Command Sergeant Major Annette M. Bethany entered the Army in February 1987. She has an Associates of Science in Criminal Justice from Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, Georgia and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Park University in Parkville, Missouri. She is currently working towards obtaining a double major in Computer Information Systems Management and Human Resources Management from Park University in Parkville, Missouri.
Her military education includes the Warrior Leader Course, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Advanced Leader Course, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Senior Leader Course, Sergeants Major Course, Battalion/Brigade Pre-Command Course, Command Sergeants Major Course, Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer Course, Unit Mobilization Planner Course, Unit Movement Officer Course, and Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense Course, How the Army Runs – Sergeants Major.
Currently serving as the Command Sergeant Major of the Deployment Support Command, Birmingham, AL. CSM Bethany has served as the Command Sergeant Major of the 2nd Brigade, 98th Training Division, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. CSM Bethany has served as the Command Sergeant Major of the 1188th Deployment and Distribution Support Battalion in Decatur, Georgia, Command Sergeant Major of the 352nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion in Macon, Georgia, First Sergeant of the 314th Chemical Company in Carrollton, Georgia, HHC, 359th Signal Brigade in Fort Gordon, Georgia, Computer Plotter for both the 335th Theater Signal Command and 359th Signal Brigade, and as a Human Resources Sergeant for the Secretary of the Army, Under Secretary of the Army, Under Secretary of the Army for Research and Development, and 81st Regional Readiness Command.
Mobilizations and deployments include: Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm 1990-1992, Operation Noble Eagle 2005-2007, and Operation New Dawn 2011.
CSM Bethany's significant awards include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf cluster, the Army Commendation with one Oak Leaf cluster and the Army Achievement Medal with four Oak Leaf clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal with 2 bronze loops, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with four Oak Leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star, Iraqi Campaign Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Armed Forces Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Silver Hourglass and “M” Device with numerical 3, Non-Commissioned Officer Ribbon with numerical 4, Overseas Service Ribbon with numerical 2, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medals (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Government of Kuwait), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Originally from Wisconsin, CSM Bethany is the Chief, Casualty Operations Branch for the 81st Regional Support Command, Fort Jackson, South Carolina.