CSM Jeffrey Grothause
1-305 INF Battalion Command Sergeant Major

Command Sergeant Major Jeffrey A. Grothause is a native of Lima, Ohio and enlisted in the Army in March 1998 as an Infantryman. He completed One Station Unit Training at 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment at Ft Benning, Georgia. During his career, CSM Grothause has served in a variety of positions to include Team Leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Observer Controller/Trainer, Brigade Operations NCO, Company First Sergeant, Battalion Operations Sergeant Major, and Battalion Command Sergeant Major .

CSM Grothause’s previous assignments include 1st BN, 87th Infantry 10th Mountain Division, Ft Drum, New York; 2nd BN 1st Infantry, 172nd SBCT and 1st BN 24th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division(SBCT), Ft. Wainwright, Alaska; 1st, BN 335th Infantry and 205th Infantry Brigade, Camp Atterbury, Indiana; 2nd BN 2nd Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, Ft Knox, Kentucky; 3rd BN 81st Armor (IMSO), Ft Benning, Georgia; United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Ft Bliss, Texas; and 1st Combined Arms Battalion 64th Armor, 3rd Infantry Division, Ft Stewart, Georgia. His most recent assignment was as the Command Sergeant Major for 1st Battalion, 29th Infantry, Ft Benning, Georgia. CSM Grothause’s operational deployments include a peacekeeping mission as part of Operation Joint Forge to Bosnia-Herzegovina, three deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and two deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

CSM Grothause has completed all levels of NCOPDS culminating with graduation from the United States Army Sergeants Major Course Class 68. His military education includes Air Assault School, Pathfinder School, Basic Combatives Course, Combat Lifesaver Course, Equal Opportunity Leaders Course, Master Resiliency Trainer Course, Battle Staff Course, First Sergeant Course, Army Professional Ethics Course, Battalion Pre-Command and Development Course and the DISAM Security Cooperation Course. CSM Grothause has earned an Associate’s Degree from Excelsior College and is pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree from Excelsior in Psychology.

CSM Grothause’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (4th award), Meritorious Service Medal (5th award), Army Commendation Medal (3rd award), Army Achievement Medal (2nd award), Army Good Conduct Medal (8th award), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (3 campaign stars), Iraq Campaign Medal (4 campaign stars), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (with Arrowhead device), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 5), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (Numeral 4), NATO Medal (2nd award), Valorous Unit Award (2nd award), Meritorious Unit Citation (3rd award), Superior Unit Award, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Air Assault Badge, Pathfinder Badge, and he has been awarded the Order of Saint Maurice (Centurion). He is married to the former Tina VanMeter, and they have one son, Austin.