Lowe appointed command sergeant major for 1140th Engineer Battalion

WAPPAPELLO TRAINING SITE, Mo. -- When Timothy Lowe enlisted in the Missouri National Guard as a high-school junior, his goal then was to become a first sergeant someday. He surpassed his goal Saturday, accepting an appointment as command sergeant major for the 1140th Engineer Battalion.

Lowe was appointed to the post April 3 during a ceremony at the Missouri National Guard's Wappapello Training Site, less than 20 miles from where Lowe grew up in Poplar Bluff.

"This is most definitely something I've been working toward," Command Sgt. Maj. Lowe said immediately following the ceremony. "I wanted to be a first sergeant when I first enlisted. So I set a goal, reach it and then set another one. I've been very blessed in my career in the National Guard."

During the outdoor ceremony at the 1140th's drill weekend, battalion commander Lt. Col. John Oberkirsch pinned Lowe with his new rank and heaped praise on his new command sergeant major.

"He's got a lot of people skills," Oberkirsch said. "He discusses issues immediately with the Soldiers and the NCO corps as far as what needs to be improved upon. He doesn't let it sit. It doesn't go unattended and I've seen some improvements under his leadership already."

Oberkirsch said he expects his command sergeant major to be candid, especially as it relates to the status of the Soldiers under his command.

"I need to get an honest 'Here's what's going on with the Soldiers and their families,'" Oberkirsch said. "I absolutely expect Command Sgt. Maj. Lowe to be that kind of leader. He grew up in Southeast Missouri and he already knows the Soldiers and their families very well."

As command sergeant major, Lowe is the senior enlisted advisor to the battalion commander and will serve as a monitor of, and advocate for, the enlisted men and women in the battalion.

Lowe said the Soldiers of the 1140th can expect him to be "a Soldier's Soldier. They can expect me to be honest and up-front."

Lowe, 40, has 22 years of military experience. He began his military career in 1987, enlisting under the Split Option Program as an administrative specialist with the 4th Support Battalion in Poplar Bluff. Since his enlistment, he has attended several military courses and has obtained six Army military occupation specialties.

Following high-school graduation, Lowe was hired full-time as a clerk typist with the 735th Main Support Battalion. Leading up to his assignment as command sergeant major, Lowe has had marked success in each traditional and full-time position he's held while serving in the Missouri National Guard. For example, he was promoted to the rank of master sergeant at the young age of 29 and sergeant major at the age of 38.

Command Sgt. Maj. Lowe's full-time National Guard positions held are administrative specialist, personnel administrative noncommissioned officer, military intelligence analyst, personnel services NCO, training NCO, senior personnel sergeant and battalion operations sergeant with the 735th Main Support Battalion. Lowe also served as the support operations NCO with the 735th Quartermaster Company in De Soto, and lastly as the brigade senior logistics sergeant major with the 35th Engineer Brigade in Fort Leonard Wood.

Lowe deployed as the first sergeant with Delta Company 735th Main Support Battalion in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in June 2004. His unit consisted of more than 200 Soldiers from Missouri, Kansas, Florida and California. His unit -- a special electronics, missile maintenance and supply company -- ran the largest divisional supply support activity in theatre. Under his supervision, his unit provided forward observation point and entry control base security.

His unit was tasked daily to provide security and sustainment support for convoy logistical patrols throughout north-central Iraq amidst the most dangerous territories in country, the Sunni Triangle. He was first sergeant for Company D for deployment until May 2005.

Lowe has been the recipient of many federal and state awards and has been presented with more than 20 challenge coins form distinguished military members ranging from state sergeants majors to lieutenant generals.

Lowe isn't thinking about his next goal just yet.

"I want to make sure I'm successful here first," he said. "I want to make an impact."

Lowe and his wife, Tracy, reside in Plato, Mo. They have three sons, Taylor, Cade and Adan.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.

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For more information about this release, please contact Scott Moyers at (573) 339-6264 or by e-mail at scott.moyers1@us.army.mil.