1SG JOSE ORTIZ
First Sergeant, Veterinary Readiness Activity, Fort Knox

First Sergeant Jose L. Ortiz Jr. was raised in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and joined the United States Army in August 2006. He completed basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and went on to Advanced Individual Training as a 68R (Veterinary Food Inspection Specialist) at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
1SG Ortiz’ past assignments include Rock Island Arsenal Veterinary Section, Ohio Valley District Veterinary Command, Rock Island, IL; Microbiology Section Noncommissioned Officer-in-Charge (NCOIC), Veterinary Laboratory Europe, Landstuhl, Germany; Team NCOIC, 248th Medical Detachment (Veterinary Service Support), Fort Liberty, NC; Gulfport Naval Construction Battalion Base NCOIC, Public Health Command, Gulfport, MS; Veterinary Services NCOIC, Task Force Sinai, Sinai, Egypt; Equal Opportunity Advisor, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, TX; Force Health Protection NCOIC, 421st Multifunctional Medical Battalion, Baumholder Germany; Detachment Sergeant, 64th Medical Detachment (Veterinary Service Support). 1SG Ortiz is currently the 1SG for Veterinary Readiness Activity, Fort Knox, Fort Knox, KY.

1SG Ortiz’ military education includes Field Sanitation Team Training, Drivers Training Course, Advanced Food Technology Course, Warrior Leader Course (Distinguished Honor Graduate), Surveillance Food Laboratory Manager Course, Joint Biological Identification & Diagnostic System Course, Modern Army Combatives Program Level one, Equal Opportunity Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Installation Food Vulnerability Assessment Course, Master Resilience Training Course, Senior Leader Course, Equal Opportunity Advisor Course, Sexual Assault and Response Program Foundation Course, 1SG Pre-Command Course, and Master Leader Course.

1SG Ortiz’ awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with 1 Silver and 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal with 5 Knots, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Noncommission Officers Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 4, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon with Numeral 4, NATO ISAF Ribbon, Multinational Force and Observers Medal with Numeral 2, and the German Schutzenschnur Badge Silver.

1SG Ortiz is a recipient of the COL Clifford L. Walker Leadership Award, a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit, and the Sergeant Morales Club. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Columbia Southern University.
1SG Ortiz lives with his fiancé Mariela and has two daughters, Jianna (16) and Veronica (8).