First Sergeant Branden W. Ford was born in Fountain Valley, CA. He joined the Army on 30 August 2006 and completed One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri where he was awarded the MOS of 31B, Military Police. In May 2010, he attended Advance Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Jackson, South Carolina; where he reclassified to a 56M, Religious Affairs Specialist.
1SG Ford’s previous assignments include: Military Police Team Leader, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, KS; Brigade Special Troops Battalion Chaplain Assistant NCO, 4th Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY; 2-506 Infantry Battalion Chaplain Assistant NCO, 4th Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY; 6th MP Group (CID) Chaplain Assistant NCOIC, JBLM, WA; 2nd Infantry Division Artillery Chaplain Assistant NCOIC, JBLM, WA; Cyber Protection Brigade Religious Affairs NCOIC, Fort Gordon, GA; Senior Enlisted Task Analyst, United States Army Chaplain Center and School (USACHCS), Fort Jackson, SC; Senior Leader Course (SLC) Small Group Leader (SGL), United States Army Institute for Religious Leadership (USA-IRL), Fort Jackson, SC; Senior Religious Affairs NCO, Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, VA. 1SG Ford has also completed three deployments: One deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and two deployments to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
1SG Ford has completed several military courses to include Basic Leader Course (BLC), Advance Leader Course (ALC), the Senior Leader Course (SLC) graduated with the Distinguished Leadership Award, the Master Leader Course (MLC) graduated as the Honor Graduate; Battle Staff NCO Course graduated as the Distinguished Honor Graduate, Cadre Training Course, Unit Prevention Leader Course; Instructor Course; Developer Course; Master Resilience Training (MRT) Level 1; MRT Level 2; Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) T4T; Observer Coach Trainer Academy; Air Assault School; Police Transition Team Training; Domestic Violence Intervention Training (DVIT); Combat Life Savers Course (CLS); he has completed his Associates of Arts in General Studies and the Certified Manager Course.
His military awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal with 1 Silver Clasp, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 Campaign Stars, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 2 Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 4, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 3, NATO Metal (ISAF), the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Basic Army Instructor Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Drivers Badge and has been awarded the United States Army Chaplain Corps SSG Christopher Stout Branch Award.
1SG Ford is married to his wife, Catherine, and they have one daughter, Serenity.