[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 2825-2826]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 PAYING TRIBUTE TO SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE ARMY KENNETH O. PRESTON'S 35 
                     YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR NATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. C.W. BILL YOUNG

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 28, 2011

  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Sergeant 
Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston for his extraordinary dedication 
to duty and service to the United States of America. Sergeant Major 
Preston, the 13th Sergeant Major of the Army, will retire from active 
military duty in March after 35 distinguished years of service to the 
United States Army.
  Sergeant Major of the Army Preston is a native of Mount Savage, 
Maryland and was born in February 1957. He entered the Army in

[[Page 2826]]

June of 1975 as a Cavalry Scout, hoping to save enough money for 
college to become an architect. After serving his first enlistment, he 
and his family decided to pursue a career in the Army. He has served in 
every enlisted leadership position including cavalry scout, Platoon 
Sergeant, First Sergeant, tank commander, and Command Sergeant Major. 
He was selected as the Command Sergeant Major of the 1st Armored 
Division and V Corps in Germany. Prior to his current assignment, he 
was the Command Sergeant Major for Combined Joint Task Force 7 during 
Operation Iraqi Freedom and was instrumental in executing the invasion 
into Iraq.
  Kenneth Preston has been awarded numerous personal awards and 
decorations during his career. The Legion of Merit Medal (with oak leaf 
cluster), the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (with 
three oak leaf clusters), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the 
Army Commendation Medal (with three oak leaf clusters), the Army 
Achievement Medal (with two oak leaf clusters), the Army Good Conduct 
Medal (with silver knot and three bronze knots), the National Defense 
Service Ribbon (with one bronze service star), the Southwest Asia 
Service Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism 
Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the 
Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (with award 
numeral 4), the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Ribbons (with award 
numeral four), the NATO Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Government 
of Kuwait), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with oak leaf cluster), 
the Army Meritorious Unit Commendation, and the Department of the Army 
Staff Badge.
  Mr. Speaker, It has been a pleasure to work closely with Sergeant 
Major Preston over the last seven years of his career as he has served 
in the highest enlisted position attainable in the Army. He has proven 
himself to be a tremendous wartime leader who demonstrated unselfish 
devotion to the Nation and the soldiers he leads. He has been a friend 
and trusted advisor to my colleagues and I on the Appropriations 
Committee as he worked tirelessly to restore balance to a force 
stressed by the demands of the war on terrorism. He was instrumental in 
significantly improving our Soldiers' uniform, equipment--and most 
importantly--professional Non-Commissioned Officer Education System. 
The impact of his efforts will benefit the Army for decades to come. 
His personal leadership contributed to building the most professional 
Non-Commissioned Officer Corps in the world. As the highest enlisted 
Soldier, he ensured our Soldiers remained true to the core Army Values: 
Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal 
Courage. His focus on adherence to discipline and high upkeep of Army 
standards have led to the successful execution of wars in Iraq and 
Afghanistan.
  Sergeant Major of the Army Preston and Chief of the Staff of the Army 
General George Casey Jr. worked together tirelessly to increase support 
for families by implementing the Army Family Covenant and the Army 
Community Covenant to expand and improve services and raise awareness 
about the unique challenges military families face. His observations 
and advice to the Army leadership have impacted the decisions to 
implement the most comprehensive transformation of the Army since World 
War II, building versatile and modular units capable of conducting a 
full-spectrum of operations.
  This Non-Commissioned Officer has continued the traditions of the 
Best Warrior Competition that was introduced in 2002. He ensured that 
Soldiers from any military occupational specialty, male or female, 
could compete and win. The motivation, discipline and focus of these 
competitors, from across the Army, is a direct result of his presence, 
support and leadership.
  Sergeant Major of the Army Preston's most important contribution was 
through his direct involvement with the Non-Commissioned Officer 
Professional Development Education System. He oversaw the greatest 
transformation of the Non-Commissioned Officer Education System since 
its advent. He encouraged distributed learning, allowing Soldiers the 
capability of taking classes online, affording them more time at home 
with their families. The Advanced and Senior Leader Courses are now 
closer in line with what our leaders require in Afghanistan and Iraq. 
With the introduction of the Structured Self-Development online module 
system, Soldiers are ensured the best training and education.
  Kenneth Preston is an American hero who has been selfless in his 
service to the Nation through war, peace, and personal trial. His 
performance and accomplishments throughout his long and distinguished 
career have left a legacy of training, professional education, and care 
for families that is without equal. When history looks back at the 13th 
Sergeant Major of the Army, it will be clear that his abilities as a 
trainer, leader and senior enlisted advisor were a fitting tribute to 
the professionalism of the best Non-Commissioned Officer Corps in the 
world.
  Mr. Speaker, On behalf of a grateful Nation, I join my colleagues 
today in saying thank you to Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. 
Preston for his extraordinary dedication to duty and service to this 
country throughout his distinguished career in the United States Army 
and we wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.

                          ____________________