Command Sgt. Maj. James A. LaFratta
CSM James A. LaFratta is a native of Carver, Massachusetts and enlisted in the U.S. Army in February 1993. He was awarded the MOS of 63W, Wheeled Vehicle Repairer upon completion of AIT. Throughout his career CSM LaFratta served in multiple CONUS and OCONUS locations primarily in the Airborne/SOF community including numerous deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan ISO the GWOT. He served in all leadership positions from Squad Leader to Brigade Command Sergeant Major, attended all levels of PME from the PLDC to the USASMA Class 66, and possesses undergraduate and graduate degrees in Military History from American Public University and Norwich University respectively.
CSM LaFratta previous duty assignments include: Wheeled Vehicle Repairer, Forward Support Company, U.S. Army SET AF, Caserma Ederle, Vicenza, IT; Senior Wheeled Vehicle Repairer, B Co. 407th Forward Support Battalion, 82d Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg, NC; Technical Inspector, B Co. 407th Forward Support Battalion, 82d Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg, NC; Technical Inspector, B Co. 407th Forward Support Battalion, 82d Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg, NC; QA/QC Section NCOIC, A Co, 528th Special Operations Support Battalion (A), Ft. Bragg, NC; Maintenance Control Sergeant, B Co, 528th Special Operations Support Battalion (A), Ft. Bragg, NC; Platoon Sergeant, Equipment Readiness Division, 19th Support Center, 3rd COSCOM, Wiesbaden, GE; Maintenance Manager, Equipment Readiness Division, 19th Support Center, 3rd COSCOM, LSA Anaconda, Balad, IQ; Operations Sergeant, Equipment Readiness Division, 19th Support Center, 3rd COSCOM, Wiesbaden, GE; Chief of Operations, XVIII ABN Corps and Ft. Bragg NCO Academy, Ft. Bragg, NC; Battalion Motor Sergeant, Group Support Battalion, 7th SFG (A), Ft. Bragg, NC; Battalion Motor Sergeant, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force- Afghanistan, Bagram Airbase, AF; First Sergeant, Group Service Support Company, Group Support Battalion, 7th SFG (A), Ft. Bragg, NC and Eglin AFB, FL; CJ4 Senior Maintenance Supervisor, Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan, Camp Integrity, Kabul, AF; Senior Maintenance Supervisor, 7th SFG (A), SF Advanced Skills Company, Group Support Battalion, Eglin AFB, FL; Student, United States Army Sergeant's Major Academy, Class 66, Ft. Bliss, TX; Command Sergeant Major, 173rd IBCT (A) Brigade Support Battalion, Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, IT; Command Sergeant Major, 2nd Infantry Division, Division Sustainment Brigade, Camp Humphreys, ROK; Command Sergeant Major, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), III Corps, Ft. Hood, TX;
His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (1 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (5 OLC), the Valorous Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal (9th Award), National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2 CS), Iraqi Campaign Medal (3 CS), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 5), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon (Numeral 5), NATO Medal (1 CS), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation (1 OLC), Army Superior Unit Award, Master Parachutist
Badge Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Driver's Badge (Wheel Device), Mechanic's Badge, British Parachutist Badge, Irish Parachutist Badge, Canadian Parachutist Badge, Mexican Parachutist Badge, and the Honorable Order of Samuel Sharpe.
CSM LaFratta has completed all levels of the Noncommissioned Officer Education System, numerous military professional development courses and is a graduate of the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy (Class #66). SEJPME I and II, BDE and BN Pre-Command Courses, BDE and BN CSM Professional Development Courses, U.S. Army Sergeant's Major Course (Class 66), Master Resiliency Trainer Course, Master Jumpmaster Course, First Sergeant's Course, Pathfinder Course, Combatives Level I, Jumpmaster Course, CBRNE Defense Course, Master Driver Trainer Course, Automated Air Load Planner School 3.0, Air Movement Officer Course, Airborne School, and the Combat Lifesaver's Course. Command Sergeant Major LaFratta has a Bachelors Degree in Military History from American Public Univesity, and a Masters Degree from Norwich University in Military History. He is a certified by the International Society of Logisticians.