Command Sgt. Maj. Bryan H. Valentine is a native of Alliance, Ohio. He entered the Army on June 21, 2001, as a 13F fire support specialist (forward observer).
He attended basic training and advanced individual training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, then attended the United States Army Airborne Course followed by the Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP) at Fort Benning, Georgia.
He has served all leadership positions from forward observer to a division G-3 operations sergeant major. Additionally, he has held the responsibilities as joint terminal attack controller (JTAC), JTAC instructor, JTAC program manager and JTAC senior enlisted evaluator.
Valentine’s stateside assignments include 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.; 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.; the 75th Ranger Regimental Headquarters, Fort Benning, Ga.; 1st Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Bragg, N.C.; 82nd Airborne Division Headquarters, Fort Bragg, N.C.; and the 10th Mountain Division Headquarters, Fort Drum, N.Y. Valentine has 12 combat deployments to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and four combat deployments to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Valentine’s military education includes Basic Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, Senior Leader Course, Combat Lifesaver Plus, Airborne Course, RIP, Ranger Course, Pathfinder Course, Jumpmaster Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course (SERE-C), Special Operations Terminal Attack Controller Course (SOTACC), Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Atlantic Tactical Air Control Party (EWTGLANT TACP), the XVIII Airborne Corps First Sergeant and Commander Course, and the Sergeants Major Academy Class 70.
Valentine’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Navy Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal (seventh award), the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one silver service star, the Iraq Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon (fifth award), the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon (second award), the NATO Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award and the Valorous Unit Award. He has earned the shoulder sleeve insignia for former wartime service, the Combat Action Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, the Ranger Tab, and is also a member of the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara. His foreign awards include the Italian, Chilean, Australian and German jump wings.
Valentine has been married for 14 years to his wife, Kristi, from Alliance, Ohio. They have three children: Ace Carl, 10; Emma Ruth, 7; and Mac Joseph, 5.