Photo By Mark Abueg | Command Sgt. Maj. Karl J. Groninger. Command Sergeant Major of the 579th Engineer...... read more read more
VICKSBURG, Miss. – A new Command Sergeant Major for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is in town and he is ready to put field force engineering on the map.
Command Sgt. Maj. Karl J. Groninger takes over as the Command Sergeant Major of the 579th Engineer Detachment (Forward Engineer Support Team - Main), an active duty Army unit comprised of soldiers and civilians. The unique engineering team based out of Mississippi recently returned from a 12-month deployment to Afghanistan.
"One of the things I'm going to try to do in my time while I'm here is to really spread the word about the 579th," Groninger said. "I'm going to try and better educate other Army organizations and other engineers about what the 579th brings to the table and how this team can support them in contingency operations and disaster relief operations."
Groninger comes to USACE from Joint Task Force-Bravo at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, where he served as the Command Sergeant Major.
He will now serve as the FEST-M commander's personal adviser on all enlisted and civilian related matters, particularly in the areas affecting training and quality of life.
Since the 579th EN DET (FEST-M)'s reactivation in late 2007, Groninger assumes duty as the unit's second ever command sergeant major.
Groninger was born in Newark, N.J., and raised in Toms River, N.J. He enlisted into the Army in August 1982 and attended One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Upon completion of OSUT, he was awarded the Military Occupational Skill of 12B1O (Combat Engineer). In 1984, he attended the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center and was reclassified as a 00B1O (Diver).
Some of his previous duties include being assigned as the Directorate of Public Works Sergeant Major for U.S. Army Garrison – Fort Hood in Texas; Command Sergeant Major for the 92nd Engineer Battalion in Fort Stewart, Ga.; and the Command Sergeant Major for U.S. Army Garrison – Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.
Groninger's awards and decorations include the Legion Of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (1 oak leaf cluster), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3 oak leaf clusters), Army Commendation Medal (6 oak leaf clusters), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2 oak leaf clusters), Good Conduct Medal (9th award), National Defense Service Medal (1 bronze service star), Iraqi Campaign Medal, GWOEM, GWOTSM, Southwest Asia Service Medal (3 bronze service stars), NCO Professional Development Ribbon (numeral 4), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (numeral 4), Kuwaiti Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), Kuwaiti Liberation Medal (Kuwait), Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Superior Unit Award, Combat Action Badge, Master Diver Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Mechanic Badge (Operator–S), Sapper Tab. Groninger is also a recipient of the Army Engineer Association's Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal.
His military education includes Primary Leadership Development Course, Air Assault Course, Jungle Operations Training Center, Basic Underwater Construction Course, Basic Non-commissioned Course, Instructor Training Course, Sapper Leader Course, Advanced Underwater Construction Course, Strategic Deployment Planning Course, Advanced Non-commissioned Officer Course, Master Diver Certification Course, Offshore Petroleum Discharge System (OPDS) OIC Course, OPDS Single Anchor Leg Mooring (SALM) Technician Course, First Sergeant Course, Risk Analysis Course, Contracting Officer Representative Course, Sergeants Major Academy, and the Garrison Command Sergeants Major Course. He received his Bachelor of Science from Excelsior College.
About the 579th Engineer Detachment (FEST-M) The 579th Engineer Detachment (FEST-M) is a 36-member team capable of rapidly deploying to provide sustained U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) contract construction and engineering execution capabilities in support of Department of Defense and other Federal Agencies during war, military contingencies and disaster relief operations.
| Date Taken: | 07.20.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.20.2011 17:44 |
| Story ID: | 74029 |
| Location: | VICKSBURG, MS, US |
| Web Views: | 643 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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