State Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Mills Retires

Photo By Master Sgt. John Angelo | After a long and distinguished career, Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Mills was honored during a ceremony at the Veterans Service Building in St. Paul Minn., Sept. 29. Mills, the Minnesota National Guard State Command Sgt. Maj., is retiring after 26 years of service in the National Guard.  

SAINT PAUL, MN, UNITED STATES

09.29.2011

Story by Sgt. John Angelo 

Minnesota National Guard

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- After a long and distinguished career, Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Mills was honored during a ceremony at the Veterans Service Building here, Sept 29, 2011. Mills, the Minnesota National Guard State Command Sgt. Maj., is retiring after 26 years of service in the National Guard.

At the ceremony he was presented with an United States Flag that was handed from soldier to soldier representing every rank that he has held since he enlisted. The presentation started with Pfc. Austin Turner and ended with Command Sgt. Maj. Doug Wortham presenting the flag to Mills. The Minnesota Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Rick Nash, presented Mills with the Legion of Merit medal in a room filled with Mill’s peers, family and friends.

“Over the years the Command Sgt. Maj. has certainly seen changes,” said Nash. “Changes in uniforms many times over, equipment, organization and structure, and leadership. I suspect this change coming up for him, the change he won’t get up every day and put the uniform on will be one of the toughest changes he’s seen.”

He enlisted into the military in July of 1985 after graduating from Mankato State University, where he earned two degrees; a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and an Associate of Arts in Accounting. He is currently finishing up his Masters in Management at Colorado Tech University. Since March of 1989, he has worked full time for the Minnesota Army National Guard.

Throughout his military career, CSM Mills has attended many military education schools, including the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, the M1A1 Master Gunner Course, MCOFT Senior Instructor/Operator Course, the Tank Commanders Course for the M1A1/M60A3 and most recently the Keystone Course at National Defense University in Washington, D.C.

Over the past 26 years, CSM Mills has held duty assignments at various organizations throughout the state. He has served as an infantryman, tank commander, scout squad leader, armor platoon sergeant, infantry platoon sergeant, assistant operations sergeant, first sergeant, battalion operations sergeant, and a battalion master gunner. He was also the command sergeant major for 1-194 before his tenure with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division. While with the 1st BCT, he served as the Brigade Operations Sergeant Major on a 22-month long mobilization, serving 16 of the 22 months in Iraq.

“It's been an honor serving as the Command Sgt. Maj. for the greatest soldiers and airmen in the National Guard,” said Mills. “I've truly been blessed to have the honor to represent them for the past four years.”

CSM Mills’ decorations and awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal - 2nd Award, Army Commendation Medal – 4th Award, the Army Achievement Medal – 4th Award, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon with number 4, Iraq Campaign Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with ‘M’ Device, Army Good Conduct Ribbon, Humanitarian Service Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Ribbon with 1 star, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, MN State Active Duty Ribbon 5th Award, MN Good Conduct Ribbon, MN Service Ribbon with XX Device, Armor Draper Award for Excellence in Leadership, and the Order of Saint George for Excellence in Armor.

• Date Taken: 09.29.2011
• Date Posted: 10.03.2011 11:38
• Story ID: 77938
• Location: SAINT PAUL, MN, US