Command Sgt. Maj. Francisco J. Cardenas Jr.
Command Sergeant Major
Command Sergeant Major Francisco J. Cardenas Jr. is a native of Laredo, Texas and graduated from Excelsior College with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He entered the United States Army in May of 1995 with the Texas Army National Guard and entered Active Duty at Fort Hood, Texas in May of 1998.
CSM Cardenas’ first assignment was CBRN NCO, HHC III Corps, Fort Hood, TX. He then served in a variety of positions including CBRN NCO, B CO 2/9 Infantry Battalion, 2D Infantry Division, Camp Casey, South Korea; BN CBRN NCO, HHC 1/22 Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, TX; Squad Leader and Platoon Sergeant, 44th Chemical Company, 2D CM BN, Fort Hood, TX; Senior Instructor Writer and Brigade CBRN NCO, 434th FA BDE, Fort Sill, OK; CBRN Staff NCO, HHC 40th EN BN, Baumholder, Germany; Team Leader and Detachment Sergeant, 26th Chemical Reconnaissance Detachment (CRD), 7TH Special Forces Group (A), Eglin AFB, FL; First Sergeant, 25th CBRNE CO (TE), 22D CM BN, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD; First Sergeant, 68th CBRNE CO (TE), 2D CM BN, Fort Hood, TX; CBRN SGM, 2D Infantry Division, Camp Red Cloud, South Korea; CBRN SGM, 3D Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA; CBRN SGM, ARCENT, Shaw AFB, SC; CBRN SGM, III CORPS, Fort Hood, TX, and most recently served as the BN Command Sergeant Major for the Fort Stewart Soldier Recovery Unit.
CSM Cardenas has deployed five times in Support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom; GTMO Bay Cuba, Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan X 2.
CSM Cardenas’ military education includes all corresponding levels of the Noncommissioned Officer Education System. CSM Cardenas is also a graduate of Airborne School, Technical Escort, Special Forces (SF) Sensitive Site Exploitation Enabler (SSE) Course, SF SSE Operator Advanced Course, Small UAV (RAVN) Course, Basic Army Instructor Course and Master Fitness Trainer Course.
CSM Cardenas’ military awards and decorations include: The Meritorious Service Medal with (8x OLC), Army Commendation Medal with (6x OLC), Army Achievement Medal with (3x OLCs), the Army Good Conduct Medal (8x OLC), Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2), Iraqi Campaign Medal (2), Korea Defense Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal (2), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (7), the Airborne Parachutist Badge, the German Armed Forces Marksmanship Badge (Schutzenschnur) (Gold), and the German Armed Forces Military Efficiency Badge (Gold).
CSM Cardenas is married to Yaitza Cardenas of Levittown, Puerto Rico.