August 18th, 2016
Our Guest Speaker today was Sergeant Major Kelly Jones, who enlisted in the US Army Reserve in September of 1986. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Texas A&M University and a Master of Business Administration from Northcentral University. Her military training includes all the leadership development courses and the resident Sergeants Major Course. She currently serves as the Clark College Veterans Resource Center Manager. In this capacity she works with student veterans providing them with the resources to assist in their academic success.
Sergeant Major Jones served in a variety of military assignments and deployed three times from 2004 to 2005, 2005 to 2006 and 2009 to 2010 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Some of her military awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters) and the Iraqi Campaign Medal with 2 campaign stars. She is also the recipient of the Major General Nathan Towson Regimental Medallion.
Sergeant Major Jones gave us great insight into what it was like to serve and her passion for her 26 year career in the military. Some of the challenges that veterans face when returning from active duty and start using their G.I bill to get their college education is that they are in a mixed classroom full of 16 year olds. In the military they are trained to operate as a team, life after the military doesn’t operate that way. Sergeant Major Jones also shared that most Americans don’t have any idea what veterans have gone through, so the veterans have a feeling of being disconnect. Along with any injuries or conditions that veterans might have after serving duty. There is a vehicle called the MRAP which stands for Mine-Resistant Ambush Protector. Sergeant Major Jones showed us a picture of one that had run over 500 pounds of explosives with five men in the car. One solider broke his back and the other one had a brain injury from the force causing his brain to hit his skull hard enough to cause damage. They all survived the event.
Most veterans get out of the military with no money and bad credit. Sergeant Major Jones main job is to help guide veterans in the right direction and help make a better way for veterans and their families. Using the VA hospital can be painful to start but the services focused on veterans which is helpful. There is a Dental program at Clack College where veterans can get their teeth cleaned. There is a Dental office in Vancouver that does pro-bono work for veterans that need more than just a cleaning.
Sergeant Major Jones loved her 26 year career and she would change nothing about it.