Master Sergeant Howard L. Hawkins, is a native of Melbourne, Florida.
He enlisted in the United States Army in March of 2001. MSG Hawkins attended One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort Benning, Georgia qualifying him as an Indirect Fire Infantryman, MOS 11C. MSG Hawkins previous duty positions and assignments include:
- Private (Basic Training) with 2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry Training Brigade (ITB); Assistant Gunner/ and Gunner with the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany; Squad Leader, Section Sergeant, and Platoon Sergeant with 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC; Platoon Sergeant with 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, KS; Sexual Assault Response Coordinator with 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, KS; Company First Sergeant with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC. Combat Deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism include: one tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2005), four tours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (2007, 2010, 2012, and 2014).
MSG Hawkins military education includes:
- Warrior Leader’s Course (WLC), Advanced Leader’s Course (ALC), Senior Leader’s Course (SLC), Master Leader’s Course (MLC), Infantry Mortar Leader’s Course (IMLC), SHARP Baseline Certification Course, Equal Opportunity Leader’s Course, United States Army Airborne School, United States Army Jumpmaster Course, and the United States Army Pathfinder Course. He is currently pursuing his B.S in Environmental Science.
MSG Hawkins awards and decorations include:
- Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal w/ 4 OLC, Army Achievement Medal w/ 2 OLC, Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ 3 Bronze Stars, Korea Defense Service Medal, NATO Service Medal, GWOT Expeditionary Medal, GWOT Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 4), Valorous Unit Award w/ 2 OLC, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman, Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Estonia Parachutist Badge, and Order of Saint Maurice (Centurion).
MSG Hawkins is currently filling the position as the Senior Military Science Instructor (SMSI) at the University of Tennessee in support of the 7th Brigade Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).
MSG Hawkins is married to the former Linda Bridges and they have three sons, Seth, Tyler, and Paul and one daughter, Kaylee.