Single Soldiers have a special place in our Army. Find out more about the BOSS program.
LTC Shawn Abbott
Battalion Commander
Lieutenant Colonel Shawn Abbott is a native of Crisfield, Maryland and graduated from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2002. He later enlisted in the Army and in 2006 attended Officer Candidate School where he graduated as a distinguished military graduate earning his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps.
LTC Abbott has served in several key developmental and broadening assignments including Platoon Leader, 16th Quartermaster Company (FS), Al Taqaddum, Iraq; Executive Officer, 16th Quartermaster Company (FS), 530th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB), Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia; Battalion S4, 530th CSSB, Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia; Deputy Support Operations Officer 240th CSSB, Al Asad, Iraq; Assistant Brigade S4, 2 IBCT, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Liberty, North Carolina; Commander, Alpha Company, 188th Brigade Support Battalion, Fort Liberty, North Carolina; Assistant Professor of Military Science, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA); Brigade Logistics Support Team Chief, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, Bagram, Afghanistan; Deputy Support Operations Officer, 3ID Sustainment Brigade, Fort Stewart, Georgia; and Battalion Executive Officer, 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, Fort Stewart, Georgia. From 2020 to 2023, LTC Abbott was assigned to the 1st Theater Sustainment Command (TSC) at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Camp Arifjan, Kuwait where he served as the Secretary of General Staff, Executive Officer to the Commanding General, and then the Director of the Commanding General’s Initiatives Group. Most recently, he served as the Deputy Commander, 4th Cavalry Multi-Functional Training Brigade, Fort Knox, Kentucky.
LTC Abbott’s military education includes the Quartermaster Officers Basic Course, Basic Airborne Course, the Combined Logistics Captain’s Career Course and the College of Naval Command and Staff where he earned a master’s degree in Defense and Strategic Studies.
LTC Abbott’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (2 OLC), the Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC), the Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC), the Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Parachutist Badge.
CSM John M. Kreifels
Battalion Command Sergeant Major
Command Sergeant Major John M. Kreifels is a native of Nebraska City, Nebraska. He enlisted in the Army in June 2003, as a Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic.
His assignments include Headquarter and Headquarter Company and Echo Company, 3d Ranger Battalion, 75TH Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning (now known as Fort Moore 2023), GA; Headquarters and Headquarter Company,75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning (now known as Fort Moore 2023), GA; Echo Company, 2D Ranger Battalion, 75TH Ranger Regiment, Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA. Headquarter and Headquarter Company, 10TH Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY. He has deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan for combat operations.
CSM Kreifels has served in multiple leadership positions including, Recovery NCOIC, Senior Mechanic, Maintenance Control Sergeant, Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, G4 Maintenance Sergeant Major, J4 CSM and G3 Operations Sergeant Major.
CSM Kreifels has attended Basic Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Senior Leaders Course, and Sergeants Major Academy (Class 69). He is a graduate of Airborne, Ranger, Jumpmaster, and Master Resilience Courses. He has earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Leadership from the University of Charleston.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (3d award), Meritorious Service Medal (2d award), the Joint Army Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (3d award), the Army Achievement Medal (3d award), the Master Parachutist Badge, Mechanic/Drivers Badge, and Combat Action Badge. He is also a recipient of the Order of Saint Maurice and The Ordnance Order of Samuel Sharpe.