Sergeant DeWeese retires

          Sergeant First Class Michael DeWeese began his military career in September 1982 when he enlisted under the delayed entry program as a 63 Bravo (Light Wheel Vehicle Mechanic) and served in the Active Army until April 1987. In April, Deweese transferred to the Iowa Army National Guard to serve as a 63 Bravo in Bravo Company, 224^th Engineer Battalion in Ottumwa.

            Sergeant DeWeese was mobilized with Bravo Company, 224^th Engineers on October 25, 1990, in support of Operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm. He was released from Active Duty on July 21, 1991 and returned to regular National Guard service. In May 1992, Sergeant DeWeese was promoted to Sergeant. In December 1996, Sergeant DeWeese transferred to Detachment 2, 3654 Maintenance Company where he served until March 2002. On March 5, 2002, Sergeant DeWeese was selected for a position at the National Maintenance Training Center as a Light Wheeled Vehicle Supervisor. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant on September 28, 2002 and then promoted to Sergeant First Class on July 1, 2006 when he was selected for the Automotive Repair Supervisor position at National Maintenance Training Center, which is the position he recently retired from.

            Sergeant DeWeese’s military education includes the Light Wheel Vehicle repairer course, Hazardous Cargo Handler Course, Army Instructor/ Trainer course, Wheeled Vehicle Recovery Specialist Course, Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, and Advance Noncommissioned Officer Course.

            Sergeant DeWeese’s awards and decorations include the three awards of the Army Commendation Medal, four awards of the Army achievement Medal, five awards of the Army Good Conduct Medal, four awards of the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, two awards of the National Defense Service Medal, two awards of the Armed Forces Reserve medal, three awards of the Noncommissioned Officer Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, two awards of the Overseas Service Ribbon, two awards of the Army Reserve Components Overseas Training ribbon, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Driver/ Mechanics Badge, and the Ordinance Order of Samuel Sharpe Award.

            Sergeant DeWeese graduated from Sigourney High School in 1983. He married Kimberly on June 29, 1991 and they have four children: Ryan, Matthew, Mary and Dakota.

            Co- worker Sergeant Giese had this to say about DeWeese, “SFC DeWeese has had a hand in training soldiers across the country. Mike has been a part of training National guard units from fifty states and territories over the span of his career. Being a staff member at the National training center for maintenance, Mike has trained hundreds of units over his tenure. Soldiers attending training multiple times will ask for him by name when they return. He is very well liked and respected by his peers. It has been an honor to work along side and wear a uniform with someone of DeWeese’s nature”.