CSM Dennis Smith served 26.5 years in the Army and his time with the 509th was marked by the first combat deployment of 509th Soldiers since World War II. He was born in Lake City, Florida. He entered the United States Army on 14 February 1986 at Ft. Benning, Georgia. After Completing Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training he was assigned to A Company, 3d Battalion 502d Infantry Regiment, Ft. Campbell, Kentucky where he served two years. CSM Smith was transferred to the United Nations Command, Joint Security Force Pan Mun Jom, Korea where he served one year. Upon his return to CONUS, he was assigned to C Company, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment (Pathfinders) Ft. Rucker, Alabama and served for just over four years. While there he was attached to the 2d Battalion 29th Attack Aviation Battalion as a member of a five man pathfinder team. His team conducted combat operations in Iraq in support of Operations Desert Shield and Storm. These were the first combat troops from the 509th since World War II. In 1992 following this assignment CSM Smith returned to Ft. Benning where he served in the 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment and held the jobs of Squad Leader, Weapons Platoon Sergeant, Rifle Platoon Sergeant, Battalion Assistant Operations Sergeant, Battalion Operations Sergeant, and the Battalion's Liaison NCO. In 2001 CSM Smith left the Ranger Regiment for one year and served as the First Sergeant of B Co. 2-58th Infantry Regiment. Upon completion of this assignment, CSM Smith returned to the Regiment as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company First Sergeant, 3d Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment. At the completion of his First Sergeant duties he moved to 1st Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia where he served as the Battalion Operations Sergeant Major. January 2006 CSM Smith was selected to stand up the 75th Ranger Regimental Special Troop Battalion (Provisional) at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He returned to Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia in November 2006 where he served two and a half years as Command Sergeant Major of the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. CSM Smith deployed eleven times since September 11, 2001 in support of the Global War on Terror, including jumping into western Iraq in 2003. His final assignment was the BDE CSM for the Ranger Training Bridge, where he retired 1 September 2012 after 26.5 years of total service. CSM Smith has also been inducted as a Distinguished Member of the Ranger Training Brigade.
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