was promoted to Staff Sergeant. I was further assigned to West Berlin, Germany from July 1985 to July 1988 and promoted to Sergeant First Class. It was there that I provided security to President Reagan during his visit and the Wall Speech. As a matter of history, I was standing right behind the bullet-proof glass barrier during the speech.

        Upon leaving West Berlin, I was assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky and the 101st Airborne Division. I served there from 1988 to 1992, where I participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. I received an assignment to South Korea from July 1992 to July 1993, where I was promoted to First Sergeant and ran a company of 182 American and Korean soldiers.  I returned to the United States with an assignment to El Paso, Texas and Fort Bliss.  I preformed duties as First Sergeant of the 978th Military Police Company and deployed to Saudi Arabia/Kuwait for a second time.  I served at Fort Blisss from July 1993 to August 1996, where I was selected for promotion to Staff Sergeant Major and attend Class 47 at the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Fort Bliss, Texas. I was graduated in May 1997 and further assigned to the 519th Military Police Battalion, Fort Polk, Louisiana, where I served as the Battalion Operations Sergeant Major.  I was laterally promoted to Command Sergeant Major and assigned to the 720th Military Police Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas, where served from February 1999 to February 2001.  I received orders for assignment to Germany to the 95th Military Police Battalion, Mannheim, Germany which is my current assignment.  I have just recently been notified that I had been chosen to be the brigade command sergeant major to the 18th Military Police Brigade with an assigned strength of almost 1200 soldiers.

        I have been awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (6th Award), the Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award) the Army Achievement Medal (2nd Award), the Army of Occupation Medal (Berlin), the Kuwait Liberation Medal, Southwest Asian Medal (3 Stars) Saudi Arabia Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal (8th Award) and other awards and decorations.

        I have earned an Associates Degree in Training Management, plus an additional year towards a Bachelors in Education.  I was selected as the Junior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year in 1981 for the Law Enforcement Command, Panama. I was recognized as one of the Top 56 Recruiters of the Year for 1982, I was the Honor Graduate of My Advanced Noncommissioned Officers Course in 1986 at Fort McClellan, Alabama.  I was nominated and was awarded recognition as An Outstanding Young American in 1986.

        My most prized personal achievement was that I coached a Military Police Team to compete in and win the 1999 Annual Military Police War fighter Competition at Fort McClellan, Alabama which recognizes the best Military Police Team in the Army through a arduous three day competition against 42 other teams from around the world.

        I am married to the former Ms Barbara Luna of Whittier, California and I have two boys, Eric Scott, age 21, and Brian David, age 17.

        That about sums up a 26-year career, but it doesn't illustrate the countless countries I have travelled to or the historical events I have participated in.

        As a personal note to my fellow citizens, I chose a military career out of a great sense of patriotism and commitment to protecting my fellow countrymen and family. During these stressful times, know that the military feels the hurt and pain that has come from the horrific attacks on American and my fellow soldiers and I are readied to protect and defend you.  I have put myself in harms way in the past without regard for my own safety and stand to do it again for the sake of defending our country.  It is the course in life I selected and feel honored to be one who hopes that we will bring back your sense of security and freedom we all hold so dearly.