CBRN School welcomes senior enlisted advisor

By Ms. Dawn M Arden (Leonard Wood)October 30, 2014

CBRN School welcomes senior enlisted advisor
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School welcomed Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Kraus Jr. as their newest regimental command sergeant major, during an assumption of responsibility ceremony held Oct. 22 in Nutter Field House.

Kraus comes to Fort Leonard Wood from Kaiserslautern, Germany, where he was the garrison command sergeant major.

"This day has been a long time coming, is well overdue and greatly anticipated -- not just by Command Sgt. Maj. Kraus and his Family, but also this Regiment," said Brig. Gen. Maria Gervais, USACBRNS commandant and Chief of Chemical. "As the 13th Regimental command sergeant major, he is the right person, at the right time, at the right place for this Regiment."

Gervais described Kraus as having an unmatched passion for leading, developing and mentoring Soldiers.

"In this position, he will serve as the senior enlisted advisor for our Regiment, where he will truly make a difference for all of our CBRN formations, Dragon Soldiers, their Families and our civilians," Gervais said. "He will be instrumental in turning civilians into Soldiers for our Army."

Kraus said although this is his first time being stationed on Fort Leonard Wood, he's seen an abundance of familiar faces since arriving on post.

"Coming to Fort Leonard Wood is about as close as I can get to coming home," Kraus said. "I did not get the opportunity to stand here today without assistance, sage counsel and guidance -- it took a village."

Kraus' assignments include deployments in support of Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield and Operation Iraqi Freedom with additional assignments in Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Yongsan, Korea; Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; and three tours at Fort Hood, Texas.

Quoting Edgar Snow, "Don't ever talk about how good or efficient you are or talented you are, let your actions speak for you," Kraus said this is how he intends to serve the regiment.

After enlisting in the Army in 1987 as a chemical operations specialist, the Lockport, New York, native completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and Advanced Individual Training at Fort McClellan, Alabama.

Kraus' previous duty positions include: decontamination specialist; battalion commander's driver; mechanized smoke squad leader; company chemical, CBRN noncommissioned officer; CBRN reconnaissance squad leader; CBRN reconnaissance platoon sergeant; drill sergeant; senior drill sergeant; post CBRN School senior instructor, first sergeant, brigade operations sergeant major; battalion command sergeant major; and garrison command sergeant major.

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