Robert E. Hall

Robert E. Hall
SMA Robert E. Hall
Born	(1947-05-31) May 31, 1947 Gaffney, South Carolina, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1968-2000
Rank	Sergeant Major of the Army
Battles/wars	Desert Storm
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star

Robert E. Hall was sworn in as the eleventh Sergeant Major of the Army on October 21, 1997 and served until June 23, 2000.

Early life and education

Hall was born in Gaffney, South Carolina, on May 31, 1947. He entered the Army in February 1968 and attended Basic Training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Bliss, Texas. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in management from Park College in Parkville, Missouri.

Career

He held a variety of senior NCO positions culminating in his assignment as the Sergeant Major of the Army. He previously held the senior enlisted position as Command Sergeant Major of the United States Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. Other assignments he held as Command Sergeant Major were: the 1st Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery, Fort Stewart, Georgia; Commandant, 24th Infantry Division Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Fort Stewart; and the 24th Division Artillery, Saudi Arabia and Iraq; the 2nd Infantry Division, Korea; and First U.S. Army, Fort Meade, Maryland.

Throughout his 32-year career, SMA Hall has held every key leadership position including: squad leader, 2nd Infantry Division, Korea; platoon sergeant, battalion operations sergeant and battalion intelligence sergeant, 1st Armored Division, Germany; first sergeant, B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 59th Air Defense Artillery, Germany; and drill sergeant, Fort Bliss, Texas. His military education includes Drill Sergeant School, Advanced Noncommissioned Officers Course, First Sergeants Course, and the Sergeants Major Academy, where he served as an instructor upon graduation from class 26. He also served on the staff of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, Virginia. His experience and expertise distinguished him as the 1979 Army Drill Sergeant of the Year and selection and induction into the prestigious Sergeant Morales Club and the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.

Personal life

In retirement, Hall continues to serve the military community and has received numerous awards to include the Outstanding Civilian Service Award. In 2007, he was presented the Doughboy Award for his outstanding contributions to the US Army Infantry.

Awards and decorations

Drill Sergeant Identification Badge

Army Staff Identification Badge

Expert Marksmanship Badge for rifle

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal
	Army Distinguished Service Medal
	Defense Superior Service Medal
	Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf cluster
	Bronze Star Medal
	Defense Meritorious Service Medal
	Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
	Joint Service Commendation Medal
	Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf cluster
	Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
	Department of the Army Outstanding Civilian Service Award
	Good Conduct Medal, ten awards
	National Defense Service Medal with service star
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	Southwest Asia Service Medal with two service stars
	NCO Professional Development with award numeral 4
	Army Service Ribbon
	Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 3
	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

• Missile Sharpshooter Badge.
• 10 Service stripes.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "http://www.army.mil/leaders/sma/former/sma_bio11.html".
The Sergeants Major of the Army, Daniel K. Elder, Center of Military History, United States Army Washington, D.C. 2003.