8th Brigade Leadership

COLONEL James M. Shick Biography

Colonel Jason M. Shick began his military career as an enlisted Infantryman in the United States Marine Corps and later commissioned as a Second Lieutenant through the United States Army Officer Candidate School in December 2003.

His military and civilian education includes completion of the U.S. Army Infantry Officer Basic Course, Maneuver Captain’s Career Course, The Command and General Staff College, The Army War College, Bachelor of Arts from Saint Mary’s College of California and Master of Business Administration from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Colonel Shick’s key assignments include: Rifle Platoon Leader, C/3-21 Infantry Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division; Scout Platoon Leader, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment; Rifle Company Commander, A/2-4 Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division; Dismounted Reconnaissance Troop Commander, C/3-89 Cavalry Squadron, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division; Small Group Leader and Course Director, Maneuver Captain’s Career Course; Executive Officer, 3-21 Infantry Battalion; Brigade Operations Officer, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division; Oman POL/MIL Chief, J5, US Central Command; Executive Officer, Vice J5, US Central Command; Brigade Operations Officer, 2d Security Force Assistance Brigade; Battalion Commander, 1-17 Infantry Battalion, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division; J33 – Current Operations Officer, Security Assistance Group-Ukraine; Battalion Commander, 2nd Battalion, 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade.

Colonel Shick deployed as a Rifle Platoon Leader of the C/3-21 Infantry Battalion to Mosul, Iraq from 2004 to 2005; Assistant Operations Officer, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment to Baghdad and Baqubah from 2007 to 2008; Dismounted Reconnaissance Troop Commander, C/3- 89 Cavalry Squadron to Logar and Wardak Provinces, Afghanistan from 2010 to 2011; Brigade Operations Officer and TAAC-E G3, 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade to Laghman and Nangarhar Provinces, Afghanistan in 2019; Battalion Commander, 2nd Battalion, 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade to the INDOPACOM priority partner nation in 2024.

His military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal,  Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Military Volunteer Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Oversea Service Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Order of Saint Maurice, Order of Saint George, Order of Saint Barbra, Parache Badge, Air Assault Badge, Master Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and Ranger Tab.

CSM Keneti Pauulu’s Biography

Command Sergeant Major Keneti Pauulu is originally from American Samoa. He enlisted in the Army in 1996 as an Infantryman and attended one station unit training at Fort Benning, GA. CSM Pauulu’s assignments include C co 1st BN 24th IN, 1st BDE, 25th ID, Fort Lewis, WA. Scout Platoon, HHC, 1st BN 503rd IN, 1st BDE 2nd ID, Camp Casey, Korea. Team and Squad Leader, C co, 2nd BN, 27th IN, 3rd BDE 25th ID, Schofield Barracks, HI. Training NCO, 1st BN, 19th IN, Training Brigade, Fort Benning, GA. Platoon Sergeant, 1st BN, 38th IN, 4th BDE 2nd ID, Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA. First Sergeant, C co, 2nd BN 35th IN, 3rd BDE 25th ID. First Sergeant HHC, 1st BN, 14th IN and HHC First Sergeant of 2nd SBCT 25th ID. Operations Sergeant Major 1st BN 23rd IN and 1- 2 SBCT, 7th ID. Command Sergeant Major of 2d Squadron 2 CR, Rose Barracks Germany. He most recently served as the Command Sergeant Major of the 1st BN 196th IN BDE, Joint Pacific Multi National Readiness Center (JPMRC), the Training support Brigade for U.S. Army Pacific.

Pauulu deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Freedom 07-08; 09-10, NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Poland 20- 21.

Pauulu military education includes the Sergeant Major Academy, Master Resilience Course, Primary Leadership Development Course (Commandant’s List); Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course; Maneuver Senior Leaders Course (Commandants List) and First Sergeant Course. Other schools and courses include Airborne; Air Assault; Army Basic Instructor Course; Equal Opportunity Course; Jungle Operations Course; Combat Lifesaving Program, BN and BDE Pre-Command Course. He has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from Excelsior College and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Homeland security.

Pauulu awards and decorations include the Bronze Star (1 Oak Leaf Cluster); Meritorious Service Medal (4 Oak Leaf Cluster); Army Commendation Medal (5 Oak Leaf Cluster); Army Achievement Medal (9th Oak Leaf Cluster); Good Conduct Medal (8th Award); National Defense Service Medal (w/bronze star); Iraq Campaign Medal (w/bronze star); Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Korean Defense Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 5); Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; (Numeral 5); Combat Infantryman’s Badge; Expert Infantryman’s Badge; Parachutist Badge; and Air Assault. He is also a recipient of the order of Saint Maurice and order of Saint George.