Command Sgt. Maj. John E. Dobbins is the Command Sergeant Major for the U.S. Army Garrison Rock Island Arsenal and employed by the Garrison's Commander as such for the care of Soldiers and Civilians of the Garrison, to extend command influence, assess morale of the command, and assist during critical events.
He is a native of Hollywood, Florida, and enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 2000 as a Combat Medic Specialist (68W). He attended Basic Training at Fort Benning, Georgia and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
CSM Dobbins assignments include Command Sergeant Major, 16th Hospital Center, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Senior Enlisted Medical Advisor, United States Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; First Sergeant, Charlie Company 6-101 Aviation Regiment, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Regiment Senior Medic 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Fort Campbell, Kentucky; he has also served as a Combat Medical Specialist, Special Operations Combat Medic, Special Operations Flight Medic, Flight Medic Standardization Instructor, Battalion Senior Medic, and Medical Operations NCOIC. He deployed six times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, five times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and once in support of Operation New Dawn.
CSM Dobbins military education and training includes: Enlisted Combat Skills Course, Basic Airborne Course, Special Operations Combat Medic Course, Special Operations Aviation Indoctrination Course, Basic Leaders Course, Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape-Level C Course, Cold Weather Environmental Survival Course, Special Operations Aviation Flight Instructor Training Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Combatives Level I Trainer Course, Senior Leaders Course, Joint Combat Trauma Management Course, Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation Course, Air Assault Course, Company Level Pre-Command Course, Master Resiliency Course, United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Pre-command courses and CSM Dev programs.
CSM Dobbins awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (2nd OLC), Air Medal with “V” device, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2nd OLC), Army Achievement Medal (1st OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal (6th Award), National Defense Service Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (w/3 Campaign Stars), Iraqi Campaign Medal (w/3 Campaign Stars), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (w/Numeral 5), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation (1st OLC), Valorous Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award, Combat Medical Badge, Expert Field Medical Badge, Senior Aviation Badge, Air Assault Badge, Parachutist Badge, German Parachutist Badge in Silver, Chilean Parachutist Wings, and is a member of the prestigious Order of Military Medicine and Order of St. Michael.