Command Sergeant Major Donald R. Felt entered the U.S. Army on July 13, 1983. He completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Georgia in the Military Occupational Specialty of 11B. Immediately following OSUT, he attended the U.S. Army Airborne School. He remained on Airborne status in the U.S. Army until his attendance at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, Class 50.
During his 27 years of service, CSM Felt has held every enlisted leadership position within the Infantry from Fire Team Leader to Division Command Sergeant Major. His assignments include machine gunner, Fire Team Leader, Rifle Squad Leader, Infantry Scout Platoon Sergeant, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Fort Bragg, NC; Ranger Instructor, Support Platoon Leader, 7th Ranger.
Training BN, Dugway Proving Grounds, UT; Platoon Sergeant, Operations Sergeant, and First Sergeant, 3rd Battalion, 505th PIR, Fort Bragg, NC; Operations Sergeant and First Sergeant, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment; Faculty Advisor, Royal Military School, Weert, The Netherlands; and Command Sergeant Major, 1st Battalion, 9th US Cavalry, Fort Hood, TX, where he spent one year deployed to the Iraqi Theatre of Operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II with the 1st Cavalry Division. CSM Felt was assigned as Command Sergeant Major of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Greywolf, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX in July 2005. He served in that capacity during the unit’s 15 month deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08. Upon redeployment, he served as the 1st Cavalry Division’s Interim Command Sergeant Major before assuming the position as the Garrison Command Sergeant Major of Fort Hood, TX, from July 2008 to December 2010.
Highlights of his service include selection as the 82nd Airborne Division Trooper of the Year for 1985, 82nd Airborne Division Non-commissioned Officer of the Year for 1986, and selection as a member of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club. CSM Felt is a graduate of the Basic Leadership Course (Distinguished Honor Graduate), Primary Leadership Development Course (Distinguished Honor Graduate), Infantry Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course, Infantry Advanced Non-Commissioned Officer Course (Exceeded Course Standards), Battle Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Course (Exceeded Course Standards), First Sergeants Course (Exceeded Course Standards), Basic Airborne School, Jump Master Course (Distinguished Honor Graduate), Ranger School, Combat Lifesaver Course, Basic Instructor Course, Recondo Course, Machine Gun Leaders Course, Sergeants Major Residence Course, Class 50, and Garrison Command Sergeant Major Course at the Army Management Staff College.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, 2nd Award; Bronze Star Medal, 2nd Award; Meritorious Service Medal, 5th Award; Army Commendation Medal, 6th Award; Army Achievement Medal, 4th Award; Good Conduct Medal, 9th Award; National Defense Service Medal, 2nd Award; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, 3 Bronze Stars; Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, with numeral 3; Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab, and Master Parachutist Badge, German Shutzenschnur (Gold) Badge, German Parachutist Badge, and Australian Parachutist Badge.
