West Ala. native Army's top enlisted

Command Sergeant Major Michael A. Grinston has been selected to become the 16th sergeant major of the Army. The decorated Ranger-tabbed artilleryman, who deployed in support of nearly every major combat operation that has taken place over the course of his career, hails from Jasper, Ala., about 110 miles east-north-east of Columbus, Miss. Grinston, who currently is command sergeant major for the Army Forces Command, will succeed Sgt. Maj. Daniel Dailey as the Army's top enlisted soldier, and will assume the post Aug. 16. CSM Grinston's deployments include Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Kosovo. He deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom twice each, and returned in 2015 from the Army’s first deployment of a division HQ in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq. His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and 5 Bronze Stars (with 2 'V' devices). He has earned the Ranger tab, Master Parachutist badge, Air Assault badge, Drill Sergeant identification badge, and the Combat Action Badge. He has attended every level of the Noncommissioned Officer Education System and is a graduate of Ranger, Airborne, and Air Assault Schools. He is also a graduate of Drill Sergeant School and the Equal Opportunity Course. (Source: Military.com 06/11/19) Gulf Coast Note: The Army’s Ranger School is a 61-day combat leadership course oriented toward small-unit tactics. Ranger training is conducted in three phases: The initial phase is conducted at Camp Rogers and Camp Darby at Fort Benning, Ga.; mountain training at Camp Merrill near Dahlonega, Ga.; and swamp training at Biancur Field at Camp James E. Rudder located on the Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., reservation.