12/01/2025
Let's welcome another member of the Manchester Veterans Council. CSM (Ret.) Rice is a huge advocate for Veterans and their families.
Command Sergeant Major Michael F. Rice (ret) assumed his duties as the State Command Sergeant Major in the Spring of 2000. His distinguished career as a Guardsman began in 1966 when he joined the New Hampshire Army National Guard. Upon joining the Guard, he attended basic training at Ft Campbell, Kentucky, then advanced initial training at Ft Sill, Oklahoma.
CSM Rice performed a variety of duties from 1967 to 1977 while in the Battery A Searchlight / Target Acquisition Battery. From 1977 to 1980, he served as the First Sergeant of Battery A Searchlight. From 1980 to 1984, he served as Chief of the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCOES) Branch of the New Hampshire Military Academy. From 1984 to 1990, CSM Rice served as Battalion Command Sergeant Major of the 1st Battalion 172nd Field Artillery. From 1990 to 1999, he served as the Logistics System Sergeant Major, and in 1999 as the Operations Sergeant Major at Joint Forces Headquarters Command, until being named the State Command Sergeant Major in March of 2000.
CSM Rice’s military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with silver oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Bronze Hourglass, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Service Ribbon, NHNG Commendation Medal with second award, NHNG State Active Service Ribbon and the NHNG Service Bar.
Beginning with the 2003-2005 deployment of the 744th Forward Support Company, he developed a passion for working with the families of deployed soldiers. He helped oversee the development of Family Readiness Groups (FRGs) within the state and, working with the Family Program, developed a bank of resources to help families safely navigate deployment. That passion continues still today.
CSM (ret) Rice retired from the New Hampshire Army National Guard on 31 July 2006. Since that time, he has remained involved with the Military in a number of contract and volunteer positions. In particular, he remains involved in the State Family Readiness Program, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve at the State and National levels, the State and National Enlisted Association - Local Secretary & Area 1 Director, and as State President of the Association of the United States Army. He is also on the Board of Directors of Vets Count and the State Cemetery Association.
A native of Manchester, New Hampshire, he is a graduate of Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, Massachusetts. He spent most of his adult life self-employed, in both construction and retail. He has been married to his wife, Kathy, for 58 years. They have 2 grown children, 4 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandson. They currently live in Manchester, New Hampshire.
