E. Rosario

First Sergeant (Retired), U.S. Army

His 23-year career spans service in both active and reserve components; in conventional and unconventional units; assigned to units in CONUS and OCONUS. His service began in June of 1984 with One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at the Home of the Infantry - Fort Benning (now Moore), GA. Following airborne training, he was assigned to HHC 2/8 INF at Fort Carson, CO as an 11C (Indirect Fire Infantryman – Mortar). By 1986 he was stationed in Germany with the 2^ndArmored Division (Hell on Wheels). In 1988, having completed his initial entry commitment, he began his reserve service – first as a Drill Sergeant with the 78^th Division. His duties and responsibilities increased, culminating with his assignment as a Senior Instructor at the 78^thDivision Drill Sergeant School. In 1993 he attended and completed the MOSQ 38A course at the JFK Special Warfare Center and School. Now a Team Sergeant in the 404^th Civil Affairs Bn, (FID/UW), he spent the next few years  in alternating cycles of activations and demobilizations – and deployed with conventional and unconventional units to Estonia, Germany, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Along the way, he attended the United States Army Academy of Health Sciences and earned his fourth MOSQ as a 91B (Medical Specialist). He served as a Detachment Sergeant until his promotion in 1999.  As the First Sergeant of the 344^thCombat Support Hospital, 1SG Rosario oversaw an organizational structure of over 870 soldiers dispersed geographically over three distinct counties in New York.  Following an assignment as a Chief Advisor with the 98^th Division (Institutional Training) he returned to Civil Affairs as a Team Sergeant with the 353^rd Civil Affairs Command (CACOM) in April of 2003. Just over a year later he was selected as the NCOIC for the Commanding Generals Personal Security Detachment and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon returning, he was assigned as the Civil Affairs Operations and Plans NCOIC (G-5). He retired in 2007 as the 353^rdCACOM HHC First Sergeant.

His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal,  Army Commendation Medal (w/4BOLC), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (w/2SOLC and 1BOLC), Iraq Campaign Medal with 1 campaign star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, NATO Medal – Former Yugoslavia, the Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Action Badge, Army Parachutist Badge, Drill Sergeant Identification Badge, and many others.