1SG Kevin E. Austin assumed duties as the F Company, 1-13th Infantry Battalion First Sergeant in April 2010. 1SG Austin entered Army service October 29, 1990. He completed Infantry One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, GA. His first duty assignment was in 2/12 Infantry Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado as a Mortar carrier driver and assistant gunner. He was then reassigned to 3/5 Calvary Regiment Kirchgoens, Germany (The Rock). After a 6 month deployment in support of Operation Joint Endeavor to The Former Republic of Macedonia and a 4 month deployment to Bosnia, he was assigned as a Mortar Squad Leader for 1/23rd Infantry Regiment, Fort Lewis, WA. After 2 years, 1SG Austin once again went overseas to Friedberg, Germany where he served as a Mortar Section Leader/Fire Direction Center Chief for 1/36 Infantry Regiment. While in 1/36IN, then SSG Austin, deployed for 7 months to Kosovo in support of Operation Joint Guardian in 1999. His next assignment was to the United States Army Recruiting Command where he served as a detailed recruiter in Newport News, VA. 1SG Austin then served as the Mortar Platoon Sergeant for 2/63 Armor Regiment in Vilseck, Germany. While assigned there, he deployed to Baqubah, Iraq for 13 months on Forward Operating Base (FOB) Scunion). After his tour in Germany was complete, he was assigned as a Observer/Controller Trainer for the 56th Stryker Brigade at Fort Indiantown Gap, PA. The Republic of Korea was 1SG Austin’s next assignment as a Company First Sergeant for Bravo Company and Headquarters Company 1/72 Armor Regiment (First Tank). Once his tour in Korea was over, 1SG Austin came to Fort Jackson, SC and was assigned in his current duty position. 1SG Austin’s military education includes: Warrior Leader Course (WLC), Advanced Leader Course (ALC), Senior Leader Course (SLC), Stryker Leader Course, Army Recruiter Course, Force XXI Battle Command Course, and the NBC Defense Course. 1SG Austin’s awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with 1 OLC, Army Commendation Medal with 5 OLC, Army Achievement Medal with 6 OLC, Good Conduct Medal 6th award, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, Korean Defense Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal with Bronze Star, Nato Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with 1 OLC, United Nations Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 5, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Valorous Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Recruiter Badge with 3 Sapphires and is an inductee as a member of The National Infantry Association’s “Order Of St. Maurice.”