Video
Interview by Connor Young
February 10, 2020
About Lt. Col. Jason Pike
Lieutenant Colonel Jason Pike, author of A Soldier Against All Odds: A Memoir, retired on October 1, 2014 following 31 years of military service. His enlisted military career began in the South Carolina National Guard as a Field Artilleryman in 1982. After earning an ROTC scholarship at Clemson University, Clemson, SC, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1988, completed college, and became a Chemical Officer with the 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Devens, MA. In 1994, he became a Medical Entomologist and served in this specialty for more than 20 years. LTC Pike holds Masters of Science degrees in Agriculture Education and Entomology and he is a Certified Environmental Health Sanitarian.
His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal-2, Joint Meritorious Unit Award-2, Army Commendation Medal-4, Army Achievement Medal-2, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal-2, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Outstanding Volunteer Service Med-al, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon-4, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, NATO Medal, Expert Field Medical Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.
Tours
- 3 tours of duty in Korea – non combat
- 1 tour of duty in Afghanistan – combat
- 2 tours of duty in El Salvador – “other operations”
- 1 tour of duty in Germany
- 1 tour of duty within a Special Forces – Airborne unit
- In 31 years, honorably completed 2 tours of duty in the National Guard – Reserve duty
- 3 tours of active duty Army for training and regular duty – All honorable
List of Schools Completed
Basic training and Advanced Individual training: Field artillery. Primary Leadership Development Course, National guard Recruiter training, Clemson University ROTC. Scholarship, Airborne training, Chemical Officer Basic Course, Technical escort school, Signal officer basic course, Medical officer. Advanced Course, Basic preventive medicine course, Preventive medicine program management course, Airforce entomology course, Pest management certification, Air assault school, Navy operation entomology course, Combined Armed Services staff school, 2 year masters degree. Colorado State University in Entomology, Command and general staff college course, Master fitness trainer course, Medical management of chemical casualty course, Combat casualty care course , Joint medical management operations course, Combat casualty care course, Expert field medical badge , Commanders first sergeant course, Force management course, Defense strategy course, Medical effects of ionizing radiation course.
Additional Skill Identifiers
- Airborne
- Air Assault
- Master Fitness trainer
- Technical Escort
- Defense Strategist
