U.S. Army Non-Commissioned Officer Academy
Parks Reserve Forces Training Area First Sergeant
First Sergeant John W. Franks is a native of Queen City, Texas and is a 2002 graduate of Queen City High School. He entered into the Army July 9, 2002 and attended Basic Combat Training and 88M Motor Transport Operator Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. In 2008, he completed 12N Heavy Construction Equipment Operator reclassification training in Ft. Hunter Liggett, California.
First Sergeant Franks’ has held every leadership position from Team Leader to First Sergeant and Interim Brigade Command Sergeant Major.
First Sergeant Franks’ previous assignments include Heavy Equipment Driver, Detachment 1, 952nd Engineer Company, Marshall, Texas and Headquarters 952nd Engineer Company (Heavy Support Equipment) (Reconstituted as the 721st Engineer Company, 2008), Paris, Texas; Heavy Equipment Transporter, 217th Transportation Company (Heavy Equipment Transporter), San Antonio, Texas; Squad Leader, 721st Engineer Company, Paris, Texas; Platoon Sergeant, 478th Engineer Company (Equipment Support Platoon), Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana; Operations Sergeant, 416th Theater Engineer Command, Darien, Illinois; Operations Sergeant, 766th Engineer Company, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Operations Sergeant, 412th Theater Engineer Command, Vicksburg, Mississippi; Construction Operations Sergeant and Interim Command Sergeant Major, United States Army Reserve - Theater Support Group-Pacific, Ft. Shafter Flats, Honolulu, Hawaii; and currently First Sergeant, United States Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Parks Reserve Forces Training Area, Dublin, California.
First Sergeant Franks’ military education includes the Primary Leadership Development Course, the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, the Advanced Leaders Course Phase 2 (Honor Graduate) and Phase 3 (Commandant’s List), the Senior Leaders Course, the Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer Course, the Master Resilience Training Course Level I, the Joint Engineer Operations Course, the Operational Contracting Support Course, the Mission Command Digital Master Gunner Course, the Structured Self Development Course Level 4, the Joint Enlisted Professional Military Education Course Levels I and II, and the Defense Support of Civil Authorities Course Levels I and II.
First Sergeant Franks holds a Bachelor of Science Information Technology (Magna Cum Laude) – Computer Systems from American InterContinental University and the Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI).
His deployments include Operation Iraqi Freedom (National Resolution and Iraqi Surge).
First Sergeant Franks’ awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Good Conduct Medal (5 Knots), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (Two Bronze Service Stars), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (Mobilization Device and Bronze Hour Glass), Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 3), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (Numeral 5), Combat Action Badge, Driver/Mechanics Badge (Wheel and Operator-S), Bronze de Fleury Medal.
First Sergeant Franks and his wife has three children.