Sergeant First Class Long entered the United States Army in June 2006 and completed One Station Unit Training as an Infantryman at Fort Benning, Georgia.
SFC Long served as an Assistant Machine Gunner and as a Team Leader in 1-502nd Infantry Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. He then served as a recruiter in Huntsville Recruiting Company, 2nd Recruiting Brigade. SFC Long served as a Squad Leader in 1-12 Infantry Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. He then served as a Drill Sergeant in 2-19th Infantry Battalion, 198th Infantry Regiment. In his most recent assignment prior to joining the University of Tennessee ROTC, SFC Long served as a Platoon Sergeant in 2-502nd Infantry Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.
SFC Long deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 07-09. He then deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2014.
SFC Long is a graduate of the following schools:
- Air Assault School, Airborne School, Recruiter School, Drill Sergeant School, Marksmanship Master Trainer Course, Basic Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course, and Senior Leaders Course.
SFC Long’s awards and decorations include:
- the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf cluster, Army Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Good Conduct Medal (5th Award), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one campaign star, Iraqi Campaign Medal with one campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 3, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 2, and NATO Medal. SFC Long has earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, Air Assault Badge, Airborne Badge, Drill Sergeant Badge, and Recruiter Badge.
SFC Long is married to Brooke Long of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. They have two children, daughter Kinley (12) and son Atlas (2).