Army Fires Third Command Sergeant Major in One Month

Army’s Senior Enlisted Leaders Under Scrutiny: A Growing Trend?

Maybe it’s just me, but the US Army seems to be cleaning house in the command sergeant major ranks these days. This is the third time in 30 days that they have let go of the highest-ranking enlisted leader of a brigade-sized or larger unit.

Army Command Sergeant Major Veronica Knapp was recently relieved of her duties as the senior enlisted leader of the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (JTF-NCR) on August 8, 2024. This decision came after a 15-6 investigation, a type of inquiry often conducted in response to allegations of poor leadership, command climate concerns, or misconduct. The specifics of the investigation’s findings have not been disclosed, but her dismissal was officially attributed to a “loss of trust and confidence in her leadership.”

Knapp’s career has been notable, including serving as the first female senior enlisted leader of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in 2021. She was praised for her leadership and initiatives to improve soldier cohesion and welfare during her time in that role. In 2021, she was made the first female senior enlisted leader in the Army’s 101st Airborne Division, the “Screaming Eagles.”

Sgt. Maj. Eberhard Nordman, the JTF-NCR’s provost marshal, has been named Knapp’s acting replacement.

Knapp enlisted in the Army in 2000 and had a distinguished career, including deployments to Afghanistan, Cuba, and Romania. She received numerous awards, including two Legions of Merit, multiple Army Achievement Medals, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. Notably, her biography was removed from the task force’s website following her dismissal, signifying a significant fall from grace in military circles.

This incident is part of a broader trend of senior military leaders being relieved of their duties, raising questions about leadership standards and accountability within the Army.

One week ago to the day, I reported in SOFREP how Command Sergeant Major Matthew Carlson, the senior leader in the Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade, was relieved of his duties in mid-July as a result of “alcohol-related incidents”.

Carlson has been reassigned to Headquarters, US Army, Southern European Task Force, Africa.

As if to prove these things happen in threes, on August 13th, 2024, Command Sergeant Major Harold “Ed” Jarrell, who served as the top enlisted leader for the Army’s 1st Information Operations Command, was relieved of his duties. The decision was reportedly due to a “loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead effectively.” The military often uses this phrase to explain the dismissal of senior officials, although the specific reasons behind Jarrell’s removal remain unclear. I believe I’m beginning to uncover a trend here.

A Closer Look at Command Sergeant Major Turnover

For what it’s worth, Jarrell’s bio is still up on the 1st IO command’s website as of this writing.

Jarrell had a notable career in the Army, initially enlisting in the National Guard in 1999 before transferring to active duty. Over the years, he held multiple key roles, including positions in the 10th Mountain Division and counterintelligence roles within the 10th Special Forces Group and the 75th Ranger Regiment. His career was marked by multiple deployments, including four tours in Afghanistan, and he was recognized with several awards, such as the Combat Infantryman Badge and five Army Commendation Medals. He was also an instructor at the US Army Ranger School.

SOFREP will monitor all three cases closely and will provide new reports as details become available.

In other E-9 news, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that both SOFREP Founder and editor-in-chief Brandon Webb and I recently reported on fake command sergeant major Tim Walz and how he chose to weasel out of a tour of duty in Iraq to run for Congress.

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Disclaimer: SOFREP utilizes AI for image generation and article research. Occasionally, it’s like handing a chimpanzee the keys to your liquor cabinet. It’s not always perfect and if a mistake is made, we own up to it full stop. In a world where information comes at us in tidal waves, it is an important tool that helps us sift through the brass for live rounds.