CSM John E. Jones is currently serving as the Command Sergeant Major for the Headquarters, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard.
He began his military service in July 1977 with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard when he enlisted in to Det 1, Company B, 2-112th IN located in Bellefonte, PA. He then completed Basic Training at Ft. Dix, NJ and AIT at Ft. Benning, GA. CSM Jones then held every leadership position from Team Leader to Command Sergeant Major of the 2-112th IN Mechanized. Throughout his years at the 2-112th he was the First Sergeant of three companies – B Company (Light IN), E Company (Anti Tank) and HHC Company (Mechanized) – before being selected as the Command Sergeant Major of the 2-112th IN (M) in October 1998. CSM Jones was promoted to Command Sergeant Major on 1 April 1999. Through his tenure as the 2-112th Command Sergeant Major, he served in the Airport Security Mission in 2001-2002 and deployed with the 2-112th to Kosovo with the 56th BDE IN (M) in 2003-2004.
CSM Jones was selected as the 56th BDE (Mechanized) Command Sergeant Major on 1 June 2004. CSM Jones then became the First Stryker Brigade Combat Team Command Sergeant Major in the Guard/Reserve as the 56th BDE (M) was selected to be the 6th Stryker Brigade Combat Team in the U.S Army and the only SBCT in the Guard/Reserves. He deployed with the 56th SBCT to New Orleans, LA, in Sept. 2005 to assist with humanitarian relief after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. CSM Jones then deployed as the Command Sergeant Major with the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team to Camp Taji, Iraq, in 2008-2009. He continued to serve as the 56th SBCT Command Sergeant Major during reset until 1 September 2010.
CSM Jones was selected as the Garrison Command Sergeant Major at Fort Indiantown Gap which is the primary training facility for the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, located in Annville, PA. CSM Jones held this position from 1 September 2010 until 10 August 2012.
On 11 August 2012 CSM Jones was selected as the Command Sergeant Major-Army, Pennsylvania National Guard. CSM Jones is the senior enlisted advisor to the Deputy Adjutant General-Army.
CSM Jones has completed many military courses and has graduated from all required NCOES courses to include the First Sergeant Course and United States Army Sergeants Major Academy.
CSM Jones was born in Washington, DC. He is a 1977 graduate of Bald Eagle Area High School where he has been serving as the Varsity Baseball Assistant Coach from 1996 to present. CSM Jones is a retired Corrections Officer from the State Correction Institute at Rockview, Bellefonte, PA where he was employed from 1990-2015.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (6th Award), Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award), Army Achievement Medal (3rd Award), Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (10th Award), National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Star Device), Kosovo Campaign Medal (with Bronze Service Star), Iraq Campaign Medal (with Bronze Service Star), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal , Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with #2, Gold Hour Glass and “M” Device), NCO Professional Development Ribbon (#4), Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, Nato-Medal/Non-Article 5 (Kosovo), Keystone Freedom Medal, Pennsylvania Commendation Medal, Pennsylvania Service Ribbon (2nd Award), Pennsylvania Twenty Year Service Medal (with 3 Silver Stars), Major General Thomas R. White Medal, General Thomas J. Stewart Medal, Louisiana Emergency Service Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Citation, Pennsylvania Governor’s Unit Citation, Combat Infantry Badge, German Schutzenschnur Badge (Silver) , Overseas Service Bar, and 28 ID Combat Patch. CSM Jones is also the recipient of the Infantry’s “Order of Saint Maurice” (Bloody Bucket Chapter) and Gold Combat Spurs from the 1st Cavalry Division.
CSM Jones resides in Julian, PA, with his wife Christine. They have one daughter, Morgan.