Command Sgt. Maj. Joshua Holton hails from Sumner, Michigan. He began his military career at age 17 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a Military Police Soldier. He is a graduate of Ithaca Public High School in Ithaca, Michigan. His academic achievements include a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership and Workforce Development from the Command and General Staff College and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Excelsior University.
Holton’s assignments include serving as a gunner and personal security detail, Fort Drum, New York; patrolman, Special Reaction Team leader and military working dog handler at Fort Benning, Georgia; recruiter and station commander for the Sarasota Recruiting Company, Tampa Recruiting Battalion; station commander for the Iron Mountain Recruiting Company, Milwaukee Recruiting Battalion; first sergeant for the Mount Clemens Recruiting Company, Great Lakes Recruiting Battalion; instructor at the Recruiting and Retention College at Fort Knox, Kentucky; and operations sergeant major for the Kansas City Recruiting Battalion.
Holton’s military education includes the Sergeants Major Academy (Class 74), Master Leaders Course, USAREC Pre Command Course, Recruiting Company Commander and First Sergeant Course, Master Trainer Course, Middle Manager Course, Common Faculty Development Instructor Course, Master Resiliency Course, Senior Leaders Course, Station Commander Course, Army Recruiter Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Military Working Dog Handler Course, Active Shooter Patrol Response Train-The-Trainer Course, Special Reaction Team Training Course, Basic Leaders Course, Pathfinder Course, Air Assault Course, and the Basic Airborne Course.
Holton’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (sixth award), Army Commendation Medal (third award), Army Achievement Medal (sixth award), Army Superior Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation Award; Army Good Conduct Medal (sixth award), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (one star), Iraq Campaign Medal (one star), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development (Numeral 5), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon (Numeral 2), Basic Army Instructor Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Drivers Wheeled Badge, Expert Marksmanship Badge, Gold Recruiter Badge, and the Gold German Marksmanship Badge.