Military Entrance Processing Station

First Sergeant Michael R. Higgins

United States Army
Salt Lake City Military Entrance Processing Station

First Sergeant Michael R. Higgins is the Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Salt Lake City Military Entrance Processing Station.

First Sergeant Higgins enlisted in the United States Army in February 1992, processing through the Knoxville Military Entrance Processing Station. He completed basic training at Fort Benning, Ga. His first duty assignment was to Fort Bragg, N.C., where he served with 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, in multiple capacities to include Infantryman, Recon Team Member, and Operations Noncommissioned Officer, and later with 82nd Personnel Support Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division as Enlisted Records Team Chief. He was then assigned to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where he served with Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 556th Personnel Support Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, as a Personnel Support Noncommissioned Officer. He then returned to Fort Bragg where he served with Headquarters and Services Battery, 3rd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, as Senior Personnel Service Sergeant and later, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 32nd Medical Logistics Battalion, 44th Medical Command, as Senior Personnel Services Sergeant. He then deployed to Baghram, Afghanistan, with Task Force 44, 44th Medical Command, where he served as Senior Personnel Services Sergeant. He redeployed to Fort Bragg and was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 44th Medical Command, where he served as the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Strength Management. He then deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, with 28th Combat Support Hospital, 44th Medical Command, where he served as Senior Personnel Services Sergeant. He redeployed to Fort Bragg resuming his duties with his previous unit. He again deployed to Baghdad, where he served with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 44th Medical Command, as Chief Personnel Services Sergeant. He redeployed to Fort Bragg where he served with his previous unit as Chief Personnel Services Sergeant. He then served with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion, 78th Infantry Regiment as Senior Personnel Services Sergeant, and later served with 311th Combat Support and Combat Service Support Battalion, 189th Infantry Brigade, as an Observer Controller Trainer also at Fort Bragg. He then returned to Schofield Barracks where he served with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, as Senior Human Resources Sergeant. He then deployed to Tikrit, Iraq, where he served with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, as senior Human Resources Sergeant. He redeployed to Schofield Barracks resuming his duties with his previous unit.

His professional military education includes Infantry One Station Unit Training, Airborne School, Personnel Specialist Course, Warrior Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, Battle Staff Course, Senior Leader Course, First Sergeant Course. He has also earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Troy State University, Troy, Ala.

First Sergeant Higgins’ military awards and decorations include two Bronze Star Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals, seven Army Commendation Medals, eight Army Achievement Medals and numerous unit and service medals and ribbons. He has also earned the Combat Action Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, and German Jump Wings.