Command Sgt. Maj. James C. Sawyer is the CSM of the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion - Columbus, OH.
A native of Fort Worth, Texas and a 2003 graduate of Castleberry High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Army on September 29, 2004, as a 13B, cannon crewmember, and attended One Station Unit Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Sawyer has served a cannon crewmember, Ammunition Team Chief, Gunner, Section Chief, Platoon Sergeant, Detailed Recruiter, Station Commander, Battalion Senior Master Trainer, Company First Sergeant and as an Operations Sergeant Major. His FORSCOM assignments include Fort Campbell, Kentucky and Fort Hood, Texas. His recruiting assignments include Keller Station, Dallas Battalion; Cypress Station, Southern California Battalion; El Monte Station, Los Angeles Battalion; Battalion Headquarters, Baton Rouge Battalion; Lafayette Company, Baton Rouge Battalion; Florence Company, Columbia Battalion; Division Chief, Recruiting and Retention College; HHC First Sergeant, Recruiting and Retention College, and most recently as the Operations Sergeant Major for the Atlanta Battalion. He also has two 12-month deployments to Iraq.
Sawyer is a graduate of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy-Class 71, the Battalion Pre-Command/CSM Development Course, USAREC Battalion & Brigade Pre-Command Course, Recruiting Company Commander First Sergeant Course, Recruiting Operations Officer Course, Health Care Officer-In-Charge Course, Guidance Counselor Operations Course, Station Commander Course, Army Recruiter Course, Common Faculty Development – Instructors Course, Common Faculty Development – Developers Course, Training and Education Middle Managers Course, Master Resilience Course, Digital Training Management System Course, Commander Total Fitness Course, Unit Prevention Leaders Course, and the Combat Live Savers Course. CSM Sawyer graduated from Excelsior College with an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts, a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's degree in homeland security.
Sawyer’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (4th Award), Army Commendation Medal (8th Award), Army Achievement Medal (6th Award), Army Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal (5th Award), National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (4 Bronze Stars), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 5), Army Service Ribbon and the Overseas Service Ribbon (Numeral 2). CSM Sawyer has also been awarded the Combat Action Badge, Gold Recruiter Badge, Army Instructor Badge, Senior Army Instructor Badge, Adjutant General Corps Achievement Medal and the coveted U.S. Army Recruiting of Excellence Medallion.
Sawyer continues to enjoy the company of his wife Meagan Nicole Sawyer of 15 years, formerly of Keller, Texas and their four children, daughter Riley (11), son Ryder (9), daughter Raelyn (6) and son Rogan (3).