Command Sergeant Major (U.S. Army Retired) Jonathan Church was appointed to the rank of Command Sergeant Major by the Department of the Army on 17 November 2000. CSM Church has held a variety of leadership positions throughout his career in branches ranging from Field Artillery to Civil Affairs.

As Command Sergeant Major of the 425th Civil Affairs Battalion, CSM Church serves as the Battalion Commander’s personal advisor on all enlisted-related matters, particularly in areas pertaining to Soldier training and quality of life. CSM Church has mobilized with Army Reserve units 2 times, serving as Command Sergeant Major of an international Civil Affairs Battalion with soldiers from 7 different counties to his charge in Bosnia and as the Command Sergeant Major of the 425^th Civil Affairs Battalion in Iraq.

CSM Church is a native of Santa Barbara, CA where his battalion is located, and was born on 1 December 1945. Church entered the Army in October, 1964 and attended basic training at Ft Polk, LA. CSM Church is a most fortunate cancer survivor, and after a 17-year break in service and seven years of persistent pleading, was able to convince the Army to let him back in at the age of 39. Consequently, CSM Church is older than dirt. This was verified in June 2004 when CSM Church was privileged to cut the 1st Armored Division’s Army birthday cake because he was the oldest soldier in the 29,000-soldier Task Force Baghdad, and one of the oldest soldiers then serving in Iraq.

Command Sergeant Major Church has served in a variety of assignments both on active duty and in the Army Reserve ranging from Fire Direction Center Chief, Battalion NBC NCO, Civil Affairs Instructor, Course Manager and Civil Affairs Detachment Sergeant. He has served in Germany, Korea, Bosnia, and Iraq. He has served with the 1-32nd Field Artillery (Honest John), US Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command, 104th Division (Training), 1st Armored Division, and the 1st Cavalry Division.

CSM Church’s military education includes the Primary Leadership Development Course, Advanced NCO Course, Instructor Training Course, Battle Staff NCO Course, and is a June 2002 graduate of the Sergeants Major Academy resident Class 52; earning a Bachelor of Science Degree while attending the Academy.

CSM Church retired from his “other” job with the US Postal Service in August 2002 after 34 years of service. He retired from the Army on 20 March 2005 with 26 years of service.

Well almost retired

Jon in now the Family Readiness Group Leader of the 425^th Civil Affairs Battalion. The Family Readiness Group works with the families of 79 soldiers currently deployed Iraq and Afghanistan.

His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal 2^nd Award, Army Commendation Medal 4^rd, Award, Army Achievement medal 2 award,Good Conduct medal, Army Reserve Components Medal 2^nd award, NDM, Armed forces Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Armed forces reserve medal,NCO Development Ribbion with number 4, Army Overseas Ribbon with number 7, NATO award and Combat Action Badge

For retirement job CSM Church has taken up Wildland Fire fighting and have just completed a 60 day deployment on the Zaca Fire driving large water tenders for strike teams

For exercise Jon does do a lot of old long board surfing and just so happed; with a lot of luck to win the 2006 World Longboard Championship in the legends division ( very old guys ) in Costa Rica