LTC Gianopulos’ assignments include Rifle Platoon Leader in the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division (Light); Rifle Platoon Leader, Scout Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer in the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division (Forward); Assistant Operations Officer and Company Commander in 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Infantry Division (Air Assault); Assistant Professor of Military Science at Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI; Battalion Logistics Officer, Battalion Executive Officer and later Battalion Commander of 2nd Battalion 351st Infantry Regiment, First Army-East; Watch Team Officer and G-3 Chief of Operations and Training in US Army South; Battalion Executive Officer, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, Brigade Executive Officer and Deputy Commander of the Infantry Training Brigade, Fort Benning, GA; and Security Assistance Team Commander, Fort Bragg, NC. His deployments include Operation Just Cause (Panama), Operation Secure Tomorrow (Haiti) and Operation Enduring Freedom (Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan).
LTC Gianopulos recently redeployed from Afghanistan where he served as the Senior Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Counter-Narcotics within the Minister of Interior’s Office and the Operational Integrator for all Afghan Anti-Crime Police Special units.
LTC Gianopulos’ awards and decorations include a Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal (7 OLC), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC), the National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd Award), the Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, the Air Assault Badge and Parachutist Badge.
Dear Family and Friends:
Greetings from Fort Jackson, where your Soldier is undergoing U.S. Army Basic Combat Training. Basic combat training is the first step toward a very challenging and rewarding experience in service to our nation. The purpose of Basic Combat Training is to transform volunteer civilians into competent and confident Soldiers who can contribute to mission accomplishment in their first unit of assignment. This is accomplished through extensive, realistic training in combat marksmanship, physical readiness and basic combat skills. Soldiers also learn about the values while developing character and discipline, emerging as proud members of the Army team. I invite you to attend your Soldier’s Family Day and Graduation Ceremony. These are important events in your Soldier’s life and I hope you can attend them.
For more information and pictures from 1st Battalion 61st Infantry Regiment you can visit our Facebook page at:
Anthony J. Gianopulos
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
Commanding Officer
A native of Dry Branch, Georgia ,Willie Parker Jr, enlisted in the United States Army in August 1985 as an Infantryman. He completed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Command Sergeant Major Willie Parker Jr. has served in a variety of Army assignments and duty positions; which have included service as a M113 Personnel Carrier Driver, M-60 Machine Gunner, M-203 Gunner, and Rifleman stationed at Kirchgoens, Germany “THE ROCK”; Team Leader Fort Irwin, California; Team Leader and Squad Leader Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Squad Leader Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Drill Sergeant Fort Jackson, South Carolina; G-3 Operations Sergeant 2ND Infantry Division, Camp Red Cloud, Korea; Platoon Sergeant, Brigade Air NCO and Resource Management Sergeant Major Fort Bragg, North Carolina, First Sergeant Fort Benning, Ga., Operations Sergeant Major, Fort Bragg, NC, Command Sergeant Major, 4th BSTB, Fort Bragg, NC, G3/DPTMS Sergeant Major, Fort Jackson, SC, and currently the Command Sergeant Major of 1st Battalion 61st Infantry, Fort Jackson, SC.
His military education spans four levels of the Non-Commissioned Officer Education System. Command Sergeant Major Parker is a graduate of the Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course, Advanced Non-Commissioned Officers Course, The First Sergeant Course and The United States Army Sergeants Major Academy (class number 56). He is also a graduate of the Basic Airborne Course, Jumpmaster Course, Combat Lifesavers Course, Air Assault School, Drill Sergeant School, and NBC School. He has completed the Master Fitness Trainer Course and the Light Leaders Course. Command Sergeant Major Parker holds an Associate Degree from Excelsior College and he is pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree from Trident University International.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (4th OLC), Army Commendation Medal (7th OLC), Army Achievement Medal (8th OLC), Good Conduct Medal (8th Award), National Defense Service Medal, South West Asian Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Medal (4), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon (4), NATO Medal, Multi- National Forces Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), Kosovo Campaign Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge w/Star, Expert Infantryman Badge, Drill Sergeant Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Driver and Mechanic Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.