Teresa King facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Teresa L. King
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Command Sergeant Major Teresa King at a ceremony in September 2009, where she became the leader of the Drill Sergeant School.
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| Born | 1961 Clinton, North Carolina |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service | 1980–2013 |
| Rank | Command Sergeant Major |
| Unit | XVIII Airborne Corps |
| Awards | Legion of Merit Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (6) |
Teresa L. King (born 1961) is a retired United States Army soldier who made history. She reached the high rank of Command Sergeant Major. She is famous for being the first woman to become the commandant, or leader, of the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant School at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
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Early Life and Joining the Army
Teresa King was born in Clinton, North Carolina, in 1961. She was the eighth of twelve children. Her father was a sharecropper, a type of farmer who grows crops like cucumbers and tobacco on someone else's land.
In 1980, King decided to join the U.S. Army. She completed her initial training at Fort Jackson. After training, her first job was as a postal clerk for the army in Stuttgart, Germany.
A Career of Leadership
Becoming a Drill Sergeant
King volunteered to become a drill sergeant, a soldier who trains new recruits. After graduating from the Drill Sergeant School, she was assigned to train new soldiers at Fort Dix, New Jersey. During this time, she also worked in a role helping to ensure the safety and well-being of soldiers.
Working at the Pentagon
In 1987, King began working at the Pentagon, the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense. She served as an administrative assistant to the Chief of Staff of the United States Army. Later, she worked for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which helps the U.S. work with other countries on defense matters.
Rising Through the Ranks
King left the Pentagon in 1993 and was assigned to Fort Bragg. She later served in South Korea as a first sergeant, a high-ranking leadership position for enlisted soldiers.
In 1997, she made history again. She became the first female First Sergeant for the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the XVIII Airborne Corps. This was the largest company at Fort Bragg, and she held this important job until 2001.
From 2002 to 2005, she served as a command sergeant major at Fort Jackson, overseeing the basic training of new soldiers.
A Historic Achievement
Leading the Drill Sergeant School
In 2009, King was chosen to be the commandant of the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant School. This was a major accomplishment, as she was the first woman ever to hold this position. As the leader, she was in charge of training all the Army's drill sergeants.
She worked to improve the school's training program. She focused on basic skills, discipline, and high standards. In 2011, she oversaw the school's move to a new, modern campus at Fort Jackson.
Facing Challenges
In 2011, King was temporarily paused from her duties while the Army looked into questions about her leadership style. After a six-month review, she was cleared of any wrongdoing and returned to her position.
She retired from the Army in 2013 after more than 30 years of service. She felt she had been treated unfairly and took legal steps to address this. In 2023, the Army agreed to remove a negative report from her official record.
Life After the Army
King has earned several college degrees. She has an associate degree from Northern Virginia Community College. She also earned a bachelor's degree in 2014 and a master's degree in 2023 from Liberty University.
In 2017, King was honored for her amazing career. She was added to the Drill Sergeant Hall of Fame. She was also recognized at the National Women in Military Service to America Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.
Awards and Badges
Throughout her career, King earned many awards for her excellent service.
Decorations
- Legion of Merit
- Defense Meritorious Service Medal
- Meritorious Service Medal (with five Oak Leaf Clusters, showing it was awarded six times)
- Joint Service Commendation Medal
- Army Commendation Medal (with six Oak Leaf Clusters, showing it was awarded seven times)
- Joint Meritorious Unit Award
- National Defense Service Medal (with a Service Star)
- Korean Defense Service Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
- Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon
- Army Service Ribbon
- Army Overseas Service Ribbon
Badges
- Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
- Drill Sergeant Badge
- Parachutist Badge (for jumping out of airplanes)
- Air Assault Badge (for being trained to use helicopters in combat)
- Canadian Parachutist Badge
- German Parachutist Badge
