Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Gerald W. Knight Jr was born in Alton, Illinois and raised in the surrounding rural area of Madison County. In 1981, he joined the United States Marine Corps and attended basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. CSM Knight later joined the California National guard and then enlisted in the United States Army Reserve.
CSM Knight has served in various assignments stateside and overseas including Base Command Sergeant Major, Al Asad Airbase, Iraq; Garrison Command Sergeant Major, U.S. Army Garrison, Bagram, Afghanistan; Chief of Training for the New Iraqi Army Senior Leaders Academy, Kirkush, Iraq; Base NCOIC, Camp Caldwell, Kirkush, Iraq; 641st Regional Support Group, Command Sergeant Major; 3rd Battalion, 348th Regiment CS/CSS, Command Sergeant Major; 3rd Battalion, 347th Regiment CS/CSS, Command Sergeant Major; 2nd Battalion, 361st Regiment, Training Support Battalion, First Sergeant; 12th Battalion, 104th Leadership Training Division, Instructor; 2nd Battalion, 185th Armor Regiment, Tank Commander; 1st Battalion, 185th Armor Regiment, Tank Commander, and Amphibious Assault Craft Crew Chief and Section NCO, Camp Pendleton, California; Okinawa, Japan; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and currently serving as the 143d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Command Sergeant Major.
CSM Knight has served in every leadership position from Crew Chief to CSM. CSM Knight has participated in three mobilizations and operational deployments to Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn and Operation Inherent Resolve), Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom 11-12). CSM Knight’s formal military training consists of Primary Leadership Development Course, M60A3, M1 and M1IP Armor Courses, Armor Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course, Armor Advanced Noncommissioned Officers Course, First Sergeant Course, the USASMA Sergeants Major Course. He is a retired Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Group Supervisory Special Agent. He is a graduate of the Border Patrol Agent Basic Course and numerous advanced courses relating to law enforcement and training of law enforcement officers and agents. He is certified as a federal firearms instructor through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy and holds instructor certifications with both the National Rifle Association and the Sig Sauer Academy.
CSM Knight’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (1 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (4 OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (1 Bronze Star), Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (4 OLC), National Defense Service Medal (1 Bronze Star), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (1 Bronze Star), Iraq Campaign Medal (2 Bronze Stars), Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (Hourglass, “M” Device and Numeral 2), Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 5), Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon (Numeral 2), Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (1 Bronze Star), Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Service Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Army Meritorious Unit Citation, and The Army Superior Unit Award.
CSM Knight is married to his wife Cathy who resides in Brunswick, Georgia.