SFC Jose Castro

SFC Castro was born in Salinas, California. He enlisted in the United States Army in 2012 and attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, as a 19K Armor Crewman.

His first assignment was with the 2nd Infantry Division, Crazy Company, Camp Casey, South Korea, in 2013. In 2014, he was reassigned to Fort Carson, Colorado, where he served with the 4th Infantry Division, 3rd Brigade, 1-8 Infantry Regiment. During this time, he deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield in Kuwait and later participated in Operation Atlantic Resolve in Poland.

In 2019, SFC Castro was selected to become a Drill Sergeant at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he served with E Company, 1-81 Armor Regiment. In 2021, he was assigned to Fort Irwin, California, with 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (OPFOR), where he played a key role in training rotational units through force-on-force combat simulations.

In 2025, SFC Castro began his current assignment as an MSI-IV Instructor at Norwich University, bringing over a decade of operational and leadership experience to the next generation of Army officers.

SFC Castro Military Education consist of Basic Leader Course (BLC), Advanced Leader Course (ALC), Senior Leader Course (SLC), Master Resilience Trainer (MRT), Master Fitness Trainer (MFT), Equal Opportunity Leader Course (EOL), Combative Level I, Master Driver Course, Mission Command Digital Master Gunner (MCDMG), Combat Lifesaver Course (CLS).

SFC Castro's awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (4 Awards), Army Achievement Medal (7 Awards), Army Good Conduct Medal (4 Awards), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 3), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (2 Awards), Certificate of Achievement, Expert Soldier Badge, Drill Sergeant Identification Badge.