Command Sgt. Maj. Jose Hernandez was born in Dominican Republic. He enlisted in the U.S. Army as a motor transport operator in March 1998 after completion of a four year enlistment with the United States Marine Corps.
Hernandez has served in numerous assignments at the company, battalion, and brigade levels to include driver/chauffeur, squad leader, assistant truckmaster, recruiter, recruiting station commander, instructor/writer/developer at the U.S. Army Recruiting and Retention College, recruiting company first sergeant, recruiting battalion command sergeants major, and command sergeant major for Area Support Group Qatar and Jordan.
Hernandez has completed all levels of primary military education to include being a graduate of the Sergeants Major Course Class 67, he has attended several other professional military training courses to include the Battalion and Brigade Pre-Command Courses; Battalion and Brigade Command Sergeants Major Development Course; Recruiting First Sergeants Course, Resiliency Executive Course, Master Resiliency Trainer Course, Recruiter Trainer Course, Basic Instructors Course, Recruiting Center Leaders Course, Basic Recruiter Course, and Unit Prevention Leader’s Course. In addition to his military education, He holds a master’s degree in health care administration from Park University, as well as bachelor and an associate degree in business administration from Columbia Southern University.
Hernandez’ awards include the Legion of Merritt, Meritorious Service Medal (3OLC), Army Commendation Medal (3OLC), Army Achievement Medal (4OLC), Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal (5th award), Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal (3 Service stars), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, the German Marksmanship Badge (Schuetzenschnur) Silver, Basic Recruiter Badge (3 Gold Stars), Gold Recruiter Badge with 3 Sapphire Stars, the coveted Gold Recruiter Ring, he is also a member of the SMA Glen E. Morrell order of Recruiting Excellence and has been awarded the U.S. Army Recruiting Command’s Recruiting Excellence Medallion.