SGM Saunders retires

Sergeant Major (SGM) Tina Saunders retired from the U.S. Army on June 30, 2023 following over 31 years of service.
She is TáChii’Niin (Red Running into the Water People clan), and born to Áshiihí (Salt People Clan). She was born to the late Herbert Joe and Anna (Emma) R. Joe from MacCracken Mesa, UT.
SGM Saunders began her career in the United States Army Reserve in 1991. She attended Combat Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training as a Mortuary Affairs Specialists in 1992.
In 1993 she re-classed to Petroleum Specialist then to Religious Affairs Specialists. In 2003 she was accepted into the Active Guard Reserve in Salt Lake City.
SGM Saunders served in numerous units throughout her career and served as a Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Master Religious Affairs NonCommissioned Officer in Charge, and Total Force Integrator SGM.
Her stateside assignments include Logan, UT; Fort Douglas, UT; Fort McCoy, WI; Moffett Field, CA; Salt Lake City, UT; and Fort Jackson, SC. Overseas assignments include Germany, Afghanistan, and El Salvador.
SGM Saunders’s military education includes Mortuary Affairs Specialist, Petroleum Specialist, Religious Affairs Specialist, Primary Leadership Development, Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course, Advance Non-Commissioned Officer Course, Suicide Prevention Course, Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I and II Course, Master Resilience Trainer Course, and she is a U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy graduate of the class of 1969.
Her civilian education includes Dolores County High School, Bon Losee Academy, Bachelor in Criminal Justice from Columbia College, and Master in Management from Excelsior College.
Her awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon, and Driver badge.
“The military has exposed me to many things – different cultures, travel to different countries, developing long-lasting friendships, completing my master’s degree to name a few. My husband (ret. 1SG) and I met while I was stationed in Germany and we have been married for 18 years.
“I was deployed to Afghanistan where I learned that many of the foods they eat are similar to what we eat on the reservation which bought into perspective how similar we are as a people even though we are thousands of miles apart,” Saunders said.