SERGEANT MAJOR ROBERT M. KEITH

Command Sergeant Major Robert M. Keith was born in Cambridge, England. He grew up in New Hampshire and graduated from Portsmouth High School. He began his service at FT Benning, Georgia in One Station Unit Training with Bravo Company, 2^nd Battalion, 54^th Infantry Regiment graduating in March of 1994 as an 11M Infantryman.

Command Sergeant Major Keith has held a variety of duty positions throughout his career ranging from Riflemen, M249 Squad Automatic Rifleman, Bradley Fighting Vehicle Driver, Bradley Fighting Vehicle Gunner, Team Leader, Squad Leader, Weapons Squad Leader, Section Sergeant, Master Gunner, Platoon Sergeant, Operations Sergeant, Rifle Company First Sergeant, HHC First Sergeant, Squadron Operation Sergeant Major, Brigade Operation Sergeant Major, and Command Sergeant Major.

His initial assignment was to Fort Knox, Kentucky with the 194^th Armored Brigade, where he served with 4^th Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 2^nd Battalion, 33^rd Armor Regiment, and finally with the 4^th Squadron, 16^th  Cavalry Regiment. He was then assigned overseas to Vilseck, Germany with 2^nd Battalion, 2^nd Infantry Regiment. Next, Command Sergeant Major Keith was transferred to Fort Stewart, Georgia, where he served with the 3^rd Battalion, 7^th Infantry Regiment, 4^th Battalion, 64^th Armor Regiment and 3^rd Battalion, 15^th Infantry Regiment. This was followed by an assignment to Fort Bliss, Texas with the 1^st Squadron, 13^th Cavalry Regiment and later to the 3^rd Brigade Headquarters.  His previous two command assignments were with 2d Battalion, 34^th Armor at Fort Riley, KS and 1^st Battalion, 393^rd INF Regiment at Fort Hood, TX. His operational deployments include five tours in Iraq in support Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn and Operation Inherent Resolve. In addition, he also deployed to Bosnia, Herzegovina (SFOR), Kosovo (KFOR) and Kuwait in support of Operation Spartan Shield.

Command Sergeant Major Keith is a graduate of every NCOES school from Basic Leader Course to the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy Non-Residence Course (Class 39). He is also a graduate of the Senior Instructor Operator Course, Unit Conduct of Fire Trainer, Combat Life Saver Course, Combatives, Level I and Level II, Bradley Fighting Vehicle Organizational Maintenance Course, Defense Reutilization/Marketing System, and Air Assault School.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (4^th Award), Meritorious Service Medal (5^th Award), Army Commendation Medal (2^nd Award), Army Achievement Medal (12^th Award), Good Conduct Medal (7^th Award), National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with seven Campaign Stars, Kosovo Campaign Medal with one Bronze Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 5), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (Numeral 4), NATO Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Army Valorous Unit Award, Army Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Superior Unit Award, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Driver’s Badge, Gold German Proficiency Badge, Silver German Marksmanship Badge, and the Air Assault Badge. He is also a recipient of the National Infantry Association's Order of Saint Maurice (Centurion), the Noble Patron of Armor and the distinguished Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.

Command Sergeant Major Keith is married to the former Nadine Ballweiser, from Germany. They have two children, Shane (15) and Mia (13).