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41 out of 16,020 E-8s
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1SG Cottrell is from Jackson, New Jersey, born on March 9th, 1976. He joined the Army in 1994 as a senior in high school under the Delayed Entry Program. After graduating from Jackson Memorial High School in 1994 with Honors, he attended basic training and AIT at Ft. Benning, GA. His first duty assignment was from 1994-1997 at Ft. Drum, NY with the 10th Mountain Infantry Division, 2nd of the 87th INF Light where he served as a Rifleman, M60 Gunner and RTO for the Company Commander. 1SG Cottrell’s second duty assignment was from 1997-2000 at Ft. Campbell, KY with the 101st AASLT Infantry Division, 1st of the 502nd INF where he served as a Rifleman and RTO for the Battalion Commander. From 2000-2001, he was sent to the Republic of Korea where he served a Rifleman and Team leader with the 2nd Infantry Division, 1st of the 506th INF. His following assignment from 2001-2003, he served in Ft. Lewis, WA with the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Division as a Stryker section leader. During 2003-2006, while assigned with the 1st 325th ABN INF of the 82nd Airborne Division, he deployed to Iraq from 2003-2004 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2005. From 2006-2008, he transferred to JFK Special Warfare Center and School after Selection as a student where he Completed SERE level C High risk and Small Unit Tactics. His next assignment was from 2008-2011, back with the 1st 325th INF in the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft, Bragg, NC where he served as a Platoon Sergeant for a Heavy Weapons Infantry Platoon, He deployed on his second tour in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2010 and Operation Unified Response (Haiti) after the earth quake Jan 2011. In 2011-2012 1SG Cottrell chose to go back to Iraq with the 18th Airborne Corps as the PSD Platoon Sergeant for the Corp Commander in support of Operation New Dawn.
He was selected by the USF-I Commander as the 1SG for USF-I forces in Kuwait. Upon his return from Operation New Dawn he was again selected as the HHB 18th ABN Corps 1SG. In 2012, he PCS’d and became the First Sergeant for the Army Joint Test Element, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD till December 2013. He is currently the First Sergeant for HHC Army Test and Evaluation Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.
1SG Cottrell’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal; The Purple Heart; one Meritorious Service Medal; Two Joint service Commendation Medals; 10 Army Commendation Medals, one for Valor; Seven Army Achievement Medals; Six Good Conduct Medals; Korean Defense Service Medal; Iraqi Campaign Medal with Two Combat Star; Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Two Combat Stars; Global War on Terrorism Service and Expeditionary Medals; Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 3; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 2; Two National Defense Service Medals; Humanitarian Service Medal; NATO Medal; Expert Infantryman’s Badge; Combat Infantryman’s Badge: Parachutist Badge: Air Assault badge; Drivers Badge; German Parachutist Badge; Ukrainian Parachutist Badge; El Salvadorian Armed Forces Parachutist Badge.
His schooling and education include the Army Stryker School; Airborne School; FBCB2 Course; Battle Staff Phase 1; Warrior Leaders Course (Commandant’s List); Advance Leaders Course (Commandant’s List); Senior Leaders Course; Combatives Level 1; T3 (IED_D) counter IED Course; The Army First Sergeant Course; Combat Life Savers Course; Army Unit Movement Officer (UMO) Course; The Army Hazmat Course; Infantry Light Fighter School; Antiterrorism Officer Basic Course (ATOBC); US Army SERE High Risk (Level C); Army Advance Marksmanship Course; Battlefield Commander’s Security Training Course; Army’s Hazardous Waste Management Course; Army’s Hazardous Material Awareness Course; Army PMCS Leaders Certification Course; and many other courses. He currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Central Texas Collage
1SG Cottrell has been married to the former Jill R. Petersen since Aug 1996 and has three children (Ashley 17, Jamie 17, Zachary 13).
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