First Sergeant John Ross, Owner/Instructor

SOLDIER/MASTER GUNNER/NRA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR

1SG Ross served in the US Army for 23 years as an active duty Soldier.  He began his career in 1994 as a UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter crewmember/Door Gunner.  1SG Ross was first stationed in Savannah GA where he supported the Drug Enforcement Agency in counter narcotics missions throughout the Caribbean including the Bahamas, Grenada, Jamaica, and St. Vincent. He spent three years in Germany where his missions included the Beirut Air Bridge, supplying the American Embassy in Lebanon, as well as deployments to Bosnia and Kosovo.

Following his European tour, John assessed for and was accepted to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment "Night Stalkers" where he spent his final 16 years of service.  During this time he served as a Fully Mission Qualified MH-60 crewmember/M134 Mini-gun master gunner for 9 years.

He then spent two years as the Combat Skills Senior instructor where he managed courses on medical first responder, advanced weapons employment techniques, modern army combatives level 1 and 2, and advanced land navigation.

For his final 5 years, John was a Company 1SG for three Special Operations Companies.  Scattered throughout his service he deployed to Iraq 13 times, and Afghanistan 5 times as well as multiple no notice special operations missions around the globe.

MILITARY RESUME

Schools:

Advanced Leaders Course
Basic Leaders Course
Warrior Leaders Course
Anti-terrorism Officer Basic Course
SERE Level C Course
SERE High Risk Course
International Long Range Recon Survival Course
Special Operations Combat Skills Course
Basic Airborne Course

MILITARY RESUME (cont’d)

Decorations and Awards:

Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (3)
Air Medal with Valor
Air Medal (10)
Joint Service Commendation Medal (2)
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Army Commendation Medal (6)
Army Achievement Medal (5)
Good Conduct Medal (7)
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Iraqi Campaign medal (3 stars)
Afghanistan Campaign medal (2 Stars)
Global War on Terror Service Medal
Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal
NCO Professional Development Medal (3)
Overseas Service Medal
NATO Medal (2)
Combat Action Badge
Parachutist Badge
Rifle Expert Marksmanship Badge
Pistol Expert Marksmanship Badge
German Army Parachutist Badge
Valorous Unit Citation
Army Superior Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation (2)

other

Civilian Honors and Awards:

Sikorsky Rescue Award (Afghanistan 2004)
NRA Pistol Instructor
NRA Range Safety Officer