Orangeburg native promoted to lieutenant colonel

Benjamin is a native of Orangeburg and is the eldest son of the late Franklin R. Dash and the late Bettye Benjamin Ravenell.

He is a graduate of the Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School class of 1991, earning accolades as a student athlete participating in football and a wrestling state qualifier.

Following high school, he enlisted into the U.S. Army as a 11Bravo infantryman, and attended basic training and advanced individual training at Fort Moore in Georgia, followed by airborne school at Fort Moore.

His enlisted assignments include 25th ID Hawaii, 3-505 Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), Fort Liberty, N.C., 173rd Airborne Brigade Vicenza, Italy, 1st -50th IN BN Fort Moore.

During this time, Benjamin earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Troy University in 2005.

In 2008, Benjamin attended the U.S. Army Federal Office Candidate School at Fort Moore and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps. He then attended the Quartermaster Officer Basic Course in Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia.

His officer assignments include Platoon Leader 602nd Aviation Support Battalion, Camp Humphreys, Korea; Company Executive Officer 109th Quartermaster Company, Fort Gregg-Adams; Deputy Support Officer Forward Logistical Element, Bagram Airfield and Kabul, Afghanistan; Company Commander Fox and Golf 1/15th Forward Support Company 1st BDE 1 CAV DIV Fort Cavazos, Texas; BDE S4 OIC 1st BDE 1 CAV DIV Fort Cavazos; Operation Office 2503RD Digital Liaison Detachment USARCENT HQ’s Shaw AFB and Battalion Executive Office Baton Rouge Recruiting BN, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

He is currently serving as an Inspector General Inspection Deputy for U.S. Army Central at Shaw Air Force Base.

His military deployment includes Bagram Airfield and Kabul, Afghanistan.

Benjamin’s diverse military training includes: Drill Sergeant School, Basic Airborne Course, Pathfinder Course, Aerial Delivery and Material Officer Course, Support Operation 1&2 Course, Joint Logistics Course, Logistician Captain Career Course, U.S. Army Command and General Staff Course, and the U.S. Army Inspector General School.

His service has been recognized with awards and decorations such as the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal 3 Oak leaf cluster (OLC), the Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC), the Army Achievement Medal 1 silver Oak leaf cluster, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, the Parachute Rigger Badge, the Parachutists Badge, the Australian Parachutist Badge, the German Parachutist Badge and the German Schutzenschnur – Silver Award.

Benjamin has been married to Varncille T. Benjamin for 30 years and they have five children.

Outside of his military duties, he has earned a master’s degree in procurement and acquisitions from Webster University, is an active member of his community and is a life member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.