SFC Pearson Retires After 33 Years of Military Service

FORT HOOD, Texas — After 33 years of active military service, McKenzie native Pietz L. Pearson recently retired from the United States Army, where he held the position of Sergeant First Class (SFC).
SFC Pearson graduated from McKenzie High School in 1989 and entered the United States military nearly three years later, on February 2, 1992.
In his 33 years of service, Pearson has deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, one rotation to Poland (EUCOM) and several other countries.
His assignments included the 212th Engineers Company in Linden, Tenn.; 30th Finance Company in Smyrna, Tenn.; 777th Maintenance Company in Nashville; HQ Starc in Nashville; 526 BSB in Fort Campbell, Ky; 101st Sustainment Brigade in Fort Campbell, Ky; 602 Aviation Support Battalion in Camp Humphreys, Korea; 961st Quartermaster Company in McAllen, Texas; 310th Brigade Combat Team in Fort Polk, La.; 710 Brigade Support Battalion in Fort Polk, La.; Fourth ESC Fort Sam in Houston Texas; 194th Division Sustainment Support Battalion in Camp Humphreys, Korea; Camp Stanley in South Korea; and First Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade in Fort Cavazos/Fort Hood, Texas.
SFC Pearson attended Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. SFC Pearson's Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Included Bridge Crewmember 12C, Finance Specialist 73C, Wheel Vehicle Repairer 63W, Human Resources Specialist 42A and Water Treatment Specialist 92W.
He also held a myriad leadership position to include Honor Guard NCOIC; Casualty Notification Officer (CNO) Squad Leader; Section Sergeant; Sponsorship Coordinator; Operations Sergeant; Platoon Sergeant; Motor Sergeant; Advisor; Battalion Equal Opportunity Leader; Battalion Retention NCO; Finance Specialist NCO; Joint Operation NCO; Supply NCO; Support Operations (SPO) Water NCOIC; Brigade CEFES; Brigade Fund Custody; Field Maintenance Team (FMT) Belton, Texas, Military Relation member; and Family Advocate Program.
SFC Pearson completed Basic Leaders Course, Advance Leaders Course, Senior Leaders
Course, SOLE Demonstrated Logistician Program, Master Leader Course and Third-degree
Taekwondo from Korea, and SFC Pearson obtained a 2S-Identifier for Battle Staff.
SFC Pearson's awards and decorations include one Bronze Star (BSM), one Meritorious Service Medal, seven Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM), five Army Achievement Medal (AAM), one Presidential Unit Citation (PUCA), one Valorous Unit Award (VUA), two Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC), eight Army Good Conduct (AGCM), one Army Superior Unit Award (ASUA), one National Defense Service Medal (NDSMB), four Army Reserve Component Achievement Medals, (ARCAM), one Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM-CS), one Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM), two Iraq Campaign Medal – Campaign Stars (ICM-CS), Global War on Terror Service Medal (GWTSM), Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM), four Non- Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons (NOPDR), one Army Service Ribbon (ASR), three Overseas Ribbons (OSR), Army Reserve Components Overseas Training (ARCOT), Certificates of Achievements (COA), The Armed Forces Reserve Medal (AFRM), NATO Meritorious Service Medal (NATOMDL), Mechanic Badge (DMB-DWV), Marksmanship Badge (MQBSS-R) Order of Saint Martin and Order of Samual Sharpe.
His civilian education includes an associate’s degree in Business, a Master of Business Administration and a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, all from American Intercontinental University.