Command Sgt. Maj. Loera began his military career on July 28, 1981. Loera was appointed as the 104th Division Command Sgt. Maj. on May 01, 2009. Loera has held every leadership role within the 104th Division during his 29 year military career. As the senior enlisted soldier in the Division, Loera is the advisor to the Division Commander. Loera travels throughout the United States to visit every unit within the Division. He visits with Soldiers and their families and listens to their issues and concerns. Loera takes this feedback and counsels with the Division Commander to develop policy that will affect those Soldiers and families that he serves. Loera’s military career began at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego Calf. in June 1981. He finished Basic Training and was meritoriously promoted to Pfc. He then attended Infantry Training School at Camp Pendleton Calf. and was meritoriously promoted to Lance Cpl. He finished in the top ten percentile of his company and was appointed to Marine Barracks, Cecil Field Fla. He served as a military policeman for four years and held every position on the installation such as the Corporal of the Guard, Sergeant of the Guard and Marine Barracks Duty Officer. He completed his enlistment in 1986 and returned to his home of record and promptly joined the 104th Division. He attended Drill Sergeant School in 1987 at Camp Riley Ore. He finished Drill Sergeant School was named as the Distinguished Honor Graduate and the Iron Man award for the top score in Army Physical Fitness Test. He then began his career as a Drill Sergeant for 1st Brigade in 1988 with 3-415 in Spokane, Wash. He served as a Drill Sergeant, Platoon Sergeant and Senior Drill Sergeant. During his tenure he was selected as the Drill Sergeant of the Cycle on numerous occasions and was also recognized as the 1st Brigade Drill Sergeant of Year and 104th Division Drill Sergeant of the Year.
In 1998 he was promoted to 1st Sgt. and started E Company, 3-415 in Pasco Wash. with only two soldiers in the unit. E Company went on to become one of the most successful companies in the Spokane Battalion. In 2002, Loera was appointed as the acting Command Sgt. Maj. for the Spokane Battalion. Loera attended and completed the Sergeant’s Major Academy in 2003 as a Master Sgt. and scored Superior in every category evaluated. In 2003, he was promoted to Command Sgt. Maj. and his first tenure was as the Commandant of the 104th Div (IT) Drill Sergeant School (DSS). As the Commandant, Loera ensured all training for Drill Sergeant Candidates was held to TRADOC standard. During Loera’s tenure the DSS began a rigorous schedule that included running a full time school. This enabled the DSS to qualify more Drill Sergeants than ever before in the history of the school. This concept was the precursor to the current URAR DSS.
In 2006, Loera was appointed as the Command Sgt. Maj. for the 1st Brigade, 104th Div (IT). Loera was responsible for the well being of six Drill Sergeant Battalions located in the western United States. These battalions supported Initial Entry Training at the various Army Training Centers by sending qualified Drill Sergeants. In 2007, the 1st Brigade, 104th Division (IT) transformed to the 2nd Brigade, 95th Division with HQ in Oklahoma City, Okla. Loera oversaw the transformation and remained as the Brigade Command Sgt. Maj. The 104th Division also went through some changes and transformation from an Institutional Training unit to a Leadership Training unit responsible for the training of future Army Officers.
In May of 2009, Loera was appointed as the Division Command Sgt. Maj. for the 104th Division (LT) and now serves as the senior enlisted Soldier in the division. The division now consists of trainers and instructors dedicated to the ROTC mission. These instructors are tasked with conducting Army Warrior Tasks at the various ROTC locations in our educational institutions though out the country. In addition, the division is the main supported of Warrior Forge help every year at Fort Lewis, Wash. Warrior Forge is the single largest training event for ROTC in the nation. This event is mandatory for the commissioning of future Army officers. His military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Marine Good Conduct Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, expert marksmanship badge rifle, expert marksmanship badge pistol, Marine Corps Wirgman Trophy gold medal for marksmanship, Drill Sergeant Badge, and the Army Physical Fitness Badge. In his civilian career Loera has been a police officer for 20 years. He serves as the team leader for the regional Tactical Response Team (TRT) Snipers and as an operator for the TRT. He has an Associate of Arts degree in Accounting from Big Bend Community College. He has several certifications in Law Enforcement including Computer Forensics, DARE program, and Range Master. He is married and has three children and two grandchildren.BG: