NAME:
Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Iuniasolua Tului Savusa
BIRTHPLACE:
Manu’a, American Samoa
KNOWN FOR:
Savusa assumed duties as command sergeant major, International Security Assistance Force/North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Afghanistan in July 2008 and later as command sergeant major, United States Forces, Afghanistan in October 2008.
SHORT BIO / CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
CSM Savusa holds an Associate of Arts degree from Kemper Military School and College. He is also a graduate of the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Class 46 and has completed all levels of the Non-commissioned Officer Education System, to include the First Sergeant Course. He has also completed the Ranger Course, Airborne School, Jump Master School, Drill Sergeant School, Air Assault School, Pathfinder Course, Battle Staff Course, and the (Keystone) Command Senior Enlisted Course.
As an Infantryman, he spent the majority of his career in infantry, ranger, air assault, and airborne assignments. CSM Savusa has continually served in leadership positions, such as team leader, squad leader, platoon sergeant, scout platoon sergeant, drill sergeant, senior air assault instructor, chief instructor light fighters infantry course, Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor, first sergeant, and operations sergeant major.
CSM Savusa has also served as battalion CSM of 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky., brigade CSM of 3d Brigade, 187th Infantry Regiment (Rakkasans), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky., CSM, Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, La., CSM for Southern European Task Force (Airborne), Vicenza, Italy, and as the CSM United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Heidelberg, Germany.
In support of the Global War on Terrorism, in 2002 he deployed to Afghanistan and served as the CSM, Task Force Rakkasan, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Operation Enduring Freedom I. In 2003, he deployed as the CSM, 3d Brigade, 187th Infantry Regiment (Rakkasan), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Operation IRAQI FREEDOM I. In 2005, he again deployed with Southern European Task Force (Airborne) as the CSM, Combined Joint Task Force – 76, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM VI.
He assumed duties as Command Sergeant Major, International Security Assistance Force/North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Afghanistan on 11 July 2008 and later as Command Sergeant Major, United States Forces, Afghanistan on 3 October 2008 (a dual-hatted command).
CSM Savusa serves as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader and advisor to the United States Pacific Command Combatant Commander and staff. He provides an enlisted perspective on AOR strategic vision, theater security cooperation, including partner nations enlisted leadership development, and the operational readiness of 350,000 United States military personnel. CSM Savusa creates awareness and provides guidance on the commander’s theater strategic objectives to all United States enlisted personnel.
He serves as the senior mentor for all command senior enlisted personnel assigned to service component Headquarters and Sub-Unified Commands, as well as Joint Task Force command senior enlisted leaders. As a command representative, he presents an enlisted perspective to countries requesting assistance in developing and maintaining a corps of professionally committed technically and tactically competent enlisted leaders.
- First Samoan to attain the level of Post Command Sergeant Major
- First Samoan to become Command Sergeant Major for the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force in Italy
- First Samoan to be Command Sergeant Major in an Army installation with command over all of Europe
- Legion of Merit (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster)
- Bronze Star Medal with “V” (2nd oak Leaf Cluster)
- Defense Meritorious Service Medal
- Meritorious Service Medal (4th Oak Leaf Cluster)
- Army Commendation Medal (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster)
- Army Achievement Medal (7th Oak Leaf Cluster)
- National Defense Ribbon (Bronze Service Star)
- GWOT Expeditionary Medal (with Arrow Head Device)
- GWOT Service Medal
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal
- Iraq Campaign Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal (9th Award)
- Korean Defense Service Medal
- NCO Professional Development Ribbon (4)
- Army Service Ribbon
- Multinational Force & Observer Medal
- Combat Infantryman Badge
- Expert Infantryman Badge
- Parachutist Badge
- Pathfinder Badge
- Air Assault Badge
- Drill Sergeant Badge
- Ranger Tab
- Italian Army Parachutist Badge