Photo By Sgt. Brian Johnson | Capt. Michael Barnes, commander of the Chillicothe-based 1194th Engineer Company, Ohio...... read more read more
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – Capt. 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, Calif., 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 the 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 non-commissioned 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 with 16th Engineer Brigade, Barnes’ served as the unit plans and future operations officer.
“My primary purpose was 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.
Since returning from deployment in 2010, Barnes has continued his work with the Engineer Brigade.
In late 2011, when the opportunity came available to become the company commander of the Chillicothe based 1194th Engineer Company, where Barnes was once a young enlisted soldier, he jumped at the chance.
“I was excited and honored,” said Barnes. “I had actually requested this command.” It gave me a chance to go full circle.”
In February, 2012 Barnes was promoted to captain.
He also hasn’t lost sight of what awaits him when his time here eventually ends his three children who will grow up to decide whether to jump from an airplane or fly it.
| Date Taken: | 03.04.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.09.2012 23:17 |
| Story ID: | 85029 |
| Location: | CHILLICOTHE, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 282 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, From enlisted to officer, Air Force to Airborne, by SGT Brian Johnson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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