John T. Raines III

John T. Raines III is the seventh Senior Enlisted Advisor to the National Guard Bureau since November 8, 2024 and is the main military advisor for training, operations, health of the force, and professional development of enlisted personnel in the ARNG.

Raines enlisted active duty in the Army in August 1989 completed basic military training and advanced individual training at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina, and Ft. Gordon, Georgia, as a 31N Communications Specialist before reclassifying as an 11B Infantryman at Ft. Moore, Georgia.

SEA Raines’ deployments include Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was activated in support of Operation Noble Eagle.

Raines, born in Alabama, is married to Karen Raines has a daughter Stephanie and a son Richard as well as four grandchildren.

Awards and decorations His awards and decorations include:

Combat Infantry BadgeLegion of Merit with oak leaf clusterBronze StarDefense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clustersArmy Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clustersArmy Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clustersGood Conduct Medal with four Award ClaspsArmy Reserve Components Achievement Medal with silver oak leaf clusterNational Defense Service Medal with bronze service starSouthwest Asia Service Medal with three bronze service starsGood Conduct Medal with four Award ClaspsArmy Reserve Components Achievement Medal with silver oak leaf clusterNational Defense Service Medal with bronze service starSouthwest Asia Service Medal with three bronze service starsIraq Campaign Medal with bronze service starGlobal War on Terrorism Service Medal with bronze award numeral 1Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary MedalKorea Defense Service MedalHumanitarian Service MedalArmed Forces Reserve MedalNon-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with Award numeral "6"Army Service RibbonArmy Overseas Service Ribbon with Award numeral "3"Saudi Arabian Kuwait Liberation MedalKuwaitian Arabian Kuwait Liberation MedalJoint Meritorious Unit AwardAlabama Distinguished Service MedalMississippi Magnolia CrossMississippi Magnolia Medal Ranger Tab United States Army Parachutist Badge Air Assault Badge National Guard Bureau Organizational Badge

Army Skill Badges

Ranger Tab Expert Infantryman's Badge Parachutist Badge Air Assault Badge

Promotions

Sergeant, 1 December 1993 Staff Sergeant, 1 June 1996 Sergeant First Class, 10 July 2001 First Sergeant, 1 August 2003 Sergeant Major, 1 May 2008 Command Sergeant Major, 1 February 2010 Senior Enlisted Advisor to the National Guard Bureau, 8 November 2024

Assignments

August 1993 – November 1993, Infantry Fire Team Leader, 1/503rd Infantry Battalion (AASLT), Republic of Korea November 1993 – June 1994, Infantry Squad Leader, 1/503rd Infantry Battalion (AASLT), Republic of Korea June 1994 – December 1996, Infantry Weapons Squad Leader, 2/327th Infantry Battalion (AASLT), Ft. Campbell, KY December 1996 – December 1997, Infantry Squad Leader, 2/327th Infantry Battalion (AASLT), Ft. Campbell, KY December 1997 – July 2001, Infantry Dismount Squad Leader, 1/167th Infantry Battalion, Leeds, AL July 2001 – October 2001, Infantry Battalion Comm Chief, 1/167th Infantry Battalion, Talladega, AL October 2001 – May 2002, Infantry Platoon Sergeant, 1/167th Infantry Battalion, Anniston Army Depot (Activated) May 2002 – July 2004, Infantry First Sergeant, 1/167th Infantry Battalion, Pelham, AL July 2004 – May 2008, 47th Civil Support Team First Sergeant, Mississippi Army National Guard, Flowood, MS May 2008 – June 2009, Combined Arms Battalion Operations SGM, 2-198th, Combined Arms Battalion, MSARNG, Senatobia, MS June 2009 – March 2010, Battalion CSM, 2-198th CAB, MSARNG, Q-West, Iraq March 2010 – December 2010, Combined Arms Battalion Operations SGM, 2-198th CAB, MSARNG, Senatobia, MS December 2010 – June 2011, NCOA Commandant, 2-154th RTI, MSARNG, Camp Shelby, MS June 2011 – October 2012, Regimental CSM, 154th RTI, MSARNG, Camp Shelby, MS October 2012 – March 2014, J3 Sergeant Major, MSNG, Jackson, MS March 2014 – July 2015, J3 Senior Enlisted Leader, United States Indo-Pacific Command, Camp Smith, HI July 2015 – December 2016, MSARNG State CSM, MSARNG, Jackson, MS December 2016 – June 2021, MSNG Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Jackson, MS June 2021 – February 2022, Executive Officer for the Chief of the National Guard Bureau’s Senior Enlisted Advisor February 2022 – November 2024, 13th ARNG Command Sergeant Major November 2024 – Present, 7th SEA to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Pentagon, Washington, DC