Arkansas Post Monthly Meeting September 2024
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 | 12noon – 1:00pm
Whole Hog Cafe
2516 Cantrell Rd, Little Rock, AR 72202
Speaker: Colonel Marcus Jones, U.S. Army Reserve (Retired)
About the Speaker
This Month’s Speaker is Decorated Retired U.S. Army Colonel Marcus Jones. From Oil Trough to the University of Arkansas to Camp Robinson. After nearly three decades serving our country throughout the U.S. and abroad, he returned home to Central Arkansas with his wife Carrie and two children, Will and Abby Grace.
His final assignment was a true privilege: serving as the Senior Army Advisor to the Arkansas Army National Guard. Marcus’ service to Arkansas won’t end until he’s sure he’s leaving behind a better future for his children and all families in our state.
For 29 years, Colonel (Retired) Marcus Jones served our country on the front lines:
- Field Artillery officer in the Middle East, leading hundreds of Soldiers during multiple deployments to Iraq and Kuwait and coordinating secret and top-secret missions to eliminate extremist terrorist groups threatening our country and killing our Soldiers.
- Commander of 1st Battalion, 19th Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Sill, OK. Under Marcus’ leadership the battalion trained over 8,200 Initial Entry Training (IET) Soldiers during 42 Basic Combat Training (BCT) Cycles.
- As the Director of the 8th Army Joint Fires Element in the Republic of Korea, he led a combined U.S.-ROK Team responsible for planning, integration, and employment of all surface-based Field Artillery, Fire Support, Electronic Warfare, and Cyber assets in support of the U.S. Forces – Korea’s established contingency plans. Additionally, he planned and supervised U.S.-ROK Secret and Top Secret strategic responses to North Korean provocations.
- As a Program Director at NATO’s Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway, Marcus managed the Alliance’s largest and most complex exercise portfolio, working with international leaders to increase NATO readiness and prepare the Alliance for the collective defense of Europe.
- Senior Army Advisor to the Arkansas Army National Guard advising and supporting Arkansas Soldiers through 11 mobilizations.
Marcus Jones is currently running for Congress for the State of Arkansas.