Garrison Command Sergeant Major

CSM Paparella enlisted to serve as an Infantryman in the United States Army in June of 2000 at the Military Entrance Processing Station in Houston, Texas.

CSM Paparella served as a team leader, squad leader, and sniper platoon sergeant while stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia. He also served as a platoon sergeant, and first sergeant while stationed at Caserma Ederle, Italy, an Operations Sergeant Major at Fort Carson, Colorado, was the CSM of 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, and the CSM of Task Force 3, Operations Group at Fort Johnson, LA.

Other notable assignments include serving as a ranger instructor at Camp Frank D. Merrill in Dahlonega, GA, and as a senior military science instructor at the University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR.

He has graduated Airborne School, Ranger School, Jumpmaster, Pathfinder, Master Resilience Training, Javelin Gunners Course, Small UAV Operators Course and the Sergeants Major Academy.

His awards and decorations include Bronze Star Medal with oakleaf cluster, the Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal with three oakleaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medals with 7 oakleaf clusters, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medals with 3 oakleaf clusters, the Presidential Unit Citation Award, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Valorous Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 5 Campaign Stars, the Iraq Campaign Medal with 5 Campaign Stars, the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Ranger Tab, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, the Expert Infantryman's Badge and the Combat Infantryman's Badge

He has been on 15 deployments including, 5 tours to Iraq and 9 tours to Afghanistan with 3rd Battalion 75 Ranger Regiment. His most recent deployment was to Iraq with 4 Battalion, 9 Infantry Regiment in 2021. He is married to his wife Saddaf, they have one child.