First Sergeant James D. Cardo is the Senior Enlisted Bandleader and First Sergeant of the U.S. Army Materiel Command Band. He is responsible for the training and mission readiness of a 40-Soldier ACOM Band which supports over 60 AMC activities and installations worldwide.
1SG Cardo was born in New York City to a musical family of seven. He was raised as a saxophonist and received his musical education from the Aca,!A"Fame SchoolAca,!A?, School of the Performing Arts, Mannes College of Music, the Aaron Copland School of Music and the Armed Forces School of Music. Declining attendance to the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, he joined the military in 1986. During his military career he completed his Associates of Arts and Bachelors of Arts. He is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Business Administration.
1SG Cardo has served in the United States Army for 24 years performing throughout the world including Japan, Alaska, Canada, Kosovo, Bosnia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Poland, Lithuania and Russia. He has held numerous musical, leadership, and staff positions at all levels within Army bands culminating as the Director of Support for the U.S. Army School of Music.
1SG James D. Cardo began his Army career with the Advanced Individual Training course at the United States Army School of Music, Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, Norfolk, Virginia upon successful completion of Basic Combat Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. His previous assignments include the 26th Army Band, Brooklyn, New York, 6th Infantry Division (Light) Band, Fort Wainwright, Alaska, the 296th Army Band, Camp Zama, Japan, three tours with the United States Army Europe (USAEUR) Band and Chorus, Heidelberg, Germany, the Army Ground Forces Band, (FORSCOM), Fort McPherson, Georgia and the US Army School of Music, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia Beach, Virginia.
1SG CardoAca,!a,,cs military education includes the Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic and Advanced Army Non-Commissioned Officers Course and the United States Army First Sergeant Course. His decorations include five Meritorious Service Medals, two Army Commendation Medal, eight Army Achievement Medals, the Army Superior Unit Award and German Armed Forces Badge for weapons proficiency.
1SG Cardo resides at Redstone Arsenal, AL with his wife of 24 years, Elba. They have two children; Daniel and Danielle.
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