Jason McDaniel is a 1997 graduate of the Willow Springs High School and is a retired U.S. Army Infantry First Sergeant with almost 21 years of active federal service.  The rank of First Sergeant in the U.S. Army is the top three percent of a demanding workforce comprised of 387,974 enlisted service members.  He enlisted in the U.S. Army in June of 1997 out of West Plains, Missouri as an active duty Infantryman.  He completed Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon completion of his U.S. Army contract in 2000, he honorably ended his military service in order to pursue a Law Enforcement career in the State of Missouri.  In 2002 he graduated from the Missouri Sheriffs’ Association Training Academy in West Plains with a Class-A license and became a full-time Patrol Officer in the County of Howell, State of Missouri.  During this time, he investigated traffic offenses, person offenses and property offenses as a uniformed Law Enforcement Officer.

Having served approximately two years as a well-versed Patrol Officer, he was selected for a position within the regional Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, where he served as a team member executing operations consisting of High Risk Apprehension Response, Barricaded Subject Response, Personal Security Details and Event Security Details.  Having served over four years as a commissioned Peace Officer, he resigned from full-time service in 2006 and enlisted back into the U.S. Army to further enhance career opportunities.  Throughout his active duty time in the U.S. Army, he has had the opportunity to serve with the 4th Infantry Division (3 Yrs), 101st Airborne Division (8.5 Yrs), MCoE 198th Infantry Training Brigade (2 Yrs), 1st Infantry Division (3 Yrs), University of Iowa – Army ROTC (2 Yrs) and MSCoE 3rd Chemical Initial Entry Training Brigade (2 Yrs).  In 2009, he was selected for a small group and bestowed the honor to represent the 101st Airborne Division at the 65th Anniversary of D-Day at Eerde and Eindhoven in Holland.  He has deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait in support of multiple campaigns.

His previous military duty positions include: Mortar Gunner, Squad Leader providing oversight of a four personnel team, Section Sergeant providing oversight of a nine personnel team, Senior Drill Sergeant providing oversight of three personnel team and 60 trainees, Platoon Sergeant providing oversight of a 25 personnel team, Headquarters and Headquarters Company Acting First Sergeant providing oversight of 200+ personnel team, Military Science Instructor providing oversight of 118 cadets, Senior Military Science Instructor providing oversight of a nine personnel team and 110 cadets, Infantry Rifle Company First Sergeant providing oversight of a 132+ personnel team and Basic Training Company First Sergeant providing oversight of a 14 personnel team and 240 trainees.

His military professional development includes: The Basic Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, Infantry Mortar Leader Course, Senior Leader Course, Master Leader Course, Drill Sergeant School, Master Resilience Training Course, Cadre Faculty Development Instructor Course, Master Educator Course, University Senior Leader Course, Commander and First Sergeant Course, Modern Army Combatives Program Level II, Airborne School, Air Assault School, Rappel Master School, Combat Life Savers Course and over 500+ certificate hours of various military training.  His law enforcement professional development includes: Missouri Division of Fire Safety Hazardous Materials Course, Missouri Sheriff's Association Training Academy, DHS and MoDPS approved SWAT Course through GTI, NRA Pistol Instructor Course, NRA Range Safety Officer Course, certified diver through PADI, NTOA SWAT Command Decision-Making and Leadership Course and over 500+ certificate hours of various law enforcement training.

His military awards include: the Bronze Star with "V" device awarded by General David H. Petraeus for heroic actions while engaged in direct combat during Operation Strong Eagle III in the Valley of BarawalaKalay, Meritorious Service Medal with three Bronze Oak Leafs, Army Commendation Medal with four Bronze Oak Leafs, Army Achievement Medal with three Bronze Oak Leafs, Meritorious Unit Citation with two Bronze Oak Leafs, Army Good Conduct Medal (7th award), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star, Iraqi Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 4), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (Numeral 3), and the Northern Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal.

He has received coins of recognition from the Secretary of Defense, Honorable Robert M. Gates; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael G. Mullen; International Security Assistance Force, General David H. Patraeus; 101st Airborne Division, General John F. Campbell. His law enforcement awards include: Award of SWAT Certification, Award of Instructor Certification, Award of Hazardous Materials Certification and Award of Service with four Stars (22 years). He has earned the following military skill badges: Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Drill Sergeant Badge, Basic Army Instructor Badge, Drivers Badge and he is regimentally affiliated to 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).  He has also earned: Certificate in Organizational Leadership through Western Kentucky University, Senior SWAT Officer Skill Badge and has honorably maintained since 2007 a Secret Security Clearance reviewed by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency to include maintaining a State of Missouri Peace Officer license since 2002.  On June 30, 2024, he officially retired from the U.S. Army and proudly closed the chapter to his law enforcement career for the State of Missouri. 

“Many are influenced with only what they see and hear; very few are influenced by exploring what they don’t see and hear”

~ Jason McDaniel