Command Sgt. Maj. Charles R. Ellis III is a native of Raleigh, North Carolina. He enlisted in the Army on 1 August 2000. He attended Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sill, OK. Upon completion of training, he was awarded the Military Occupational Specialty 13B, Cannon Crewmember.
CSM Ellis’ key assignments and duties include C BTRY, 3/321 FA, Fort Bragg, NC as a Cannon Crewmember, Ammo Team Chief, and Howitzer Gunner; XVIII Airborne Corps Headquarters, Fort Bragg, NC as an Administrative Assistant and Driver; 1181st TTBN, Meridian, MS as a Terminal Operation Sergeant; Baton Rouge Recruiting Battalion, Baton Rouge, LA as an Army Recruiter and Future Soldier Leader; Nashville Recruiting Battalion, Nashville, TN as an Assistant Station Commander and Station Commander; Kansas City Recruiting Battalion, Kansas City, MO as a Station Commander, Master Trainer, and First Sergeant; Oklahoma City Recruiting Battalion, Oklahoma City, OK as a First Sergeant; Nashville Recruiting Battalion, Nashville, TN as a First Sergeant; and Columbus Recruiting Battalion, Columbus, OH as an Operations Sergeant Major.
He has deployed in support of Operation Constant Vigil in Southwest Asia, as well as Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq.
CSM Ellis has completed all levels of Primary Military Education, including the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy (Class 73), Airborne School, General Driving Course, Combat Life Savers Course, Army Recruiting Course, Station Commander Course, Master Trainer Course, Equal Opportunity Course, Recruiting Company Commander First Sergeants Course, Battalion Pre-Command Course, and the CSM Developmental Course. Additionally, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies, graduating Suma Cum Laude, from the University of Arkansas Grantham.
CSM Ellis’ awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (3rd award), the Joint Service Commendation Medal (2nd oak leaf cluster), the Army Commendation Medal (6rd oak leaf cluster), the Army Achievement Medal (5th oak leaf cluster), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award (1st bronze oak leaf cluster), the Army Superior Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal (7th award), National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (1 bronze star device), the Iraq Campaign Medal (2 campaign stars), the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon (5th award), the Army Overseas Service Ribbon (Bronze Numeral 2), the Parachutist Badge, the Gold Recruiting Badge w/ 3 sapphires, the Recruiter Ring, Glen E. Morrell Award for Recruiting Excellence, and the U.S. Army Recruiting Excellence Medallion. He is also a recipient of the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara.