Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Carlson of 173rd Airborne Brigade in Italy Fired

Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Carlson of 173rd Airborne Brigade in Italy FiredPhoto byUS Army

Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Carlson, the former senior enlisted leader for the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Europe, has been relieved following a completed investigation into alcohol-related incidents, said Neil A. Ruggiero, a spokesman for U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, or SETAF, as reported by Task and Purpose.

Command Sergeant Major Matthew Carlson, the senior enlisted leader of the U.S. Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade, was relieved of his duties on July 16, 2024, following an investigation into alcohol-related incidents. According to Army officials as reported by Military.com. Carlson’s removal was attributed to a “loss of trust and confidence in his leadership.” Sergeant Major Frank Batts, former Command Sergeant Major of the 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion, has been tapped to take Carlson’s place.

Carlson, who had been with the brigade since March 2023, served in various capacities within the unit, including time with the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, and the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment. His career, which began with his enlistment in 1999, is distinguished by multiple deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and other regions, and he is a recipient of the Bronze Star. Despite his extensive service record, the incidents leading to his dismissal were serious enough to warrant his removal.

The command sergeant major had previously served with the brigade's 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, and 2-503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, the 173rd said in a Facebook post following his assumption-of-command ceremony.

Carlson enlisted in 1999. Among numerous honors and decorations, he is a Bronze Star recipient who has deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Lithuania, Latvia and Colombia, according to his official biography. He is a member of the prestigious Sergeant Audie Murphy Club, which recognizes excellence in the Army's noncommissioned officer corps, among other infantry honors.

In a December 2023 video message, Carlson told soldiers he hoped to "continue making this brigade the best in our Army" after a busy year.
Carlson's firing comes three months after another notable ouster among Army leaders in Europe. Lt. Col. Eric Ackles, commander of 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, was relieved of command in April just six months after the new air defense unit opened in Germany in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Like Carlson, Ackles also faced a monthslong investigation, though it's unclear what led to his removal.