76th IBCT Command

COL Carr standing in front of brigade flag in uniform.

COL Courtney (Corey) Carr 76^th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Commander

COL Corey Carr was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1961 and entered the military on July 2, 1979 at West Point, NY. He assumed command of the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team on July 14, 2007.

COL Carr graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, received a MBA from the University of Chicago in 1994, and graduated from the US Army War College, Carlisle, PA in 2003 with a MS degree in Strategic Studies. His other military schools include the Armor Officer Basic and Advance Courses, Command and General Staff College, Infantry Pre-Command Course, US Army Airborne and Ranger Schools.

COL Carr received his commission as a 2LT in 1983. His first assignments were with 1st Battalion, 13th Armor, 1st Armored Division in Germany where he served as a Tank Platoon Leader, a Scout Platoon Leader, and a Tank Company Executive Officer. COL Carr then served as a Battalion Adjutant and commanded a Tank Company with 1-77 Armor, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. COL Carr joined the Indiana Army National Guard in 1991 and branch transferred to Infantry Branch. He served on the 38th Infantry Division Staff as Deputy G2 and Deputy G3 prior to being assigned as the Operations Officer for 2-152 Infantry Battalion (Mechanized) then as Executive Officer 2-293 Infantry Battalion.

COL Carr transferred to the 76th Infantry Brigade (Separate) in 1999 as the Brigade Civil Military Operations Officer. Following the Brigade’s successful rotation to the Joint Readiness Training Center in 2000, COL Carr took command of 1st Battalion, 151st Infantry, which he commanded in Operation Joint Forge, SFOR 11 Bosnia attached to the 25th Infantry Division. Prior to taking command of the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, COL Carr served as the 38th Division G3, Commanded the 138th Regiment (Combat Arms), and served as the Deputy Commander, 76th Infantry Brigade (Separate).

COL Carr’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (1OLC), Army Commendation Medal (2OLC), NATO Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2OLC), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Ranger Tab and the Parachutist Badge. His State awards include the Indiana Distinguished Service Medal and the Indiana Commendation Medal.

COL Carr lives in Columbus, Indiana and is married to the former Beth Hamilton. They have a daughter, Reagan (7) and a son, Evan (4). COL Carr is the Executive Director of Columbus Economic Development Board.

CSM Gregory Rhoades standing in front of Bde flag. Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory A. Rhoades
76th IBCT Command Sgt. Maj.

Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory A. Rhoades has served more than 29 years in the military.

Cutting short his college education to enter the military in 1977, he has distinguished himself as a leader through many assignments and responsibilities.

Rhoades most recent assignment was the command sergeant major for the 76th Brigade Special Troops Battalion before taking the top enlisted position of the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Rhoades’ military education includes the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Fort Bliss, Texas; the Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course, Fort Harrison, Ind.; the Personnel Administrative Specialist course, the Medical Specialist Course, the Instructor Training Course, the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, the Finance Specialist Course, the Primary Leadership Development Course, the Subsistence Supply Specialist Course, the Reserve Component Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, and the Material Supply Course.

Rhoades awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters; Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Achievement Medal; Good Conduct Medal with Bronze CLASP and 5 Loops; Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster; National Defense Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Humanitarian Service Medal; Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device and Silver Hourglass; NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 4; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon; Indiana Distinguished Service Medal; Indiana Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster; Indiana Recruiting Ribbon; Indiana Long Service Medal with 20 Year Device; National Emergency Service Ribbon of Indiana; Indiana Service Ribbon Operation Desert Shield/Storm; Indiana Emergency Service Ribbon; Mississippi Emergency Service Medal (Katrina); Indiana OCONUS Ribbon; and the Indiana Military Volunteer Emblem.

Command Sgt. Maj. Rhoades was born in Mishawaka, Ind., and currently lives in Knightstown with his family. He is affiliated with the American Legion, the Association of United States Army, the Enlisted National Guard Association of the United States, and the National Guard Association of Indiana.

Col. Keith Sharples
Executive Officer

Col. Keith Sharples is a 1985 Distinguished Military Graduate of Indiana University. Commissioned into Armor, he served in a variety of cavalry and armor assignments. These jobs include Tank Platoon leader and then Tank Co. XO of C Company 1-35 Armor, 1st Armored Division, Federal Republic of Germany. After the Advanced Course, he stayed at Fort Knox as a Cavalry doctrinal writer, then Commander, D Troop 5th Squadron, 15th Cavalry and finally Squadron S3. Capt. Sharples next served as Commander A Troop, 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry (Arctic Recon), Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

In 1995, Capt. Sharples left active duty, returned home and joined the Indiana Army National Guard. Since joining the National Guard his assignments have included operations officer and later executive officer, 2nd Bn 152nd Mech Infantry, operations officer, 2nd Bde, 38th Infantry Division, operations officer 81st Troop Command and executive officer 3rd Bde, 85th Division (Training Support Battalion).

In December 2004, Lt. Col. Sharples volunteered for duty in Afghanistan with the 76th Brigade (Task Force Phoenix) and served as an Embedded Tactical Trainer with the Afghan National Army. His team trained a new Afghan infantry battalion and then joined them on combat missions along the Pakistani border. Lt. Col. Sharples returned from overseas duty in February of 2006.

Upon his return from Afghanistan, Lt. Col. Sharples took command of the 638th Military Intelligence Battalion. In Oct 2006, the battalion transitioned into the 38th Special Troops Battalion. Finally, in June 2007 Col. Sharples was assigned as operations officer, 38th Infantry Division with duty as executive officer, 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Col Sharples awards include the Bronze Star (1 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC), ARCOM (4 OLC), AAM (2 OLC), the Afghan Campaign Medal, numerous other federal and state awards, the Airborne and Air Assault badges and the Bundeswehr Leistungsabzeichen in Gold.

Col Sharples is married to Sylvia Gordon and together they have four wonderful children: Elliot (14), Margaret (12), Susanna (9) and Isabella (4). The family resides in Noblesville, Indiana.