SFC Thomas Van Valkenburg

Army | Infantryman (Airborne)

Dates of Service: Oct 1978 - Jun 1999

RETIRED

85% Complete

1 Endorsement

42 Contacts

Influence Score: 6,961
7,731 out of 866,799 Veterans

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Bio

I spent 21 yrs in the Army Infantry. 15 yrs in the 82nd Airborne Division (5 yrs with 1/508, 4 yrs with 3/505, 3 yrs as a Jumpmaster Instructor for the 82nd Airborne Division, and 3 yrs with 2 Bde Headquarters S-3). 2 yrs as a Drill Sergeant at Ft. Benning, Ga. 1 yr in Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division Headquarters G-3. 2 yrs in Mass with the Readiness Bde. 1 yr in Indiana w/Training Spt Bd Brantley Electronics Sales Rep Jun 2011 - Jul 2013. Cumberland County Schools Computer Lab Assistant Jan 2002 - May 2011. Cumberland County Schools School Bus Driver Sep 1999 - May 2011. Cumberland County Schools Teacher Assistant Apr 1999 - Feb 2002.

Military Experiences

May 1998 - Jun 1999

Senior Platoon Trainer

Readiness Training Bde | Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN

Units were re-designated and names changed but the job stayed the same. Responsible for advising and assisting NG & Reserve units conduct their weekend drills and two week annual exercise with well organized SOP's from individual to Bde level training. Training of Units deploying to Bosnia in a two week training cycle, in personnel & vehicle search, tactical ground movement, react to ambushes, mine fields, sniper fire etc. This ran for almost three years at Ft. Benning, Ga.

Oct 1996 - Apr 1998

Senior Platoon Trainer

1st Training Support Bn | DRFTA/Fort Devens, MA

Responsible for advising and assisting NG & Reserve units conduct their weekend drills and two week annual exercise with well organized SOP's from individual to Bde level training. Training of Units deploying to Bosnia in a two week training cycle, in personnel & vehicle search, tactical ground movement, react to ambushes, mine fields, sniper fire etc. This ran for almost three years at Ft. Benning, Ga.

Oct 1993 - Mar 1996

Operations NCO

HHC, 2 Bde, S-3, 82nd Abn Div | Fort Liberty, NC

Responsible for the health and welfare of 8 soldiers, weapons and equipment accountability. Training for ground and airborne operations. Consolidated Training schedule for the Bde Cmdr. Responsible for the loading of all S-3 Field Equipment for setting up the Bde TOC. Responsible for the loading of all Field Equipment for setting up the Bde TAC during deployments. Setting up and running the Bde EIB site, NCOIC of the command center, proper operation of all test sites.

Sep 1992 - Sep 1993

Operations NCO

HHC, Div G-3, 2nd ID | Camp Red Cloud, South Korea

Responsible for the health and welfare of 20+ soldiers, to include KTUST. Weapons, equipment accountability and training. Prepared daily briefings for the Cmd General, all reports and any information passed between the US Army and ROK had to be translated to and/or from Korean so we could communicate with each other. Our days were spent inside a bunker, you came to work at dark and left at dark. You never knew what the weather was outside. But during monsoon season we knew when it was coming down hard because the bunker leaked bad where they had made additions to the original bunker.

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