Command Sergeant Major (Ret) Martin S. Celestine is a native of St. Thomas V.I. and enlisted in the United States Army on 28 August 1990.  He completed Infantryman’s One Station Unit Training (OSUT) and Basic Bradley Crew Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. CSM (Ret) Celestine has served in every leadership position in the Infantry from Team Leader, Bradley Section Sergeant, Squad leader, Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, Operations Sergeant Major, and Command Sergeant Major. In his last assignment he was responsible for building and Sustaining the Maneuver Force as the CSM of the Maneuver Center of Excellence.

Throughout Celestine’s 30 years of service, his assignments include: Bradley Fighting Vehicle Infantryman/Rifleman, 2nd -15th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division(M), Schweinfurt, Germany; Bradley Gunner/Dismount Team Leader, 1/5 Cavalry Division(M), Fort Hood, Texas; Bradley Section Sergeant/Squad leader 1/6 IN, 3rd Armored Division, Baum holder, Germany; Drill Sergeant/Drill Sergeant of Year, 1/19 IN, Fort Benning, Georgia; Platoon Sergeant/First Sergeant, 1/15 IN, 3rd IN Division(M), Fort Benning, Georgia; First Sergeant, 1/30 IN, 3RD IN Division, Fort Benning, Georgia; Senior Enlisted Military Instructor, University Of Central Florida, 6th Brigade Eastern Region Army ROTC; First Sergeant, 1/72 Armored Division, Camp Casey Korea; First Sergeant, Head Quarters Headquarters Company 1/72 Armor Division, Camp Casey Korea; First Sergeant, 3/47 IN, Basic Combat Training Brigade, Fort Benning, Georgia; Operation Sergeant Major, 3/47 IN, Basic Combat Training Brigade, Fort Benning, Georgia; and served as the Command Sergeant Major for The Multinational Counter Improvised Explosive Device Observer Controller Training Team, Joint Multinational Training Center Hohenfels, Germany, CSM 1/4 Infantry, CSM  1ST Squadron 2ND Cavalry Regiment, CSM 2D Cavalry Regiment, CSM 1ST Brigade 1ST Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. CSM 5TH Armor Brigade, Fort Bliss, Texas, and the Infantry School CSM Fort Benning, Georgia.

CSM(Ret) Celestine’s awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit w/3 OLC, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Ribbon (6th Award), Army Commendation Medal (8th award), Army Commendation Medal  (V Device) Army Achievement Medal (5th award), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal (9th award), National Defense Service Medal (2nd award), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal—Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal—Campaign Star,  Global War on Terror Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Non- Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (5th award), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (5th award), NATO Medal, Drill Sergeant Badge , Ranger Tab, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.

CSM (Ret) Celestine’s deployments include Operation Able Sentry in Macedonia, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Joint Endeavor.

CSM (Ret) Celestine is a graduate of the, Bradley Master Gunner Course, Bradley Fighting Vehicle Evaluator Course, Drill Sergeant School, Ranger School, Airborne School, Battle Staff Course, Cadre Instructor Training Course, Master Fitness Training Course, Joint Professional Senior Enlisted Course, Combative Levels 3, graduate of the United States Sergeants Major Academy, Class 60 and the US Army War College Nominative Leaders Course.

In addition to a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Troy State University. CSM (Ret)Celestine holds a Certificate of Training in Homeland Security from Webster University, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification GA Tech University, and Project Management Certification from Syracuse University.

CSM (Ret) Celestine retired in February of 2021 and resides in Phenix City Alabama.

Martin is the former Vice President of Operations for the National Infantry Museum Foundation  and currently serves as the Director of Business Development for Sparta Software Corporation.