Command Sergeant Major Phillip Kraus, USA (Ret.)

 Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Kraus was born in St. Mary's, Pennsylvania. He is currently attached to the United States Military Academy Liaison Officer (MALO) Program as a Military Academy Admissions Representative (MAAR) for Southeastern Texas.

CSM Kraus had several significant assignments while on active duty. To Include Countermeasures Search and Analysis Specialist; First Sergeant H & HQ Company, 309th ASA Battalion, Staff Sergeant Major, A/CS Plans and Civil Affairs; Command Sergeant Major, Headquarters Special Troops, 311th COSCOM; Command Sergeant Major, 311th COSCOM; Command Sergeant Major, 1st Brigade, 75th Division (Exercise); and Command Sergeant Major, 75th Division (Exercise).

He holds an Associates of Science Degree from Los Angeles Valley College at Van Nuys and a Bachelor of Science Degree from California State University at Northridge. His military education started with Basic Combat Training, and ended at the US Army Sergeant Majors Academy.

His military decorations and badges are the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (Three Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (Two Oak Leaf Clusters), Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense medal with Bronze Star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Army Achievement Medal (Three Oak Leaf Clusters), Good Conduct Medal, Korean Service Medal, Army Service Medal, NCO Development Ribbon with Number 4, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (Silver Leaf Cluster), Army Outstanding Volunteer Medal, Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon with numeral 4, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Silver Hour Glass, and Expert Rifleman Badge.

Command Sergeant Major Kraus and his wife Bette, currently reside in Missouri City, Texas. They have one child, Amanda. In 2003, he retired from the Departments of Veterans Affairs with over 33 years of service. At retirement he was working as a Decision Review Officer, reviewing, developing and certifying local decisions for the Board of Veterans Appeals in Washington D.C. He then returned as a re-employed annuitant for the Tiger Team, Cleveland, Ohio and rated compensation cases at the Houston Texas Region Office. Tiger Team members specialize in cases over1 year old and/or for veterans who are over age 70. His overall Department of Veterans Affairs service exceeds 37 years.