Captain Vernon J. James II is currently the out-going Commander for B. Co. 3/60th INF REGT. The responsibilities inherent to this position consist of coordinating, planning, resourcing, and executing the integration and training of America’s Sons and Daughters into future Soldiers in the United States Army. To manage training and supervise safety for IET Enlistees through iterative three-phase BCT training cycles. To ensure Cadre and their Families are resourced to maintain a fulfilling quality of life. To lead, mentor, and inspire all under the B. Co. 3/60th INF REGT Banner to aspire to the heights of their personal and professional potential.
Captain James was commissioned on May 29th, 2004 through the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. On July 4th of that same year Captain James would wed the former Jacqueline Rebecca Kelly at Faith Deliverance Church in Decatur, GA. Immediately following, Captain James began his Officer Basic Course in August of that year, and would go on to become an Honor Graduate for the class of 04-04. Upon completion of the ADA Officer Basic Course Captain James received orders to Ft. Benning Georgia, where he would attend and graduate the United States Army Airborne School, en-route to his first duty station A/1-43 BN ADA at Suwon Air Base, Korea.
Captain James served 8 months on Suwon Airbase, in which time he served as the Assistant Fire Control Platoon Leader and Motor pool OIC, certified Table IV and Table VIII, and conducted hot status crew operations in defense of the Korean peninsula. Captain James returned to the Continental United States and fell under A/3-43 BN ADA, at Ft. Bliss, TX. Under A/3-43 BN, Captain James would serve as Launcher Platoon Leader, receive his promotion to 1st Lieutenant, and enjoy a long awaited reunion with his family.
After ten months on station Captain James received orders to deploy to Qatar to provide Air and Missile Defense for the Asian Games, immediately followed by orders to deploy to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, culminating in a 16 month deployment. During this operational deployment, Captain James achieved Table XII certification, served as Launcher Platoon Leader, Battery Executive Officer, received his promotion to Captain and saw the birth of his first child, daughter Néa Simone James.
Upon redeployment, Captain James participated in the Earth, Wind and Fire Experiment 2008, which pre-validated the employment of C-RAM systems in theater, and served as Assistant S-3 under 3-43 BN for 6 months prior to reporting to the Captains’ Career Course. CPT James is a 2008 graduate of the Modern Army Combatives Level II Course and Captains’ Career Course Class 04-08.
CPT James received follow on orders to the Headquarters of the 4th Cavalry Brigade, Fort Knox, Kentucky; where he served for 18 months as the Brigade Chief of Operations and would see the birth of his second child, son; Kahlil Dominic James. CPT James would go on to transition to the S-3 for the 1-410th FA BN for the following eight months of his assignment. During his tenure, CPT James served an integral role in mobilizing over 8000 U.S. Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom/ Operation Enduring Freedom; as an ambassador to the Royal Jordanian Army through two iterations of Operation Eager Light; and a graduate from the Foreign Services Institute in Washington D.C. and the COIN Academy in Kabul, Afghanistan.
EDUCATION: 2004 United States Military Academy, Bachelor of Science, Environmental Engineering, West Point, New York; 2007 Defense Acquisition University, Level I Acquisition and Level I Logistics Certification, by correspondence; and 2008 Webster’s University, Master of Arts, Leadership and Management, Ft. Bliss, Texas, degree program incomplete/ in progress.
ASSIGNMENTS: March 2005 - November 2005, Assistant Platoon Leader, A/1-43 BN, Suwon, Korea; November 2005 – September 2006, Platoon Leader, A/3-43 BN, Ft. Bliss, Texas; October 2006 – February 2008, Platoon Leader/Executive Officer, A/3-43 BN, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait / Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar; February 2008 – August 2008, Assistant S-3, HHB/3-43 BN, Ft. Bliss, Texas; August 2008 – December 2008, Student, C/1-56 BN, Ft. Bliss, Texas; February 2009 – September 2010, BDE CHOPS, 4th CAV BDE, Ft. Knox, Kentucky; and October 2010 – June 2011, BN S-3, 1-410th FA BN, Ft. Knox, Kentucky.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS: Army Commendation Medal (2 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (3 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Korean Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (Bronze Numeral ‘2’).
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS: Association of the United States Army: Omar Bradley Chapter Life Member.
Phone Numbers:
Training Room: (803) 751-4533
Mailing Address:
5482 Jackson Boulevard
Columbia, SC 29207
1SG Redd is a native of Memphis Tennessee and entered the Army in July 1996. She attended basic training at Ft. Jackson, SC and Advanced initial training at Ft. Lee, VA where she was awarded the primary MOS 92A. She’s held a myriad of leadership positions to include Squad Leader, Section Sergeant, Warehouse NCOIC, Operations Sergeant, Division Aviation Logistics NCO, Platoon Sergeant, Theater Procurement NCOIC, Material Management NCO, and Senior Drill Sergeant.
Her previous assignment locations include C 10th AVN, Fort Drum, NY; 227th GS Co Fort Campbell, KY; A Co 8-101st AVN Regt Fort Campbell, KY; A Co 96th ASB Fort Campbell, KY; HHC 101st BTB 101st SBDE Fort Campbell, KY; F Co 3/60th INF Regt Fort Jackson, SC. 1SG Redd has three combat deployments with 101st Airborne Division, Air Assault. Two in support of OIF and one in support of OEF.
Her military education includes Warrior Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, Senior Leader Course, First Sergeant Course, Company Commander/First Sergeant Course, Drill Sergeant School, Total Army Instructor Training Course, Battle Staff NCO course, Support Operations Course Phases I and II, Defense Hazardous Materials/Waste Handling Course, Combat Lifesaver Course, Modern Army Combatives Training Course, and the Contracting Officer Representative Course.
Her military awards and decorations include: Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal (5 knots), National Defense Service Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Non Commissioned Officer Professional Development ribbon with numeral 3, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon and the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) medal, Drill Sergeant Identification Badge and the Driver’s Badge.
1SG Redd is a single mother of two daughters ages 13 and 11. She has an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Austin Peay State University and is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.
