Command Sgt. Raul Soto

4th Security Force Assistance Brigade

Command Sgt. Maj. Raul Soto entered the United States Army as an 11B, infantryman. He held every position from rifleman to platoon sergeant while stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, culminating in him serving as operations sergeant major for 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division.

After his time in 2nd Brigade, Soto returned to the 1st Battalion, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, at Fort Bragg to be the first sergeant for C Troop. After his first sergeant time, he served as an instructor for ROTC at Colorado State University.

Soto moved to Camp Ederle, Italy, where he served as an operations sergeant major for United States Army Africa for a year. He returned to the United States, to Fort Carson, Colorado, to serve as first sergeant for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. He attended the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy and then became the operations sergeant major for 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. He moved to serve as the operations sergeant major for 1st Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division and then to Fort Wainwright, Alaska, to become the command sergeant major for 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment. Soto’s most recent position was the brigade command sergeant major of 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

His military education includes the United States Sergeants Major Academy, Battalion Pre-Command Course, Master Resilience Trainer Course, Senior ROTC Pre-Command Course, Senior Leader Course, Jumpmaster Course, Advanced Leader Course, Air Assault, Basic Leader Course and Airborne.

His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with valor device with one oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Valorous Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Unit Commendation,  Army Superior Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal (eighth award), Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with three campaign stars, Humanitarian Service Medal, NATO Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge.

Soto, who is from San Antonio, is married and has five children.