By US Army Lt-Col Randy Pullen

FOR the first time in US Army history, a female soldier has been selected as the Army Reserve Command Sergeant Major (CSM).

CSM Michele Jones was selected by Army reserve Chief Lt-Gen James Helmly to become the ninth CSM of the Army Reserve.

CSM Jones will succeed CSM Alex Lackey, who has been the CSM of the Army Reserve since October 1999. He will retire next month ending a 32-year full- and part-time career.

As the Reserve CSM, Jones will serve as the principal enlisted advisor to the Reserve Chief.

Jones has held every key NCO position including squad leader, platoon sergeant and CSM. She was the first female to serve as class president at the US Sergeants Major Academy.

In addition, she was selected to serve as the US Army Reserve representative for the Chief of Staff of the Army’s Development System XXI Task Force and was chosen as the core team leader for the Enlisted Personnel Management System section of the task force.

As well as a series of postings within the US, Jones’overseas assignments have included Hanau, Germany, Honduras and Panama.

Her awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army

Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Parachutist Badge, German Army Forces Airborne Wings and Royal Thai Airborne Wings.