Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Bohannon was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and graduated from Anchor Bay High School in June 1998 in New Baltimore, Michigan. After high school, Command Sgt. Maj. Bohannon enlisted in the U.S. Army in February 2000 as an infantryman, and attended One Station Unit Training, Airborne School, and the Ranger Indoctrination Program at Fort Moore, Georgia.
Command Sgt. Maj. Bohannon’s first assignment was 2nd Ranger Battalion, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, where he served as an Ammunition Bearer to Ranger Rifle Platoon Sergeant. In the winter of 2009, he transferred to Fort Moore, Georgia, where he was assigned to the Ranger Special Troops Battalion and served as the Small Unit Ranger Tactics (SURT) NCO in charge with a follow-on assignment to 3rd Ranger Battalion, where he served as an assistant operations NCO and Alpha Company 1st sergeant. In July 2015, Command Sgt. Maj. Bohannon took responsibility of the 75th Ranger Regiment Headquarters and Headquarters Company and served as the company 1st sergeant for 15 months. After being selected for sergeant major, he was reassigned to 3rd Ranger Battalion where he served as the battalion operation sergeant major. In 2018, he was reassigned to Fort Bragg, where he served as the battalion command sergeant major for 2-508 Parachute Infantry Regiment (2Fury), 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. In 2020, Command Sgt. Maj. Bohannon served as the garrison command sergeant major for United States Army Garrison Ansbach until July 2022. Most recently, he served as the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve Command Senior Enlisted Leader for 12 months. Command Sgt. Maj. Bohannon has deployed 15 times to combat; six deployments to Iraq and nine deployments to Afghanistan.
His military education includes Airborne School, Ranger Indoctrination Program, Ranger Course, 75th Regimental Master Breacher Course, Mountain Warfare Course, Jumpmaster Course, Pathfinder Course, Ranger Assessment Selection Program 2, Joint Special Operations Senior Enlisted Advisor Course and all commensurate NCO Education System courses. Command Sgt. Maj. Bohannon is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree from Norwich University.
Command Sgt. Maj. Bohannon’s awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with Valor device, Bronze Star (5th award), Meritorious Service Medal (3rd award), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (5th award), Army Achievement Medal (7th award), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal (6th award), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Service Medal (2nd award), Iraqi Service Medal (3rd award), Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (5th award), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (3rd award), the Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Master Parachute Badge, Pathfinder Badge, and Ranger Tab.