Philip F. Johndrow

Philip F. Johndrow
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1979–present
Rank	Command Sergeant Major
Commands held	1st Armored Division 3rd Infantry Division 1st Cavalry Division U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Battles/wars	Operation Iraqi Freedom *2003 invasion of Iraq *2007 Troop Surge
Awards	Bronze Star with “V” device Meritorious Service Medal Army Commendation Medal with “V” device

Command Sergeant Major Philip F. Johndrow, United States Army is the Command Sergeant Major, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and Command and General Staff College. He assumed responsibility on 15 May 2008.^[1] As Command Sergeant Major of Combined Arms Center, Johndrow oversees all enlisted matters within the scope of the United States Army Combined Arms Center, Command and General Staff College and the schools and centers of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command.

Army career

Education and academia

His military education includes the Recruiters Course, Station Commanders Course (Honor Graduate and Iron Person Award), Battle Staff Course, Master Fitness Course (Honor Graduate), First Sergeants Course (Exceeded Course Standards), United States Army Sergeants Major Academy Class #51 (History Award and the John O. Marsh Award), and the Command Sergeants Major Course along with the Keystone Course

CSM Johndrow earned an associates degree from Central Texas College, where he graduated with a 4.0 GPA. He also earned a bachelors degree TUI University graduating Summa Cum Laude and is currently working on his MBA in Business Administration. He and his wife Vickie have two children and four grandchildren.

Military operations

A left front view of the XM1 Abrams tank, which replaced the M60 series, during a demonstration on the test range in 1979.

Command Sergeant Major Philip F. Johndrow was born in Oceanside,New York, and enlisted in the Army in February, 1979. He attended Basic and Advanced Individual Training as an Armor Crewman at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Johndrow was instrumental in testing the first M1 Abrams tank during its development stages.

CSM Johndrow has served in every enlisted leadership position in the Armor Branch in his 29 years of service, including Tank Commander, Platoon Sergeant, Operations Sergeant Major, First Sergeant, and Command Sergeant Major.

Previous duty assignments include 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas; United States Armor Center at Fort Knox, Kentucky; 2nd Battalion, 72nd Tank Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Casey, Republic of Korea; 3rd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Polk, Louisiana; 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division at Fort Riley, Kansas; and 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. CSM Johndrow also served as a Tank Commander in Delta Company 4-8 Cavalry, 2 Brigade, 3rd Armored Division when the won the prestigious Canadian Army Trophy in 1987, this was the first and last time an American Team had ever won this trophy.

Operation Iraqi Freedom

Army Command Sgt. Maj. Philip Johndrow, the senior noncommissioned officer for Multinational Division Baghdad and 1st Cavalry Division, shows off his lucky charm, the “Cav Kid” outside the division headquarters, November 15, 2006. The Cav Kid was given to Johndrow by his wife, Vickie, during the first of his three deployments to Iraq. Johndrow said they have been inseparable ever since.

Prior to coming to the Combined Arms Center, CSM Johndrow served as the 1st Cavalry Division Command Sergeant Major and was deployed to Iraq as the CSM for Multi-National Division Baghdad. He also served in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) I&II with the 1st Armored Division, and in OIF III with the 3rd Infantry Division.

Decorations and badges

U.S. military decorations The Legion of Merit Bronze Star (with “V” Device and 2 Oak Leaf Clusters) Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters) Army Commendation Medal (with “V” Device and 6 Oak Leaf Clusters) Army Good Conduct Medal Army Achievement Medal U.S. unit awards Presidential Unit Citation Joint Meritorious Unit Award Army Superior Unit Award U.S. service (campaign) medals and service and training ribbons Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Iraq Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Armed Forces Service Medal Army Service Ribbon Army Overseas Service Ribbon (with award numeral "4")

U.S. badges, patches and tabs Combat Action Badge Army Recruiters Badge (with 3 Sapphires) U.S. Army Combined Arms Center Patch 1st Cavalry Division Patch worn as his Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (US Army)-Former War Time Service (SSI-FWTS).

He has earned many awards and distinctions throughout his career. These include the Bronze Star with “V” device and one oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with “V” device and six oak leaf clusters, Recruiters Badge with three sapphires, Combat Action Badge, and German Marksmanship Badge. He is also the recipient of the Order of Saint George.

See also

• U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
• Command and General Staff College
• 1st Cavalry Division
• Operation Iraqi Freedom
• M1 Abrams

Notes and references

1. ^ "Johndrow Assumes CAC Responsibilities". The Fort Leavenworth Lamp Online. January 5, 2007. http://www.ftleavenworthlamp.com/articles/2008/05/23/news/news1.txt. 

External links

• Official Army Biography
• "42 months in Iraq “is not big deal,” soldier says" (July 4, 2008) by Nancy A. Youssef, McClatchy Newspapers
• Johndrow Serves His Country Stateside (July 4, 2008) by Kansas City Star
• 1st Cav holds patch ceremony (April 19, 2008) by Iuliana Petre, Killeen Daily Herald
• "CSM Johndrow sends.........complacency" by CSM Philip F. Johhndrow (August 15, 2007) by Taji Times, Ironhorse Brigade, 7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
• "Senior enlisted leader spends ordinary day with extraordinary Soldiers" (April 17, 2007) by Spc. Jeffrey Ledesma (U.S. Army), 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
• "Soldiers Find Comfort in Good Luck Charms" (November 15, 2006) Pfc. Shea Butler (U.S. Army), Special to American Forces Press Service
• Operational Leadership Experiences in the Global War on Terrorism: Interview with CSM Philip Johndrow

Persondata
Name	Johndrow, Philip F.
Alternative names
Short description	American Command Sergeant Major
Date of birth
Place of birth	Ocean Side, New York
Date of death
Place of death