Command Sgt. Maj. Joshua E. Ricketts, 1st Battalion, 223d Aviation Regiment
CSM Joshua Ricketts enlisted in the Army in 1999. He attended Basic Combat Training (BCT) at Fort Benning GA and attended Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville AL. Upon completion he was awarded the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 55B which was later changed to 89B ammunition specialist. CSM Ricketts later re-classed to become a 68N which was switched to 15N Avionics Mechanic.
CSM Ricketts assignments and duty positions include Alpha Company 125th Forward Support Battalion, Fort Riley Kansas, where he served as an Ammunition Specialist for three years. During that time frame he deployed to Kuwait for, four months in support of the unit’s mission. CSM Ricketts re-classed in 2002 and went to Fort Eustis VA, to complete the 10-month Avionics Mechanic course. Upon completion CSM Ricketts was stationed at Camp Humphreys Korea where he served as an Avionics Mechanic. Following CSM Ricketts completion of a one-year tour in Korea he was selected for 160th SOAR AVN Regt. (ABN). He served in Delta Company 2/160th SOAR AVN Regt. (ABN) from 2004 until 2010. During that time, he served as an Avionics Squad Leader, Section Leader, Avionics Training Lead, and Avionics Technical Inspector. In December of 2010 he volunteered to become an Enlisted Green Platoon (EGP) Instructor. CSM Ricketts Served as an EGP Instructor for two years before returning to Delta Company 2/160th SOAR AVN Regt (ABN) where he served as a Platoon Sergeant. While serving with Delta Company 2/160th he deployed numerous times to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa. In March of 2018 CSM Ricketts was re-assigned to the Fort Rucker Non-Commissioned Officer Academy (NCOA). CSM Ricketts served as a Maintenance Instructor and Maintenance Branch First Sergeant for the Fort Rucker NCOA. CSM Ricketts was later assigned to 3-25th General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB) Wheeler Army Airfield Hawaii. He served as both the Alpha Company and Headquarters and Headquarters Company First Sergeant. Following the completion of the Sergeants Major Academy CSM Ricketts was first assigned as the BN S3 for 3-2 GSAB at Camp Humphreys Korea and then later moved to the BDE S3 OPS Sergeant Major position.
CSM Ricketts completed some college courses and continues to pursue a degree. His PME courses include the Sergeants Major Academy, Master Leaders Course (MLC), Senior Leaders Course (SLC), Advanced Leaders Course (ALC), and Warrior Leaders Course (WLC). CSM Ricketts also completed the Common Faculty Developer-Instructor Course (CFD-IC), Commanders Safety Course, EO Leaders, Lean Six Sigma-Green Belt, Unit Prevention Leaders Course (UPL), Combatives Levels 1 and 2, USAF Airlift Planner Course, Hazardous Material Waste Handling course, Airborne, Enlisted Combat Skills, the Viking Tactical Shooting Course, Mid-South Shooting Course, Combat Life Savers Course, Drivers training Course, Master Fitness Trainer Course (MFTC), and the MH47-E and MH47-G course.
CSM Ricketts awards include 3 Meritorious Service Medals (MSM), 4 Army Commendations Medals (ARCOM), 6 Army Achievement Medals (AAM), Seven Army Good Conduct Medals (AGCM), National Defense Service Medal (NDSM), 1 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM), 4 Afghanistan Campaign Medals (ACM-CS), Iraqi Campaign Medal (ICM-CS), Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWTEM), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWTSM), Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM), 4 Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons (NOPDR), Army Service Ribbon (ASR), 2 Overseas Ribbons (OSR), and NATOMDL. His unit awards include the Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Citation, and Superior Unit Award.