CSM Jose L. Silva enlisted in the United States Army on 15 July 1982 as an infantryman with the 82d Airborne Division; he converted to Petroleum Supply Specialist in July 1986. 

CSM Silva held numerous assignments throughout his career; Infantryman, 82^nd Airborne Division; Platoon Sergeant, 102^nd Quartermaster Company (Petroleum), Fort Campbell; Petroleum Pipeline Terminal Foreman, 114th Quartermaster Company, Korea; Chief Instructor, Primary Leadership Development Course, Fort Campbell; Platoon Sergeant, Airfield Service Detachment, 2^nd Battalion, 160^th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), Fort Campbell; First Sergeant, HHC 160^th SOAR, Fort Campbell; First Sergeant, 541^st Transportation Company, Fort Campbell; Petroleum NCOIC, Support Operations Division, 19^th Theater Army Area Support Command, Korea; Command Sergeant Major, 240^th Quartermaster Battalion (Pipeline), Fort Lee; Command Sergeant Major, 507^th Corps Support Group, Fort Bragg. Command Sergeant Major Silva deployed to Uzbekistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) 1, as the 507^th Logistics Task Force CSM. CSM Silva also served as the first Camp Sergeant Major for Camp Stronghold Freedom, Karshi-Kkanabad. His scope of responsibilities took him to Bagram, Mazar-E-Shariff, and Kabul. Upon his re-deployment from Afghanistan, CSM Silva was assigned to Fort Drum as the 10^th DISCOM CSM where he deployed in support OEF IV as the Joint Logistics Center Command Sergeant Major.

CSM Silva’s military education includes Infantry Basic and Advanced courses; Petroleum Advanced Individual Training Course; NCOES courses; Equal Opportunity Course; Instructor Training Course; Unit Armorer Course; Anti-Armor Leader Course; M60 Leader Course, Strategic Deployability School; Airborne School; Air Assault School; Pathfinder School; Jungle Warfare Course; Reconnaissance Detachment Operations Course; 160th Special Operations Enlisted Qualification Course; “C” Level of the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course; 5th Special Forces Group Static Line Jumpmaster Course; Battle Staff NCO Course; First Sergeants Course, and the Command Sergeant Major Course. CSM Silva has a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from the University of Puerto Rico.

CSM Silva’s awards include the Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Development Ribbon, Good Conduct medal 7th award, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Army Achievement Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal, (9 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Meritorious Service Medal, (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Bronze Star, (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), and the Legion of Merit. 

CSM Silva’s military decorations include the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Combat Action Badge, Air Assault Badge, Pathfinder Badge and Master Parachutist Badge. CSM Silva’s foreign decorations include the British, Australian, German, and Russian Parachutist Badges.