1SG Alford was born and raised in Zebulon, North Carolina on 14 October 1973. He joined the U.S. Army in August 1993 as an Infantryman and attended Basic Combat Training and AIT at Ft Benning GA.

1SG Alford’s initial assignment was in January 1994 to Bravo Company 5th Battalion 14th Infantry Regiment at Schofield Barracks Hawaii; his duty positions included Squad Automatic Machine Gunner, M-60 Machine gunner and Fire Team Leader. 1SG Alford also attended and earned his Air Assault Badge. While assigned to B Company, 5-14 INF REG he deployed to Sinai Egypt in support of the Multinational Forces and Observers from July 1994 to January 1995, during that time he earned the coveted Expert Infantryman’s Badge. In May of 1997 he was then assigned to Bravo Company 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment at Ft Drum, N.Y. While assigned to B Co 2-22, IN REGT, 1SG Alford held positions as a Fire Team Leader and Squad Leader; he also attended and earned the jungle warfare patch at the Jungle Warfare Training Center in Panama. 1SG Alford then received orders to become a Recruiter. Upon completion of the Basic Recruiter course, in November 1997, he was assigned to the mighty Hammer of the South Jacksonville Battalion, Daytona Beach Company. During his time as a recruiter he earned his Gold Badge with three Sapphires and his Recruiter Ring. 1SG Alford was then assigned in December of 2003 to Charlie Company 1st Battalion 14th Infantry Regtiment, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii as a Squad Leader he served there for six years. During his time there he was deployed two times one in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I and II from January 2004 to February 2005, and the second time as a Stryker Platoon Sergeant in support of OIF 2007-2009. After the second deployment he was reassigned to his current assignment as a Basic Combat Training First Sergeant for Charlie Company 3-34 IN REGT at Ft Jackson, S.C. As the First Sergeant of Charlie Company, he successfully trained and mentored two of his Drill Sergeants to compete and win the Battalion’s Best Drill Sergeant Competition. 1SG Alford also had four of his Drill Sergeants be awarded the Expert Infantryman’s Badge. Through his leadership, a Charlie Company Drill Sergeant placed first in Fort Jackson’s NCO of the Year and went on to compete in the TRADOC NCO Of the Year competition.

1SG Alford’s military education and schooling include all Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Courses through the First Sergeant course, Recruiter school, Air Assault School. He is currently a few credits short of his associate of Arts in general studies, and in the near future will be pursuing a Bachelors/Masters degree in Home Land Security.

He is the recipient of several awards and decorations to include the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Expert Infantry Badge, Recruiter Badge (gold w/ three sapphires) and Air Assault Badge. He has earned the Bronze Star Medal w/OLC, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal w/2OLC, Army Achievement Medal w/ 2OLC, Global War on Terrorism Expedition and Service Medals, Iraq Campaign Medal w/2BSS, Multinational Force and Observers Medal and the Good Conduct Medal w/5 Knots. Permanent Unit Awards include Valorous Unit Award w/2OLC and the Meritorious Unit Award.

1SG Alford is married to the former Joy Rice of Roseville, N.C. and has three children, Mackenzie(11), Alyssa(10) and Carlie(5).