Command Sergeant Major James E. Ervin is a native of Florence, South Carolina. He entered the Army in February 1983. He completed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia as an 11B Infantryman.

Command Sergeant Major Ervin’s previous assignments Include: Team Leader with Company C, 1/5th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Squad Leader with Alpha Company 5/16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas; Supply Sergeant and Platoon Sergeant with Charlie Company 5/16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division; Supply Sergeant and Platoon Sergeant, HHC Company, 5/16 Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, where he deployed in support of the Gulf War; Property Book NCO with HHC, 1st Support Battalion, Multi-National Forces and Observers, Sinai, Egypt; Supply Sergeant with Combat Battery, 1/5 ADA, 3rd Infantry Division; Battalion Senior Supply Sergeant with HHC, 11th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division; Supply Accounting NCOIC with HHC/MMC DISCOM, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Edwards, Korea; Asset Management Team and Supply Accounting NCOIC with HHC DISCOM, 3rd Infantry Division; First Sergeant, Alpha Company, Headquarters Command, 3rd Infantry Division; Senior Supply Sergeant with HHB, Division Artillery; First Sergeant with Alpha Company, 3rd Forward Support Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, where he deployed to the Balkans in as part of Kosovo Force 3A in support of Operation Joint Guardian and to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I; Sergeant Major for the Support Operations/Distribution Management Center with the 3rd Sustainment Brigade, Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, where he deployed again to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III. Command Sergeant Major Ervin’s military education includes the Warrior Leaders Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course (11B), Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course (92Y), Advance Noncommissioned Officers Course, the Standard Property Book Re-Design Course, the Battle Staff Course, the First Sergeants Course, the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officers Academy (Class 04D) and a host of other military schools.

Command Sergeant Major Ervin’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal (2nd OLC), the Meritorious Service Medal (1st OLC), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (7th OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (4th OLC), the Good Conduct Medal (7th Award), the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, NATO Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Multi-National Forces and Observers Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, the Combat Action Badge, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon and the Army Overseas Ribbon (3rdOLC).

Command Sergeant Major Ervin holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Physical Education from Claflin College of Orangeburg, South Carolina. CSM Ervin also holds a Master’s of Arts in Management and Leadership from Webster University.