Photo By Sgt. Brian Johnson | 1Lt. Michael Barnes from Hillsboro, Ohio, highlights important information during a...... read more read more
By Spc. Brian Johnson
BAGHDAD — First Lt. Michael Barnes finds it much more interesting to jump from an airplane than to fly it.
Born near San Francisco as the middle of five children, Barnes grew up around airplanes. His father served in the Air Force and would regularly move the family from base to base around the world, including England, Arizona, Michigan and Travis Air Force Base, where Barnes was born.
When his family eventually settled in Ohio near Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Barnes attended Hillsboro High School, graduating in 1992. It was during those high school years that he chose a different path from his father, setting his sights on the Army.
"While in high school, I began preparing to go to the United States Military Academy at West Point," said Barnes. "I went through the process all the way to the final selection board."
The board turned him down, but didn't turn off his desire to serve in the Army.
When the Army then turned around and offered him a four-year Army Reserve Officers Training Corps scholarship, Barnes turned it down. He wanted to learn all about being a Soldier, so he decided to give up his scholarship and enlist. He credits a movie for steering him into what field he would eventually pursue.
"After watching the film 'A Bridge Too Far,' I got hooked on the idea of being a paratrooper," said Barnes.
The film not only helped to cement in Barnes' mind one career path, it also cemented one duty station: a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division.
After completing initial entry training, Barnes went to the Army's jump school to learn how to jump from an airplane. His first jump didn't go so well.
"My first jump was adventurous," said Barnes. "The jump was flawless, except for landing."
The suspension cord from the parachute had become wrapped around his neck. When he tried to release the parachute canopy, it didn't deflate because his neck was still holding the suspension line.
That first jump left a scar on the back of his neck, and a healthy dose of fear: "I was a lot more hesitant on my second jump," said Barnes.
Barnes completed 57 training jumps during his next few years at Fort Bragg, N.C.. Among all of them, though, was one he said he remembers most: the 56th.
"The pilot came in too low for the jump," said Barnes. "He increased the airplane's speed and started climbing to gain altitude as the Soldiers were jumping."
Barnes' parachute collapsed 300 feet above the ground. He wasn't alone; more than 40 other Soldiers sustained serious injuries from that jump. His injuries were bad enough to warrant a medical evacuation from the drop zone.
"No one died, but I spent five days in the hospital with my abdominal muscles and organs bruised," explained Barnes.
Nearing the end of his initial military commitment in 1997, Barnes decided to stop jumping after his next one. A bruised, battered and heart-broken Barnes decided to leave the Army. Family must come first.
"At the time, I was going through a divorce. I knew that if I was going to get to keep spending time with my child, I needed to leave the active duty military."
Barnes began work as a mortgage loan officer. A thriving economy opened a door for him.
"I was a loan officer during the real estate boom," said Barnes. "I then switched to real estate and began dealing with mortgage foreclosures."
However, his first love never faded. During the next several years, his desire for the military increased, in fact, and he eventually decided to reenlist — this time into the Army National Guard.
"I was born and bred military," said Barnes. "I would not stay away."
Joining as a carpenter, Barnes began working as a military recruiter with the Ohio National Guard Recruit Sustainment Program.
"I liked working in the RSP," said Barnes. "I got a chance to work with, counsel, and train the new Soldiers. I really enjoyed it."
In early 2007, Barnes began weighing career options again. He could choose to pursue a career as a noncommissioned officer or choose to finally accept that commission he had been denied and then turned down.
"I was hungry for a challenge," said Barnes. "I wanted to learn more and I wanted to take on more responsibility."
In late 2007, Barnes attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Ohio National Guard in 2008. His first assignment: a platoon leader with 811th Engineer Company in Tarlton, Ohio.
While there, Barnes assumed an additional role as liaison officer for the Ohio National Guard's Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high-yield Explosive — Enhanced Response Force Package, informally known as C-Burn. The Soldiers of CBRNE form a specialized team who act as relief for civilian first responders in the event of a major catastrophe.
"I loved going to the specialized Search and Extraction School," said Barnes. "I loved being able to crawl through collapsed buildings and move around people to try to rescue mock casualties during the training."
And when it came time to deploy, Barnes volunteered.
"I have spent my whole career in leadership roles," said Barnes. "I wanted a chance to work a staff job on a deployment and learn to become a better leader. I knew that this deployment would allow me to do that."
While deployed here with 16th Engineer Brigade, Barnes' serves as the unit plans and future operations officer.
"My primary purpose is to receive the operations orders from the higher elements in theater, analyze those orders, brief the staff, and prepare any operations orders for the brigade commander," said Barnes.
Although happy to work in his position, Barnes says he still wants to do even more, to include leaving the wire on some route clearance missions.
He also hasn't lost sight of what awaits him when his time here eventually ends — real estate, and three children who will grow up to decide whether to jump from an airplane or fly it.
| Date Taken: | 02.05.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 02.05.2010 09:42 |
| Story ID: | 44974 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 292 |
| Downloads: | 251 |
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