[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Pages 3891-3892]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE TO SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE ARMY KENNETH O. PRESTON

 Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, on behalf of myself and my cochair 
of the Army Caucus, the junior Senator from Hawaii, Mr. Daniel Akaka, I 
congratulate Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston for his 
extraordinary dedication to duty and service to the United States as 
the 13th Sergeant Major of the Army. Sergeant Major of the Army Preston 
is retiring after 36 distinguished years of service.
  Sergeant Major Preston is a native of Mount Savage, MD. He entered 
the Army as a cavalry scout in June 1975, and has served in every 
enlisted leadership position, including cavalry scout, platoon 
sergeant, and tank commander. He served as Command Sergeant Major of 
the 1st Armored Division, V Corps in Germany and the Combined Joint 
Task Force 7 in Baghdad, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he 
was an instrumental leader during the invasion of Iraq.
  In 1975, Sergeant Major Preston was a member of the 1st Cavalry 
Division, as they were transforming from an Air Cavalry Division to a 
Heavy Division. He spent his first years in the military as a scout, 
excelling on every vehicle from motorcycles to dune buggies, surpassing 
his peers and distinguishing himself as a superior leader. Two years 
later, Sergeant Major Preston was promoted to sergeant and moved to the 
33rd Armor Regiment, 3rd Armor Division in Germany. His commanders 
again recognized his superior leadership skills and selected him first 
as a senior gunner and then as the commander of the battalion 
commanders tank. Throughout his command, his tank was consistently 
named top tank in the battalion.
  Sergeant Major Preston took the knowledge and expertise he gained in 
Germany to Fort Knox where he became a master gunner instructor. He 
excelled once again and was hand-picked for an exchange tour with the 
British Army as a tank instructor in Dorset, England. Sergeant Major of 
the Army Preston has served in every senior enlisted position in the 
Army, from platoon sergeant to command sergeant major. He held command 
sergeant major positions at 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st 
Cavalry Division; then at 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, at 1st 
Armored Division, and finally at V Corps in Germany. Before becoming 
Sergeant Major of the Army, he was the command sergeant major for 
Combined Joint Task Force 7 serving in Baghdad, Iraq, during Operation 
Iraqi Freedom. His leadership and operational expertise were 
instrumental in planning and executing the attack on the forces of 
Saddam Hussein.
  One of the most enduring contributions Sergeant Major Preston has 
made to our Nation was implementing the largest transformation of the 
Army's noncommissioned officer education system since the system was 
first developed. As the backbone of the Army, noncommissioned officers 
have specific education requirements throughout their career. The 
Advance and Senior Level Courses now are more in line with what our 
leaders need in Afghanistan and Iraq. With the roll out of Structured 
Self-Development, an online module system that will ensure our 
noncommissioned officers receive the best training, noncommissioned 
officers are better educated, which pays huge dividends on the 
battlefield. Also, with new distributed learning, the Army's first-line 
leaders are able to spend more time at home with their families while 
taking classes online.
  Over the last 7 years, Sergeant Major of the Army Preston served as 
the Sergeant Major of the Army, the highest enlisted position 
attainable in the Army. He assumed this position during the first year 
of Operation Iraqi Freedom and proved himself a tremendous

[[Page 3892]]

wartime leader, demonstrating unselfish devotion to our Nation and the 
soldiers. He worked tirelessly to restore balance to a force stretched 
and stressed by the demands of the longest war our Nation has ever 
known. His personal observations and advice helped guide Army 
leadership during the implementation of the most comprehensive 
transformation of the Army since World War II. The end result was 
building of the most versatile Army in the history of our Nation. Its 
modular units and improved capabilities enabled the Army to execute its 
strategy of full-spectrum operations. Sergeant Major of the Army 
Preston was instrumental in ensuring that this plan adhered to 
principles of commonsense and care for soldiers and their families. He 
worked with Army leadership to increase support to families by 
implementing the Army Family Covenant and the Army Community Covenant. 
These programs increased support for Army families by expanding and 
improving services while raising awareness about the unique challenges 
military families face. Sergeant Major of the Army Preston testified 
numerous times before Congress on behalf of the 1.1 million soldiers 
and millions of family members under his care. His clear and passionate 
testimony resulted in increased compensation, improved housing, 
improved health services and an overall better quality of life.
  The impact of Sergeant Major of the Army Preston's efforts will be 
felt and seen in our Army for decades to come. His untiring devotion to 
duty, his love for the Army and its soldiers and families, and his 
professionalism has left a legacy of trained and educated soldiers. 
When history looks back at the Army's 13th Sergeant Major of the Army, 
it will be clear that his personal leadership contributed to the 
building of the most professional Non-Commissioned Officer Corps the 
world has ever known. We wish him and his wife Karen continued success 
and happiness in all of their future endeavors.

                          ____________________