Staff and Cadre
Major Patrick Mitchell
Major Pat Mitchell was born and raised in Foxboro, Massachusetts and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2013 with a B.S. in Economics. Upon graduation, Major Mitchell was commissioned into the United States Army as a Transportation Officer and attended the Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Lee, VA. He served as a Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Battalion Logistics Officer in the 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. After graduating from the Logistics Captain’s Career Course, Maj. Mitchell served as the logistics plans officer for the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY. He later commanded Alpha Distribution Company, 526th Brigade Support Battalion, before being assigned to the University of Southern Maine as an Assistant Professor of Military Science.
Major Mitchell’s military decorations include the Expert Soldier Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal (2OLC).
Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Joseph LaPlante
CSM (RET) Joseph LaPlante Jr. was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. He completed Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and Fort Sill, Oklahoma, from January 1977 to September 1977. He served as a Fire Support Specialist, Armorer, and Career Counselor for B Battery, 1st Battalion, 29th FA from 1978 to 1980 at Fort Carson, Colorado.
In October 1981, he completed the Army Recruiter Course and was assigned as a Field Recruiter to the New Bedford, Massachusetts, Boston Recruiting Battalion. In April 1984, he was the Station Commander of the Fall River Recruiting Station, Fall River, Massachusetts. He became Company Trainer in September 1985 for the Wareham Recruiting Company in Wareham, Massachusetts, and in August 1986 was assigned as Station Commander of the Brockton Recruiting Station, Brockton, Massachusetts. In August 1987, he became a Guidance Counselor at the Boston Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) before moving into the Senior Operations NCO position at the Boston Recruiting Battalion in December 1989.
In August 1990, he transferred to the San Francisco Recruiting Battalion as the First Sergeant of the Santa Rosa Recruiting Company, Santa Rosa, California. In May 1993, he became Senior Guidance Counselor at the Oakland, California, MEPS. In May 1995, he became First Sergeant of the Gilroy Recruiting Company, Gilroy, California. In December 1995, he became Acting Sergeant Major of the Sacramento Recruiting Battalion, Sacramento, California. In June 1996, he became First Sergeant for the North Bay Recruiting Company, Sacramento Recruiting Battalion. In March 1997, he transferred to the 6th Recruiting Brigade, Fort Baker, California, as Brigade Master Trainer for nine recruiting battalions.
He was selected to attend the US Army Sergeant Major Academy, Class 51, at Fort Bliss, Texas, in July 2000. On June 25, 2001, he assumed the position of Command Sergeant Major of the New England Recruiting Battalion. In January 2004, CSM LaPlante assumed the position of the 6th Recruiting Brigade Command Sergeant Major. Following his retirement CSM came to the USM Army ROTC to work as it’s NCOIC, and recruiting NCO.
His awards and decorations include the Gold Recruiter Badge with three Star Sapphires, the Recruiter Ring, Glenn E. Morrell Award, Career Counselor Badge, Army Achievement Medal 3rd Award, Army Commendation Medal 3rd Award, the Army Meritorious Service Medal 7th Award, Legion of Merit 2nd Award, National Defense Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development with Numeral #4, Army Service Medal, Army Good Conduct 8th Award, and the Army Superior Unit Citation 2nd Award.
CSM LaPlante is married to Patricia LaPlante, and they have two daughters, Crystal and Heather.
Sergeant First Class Kyle Anderson
SFC Kyle Anderson was born and raised in Northern California. SFC Anderson joined the Army and graduated from Infantry One Station Unit Training (OSUT) in 2007. SFC Anderson was then assigned to Charlie Company 2-87 Infantry Regiment 3rd Brigade Combat Team 10th Mountain Division stationed at Fort Drum New York. In 2009 he deployed to RC East in the Wardak province of
Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2011 he again deployed to Afghanistan, this time to RC South in the Ghazni province in the Arghandab River Valley. Upon his return home in 2013, he was assigned to recruiting duty in Salt Lake City Utah where he served as a recruiter until 2016. SFC Anderson was then assigned to Charlie Company 1-75 Calvary Regiment 2nd Brigade Combat Team 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). In 2019 SFC Anderson returned to recruiting duty in Northern California until 2020. SFC
Anderson was then assigned to Bravo Company 4-6 Infantry Regiment 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team at Fort Bliss Texas. In May of 2021, he deployed to South Korea until March of 2022. In August of 2023, SFC Anderson was assigned to the University of Southern Maine. SFC Anderson has served as Squad Automatic Rifleman, Fire Team Leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant and Company First Sergeant.
SFC Anderson’s military decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Recruiting Badge, the Army Commendation Medal (3OLC), and the Army Achievement Medal (1SLV 1OLC), the Army Good Conduct Ribbon 5th award, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three combat stars, NATO medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon with 2 numerals, Army Service Ribbon, Korean Defense Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Service Ribbon, Valorous Unit Award, Overseas Service Ribbon 2 numeral.
In 2022, SFC Anderson married his wife, Annabell, in Tahoe, California. They enjoy many hobbies together including Rock Crawling, Hiking, Camping and exploring throughout Maine.