Iron Eagle Battalion Instructors

Lieutenant Colonel Funchess is originally from Calhoun County, South Carolina. He is a 1984 graduate of Calhoun County High School and a 1989 graduate of Benedict College, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. LTC Funchess began his military career in 1989 at Fort Gordan, Georgia.

ASSIGNMENTS:

• Ft. Gordan, GA, (Basic Officer and Advanced Officer Courses)

• HHC 2/9 Aviation Battalion and 29th Signal Battalion at Ft. Lewis, WA

• 122nd Signal Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Red Cloud, Korea.

• 212th Field Artillery Brigade, Fort Sill, OK

• G-6, I Corps, Fort Lewis, WA

• G-6, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Norfolk, VA

• 93rd Signal Brigade, Fort Eustis, VA

• Service in Iraq

• Service in Kuwait

• Service in Democratic Republic of Congo

• After 25 years of military service, LTC Funchess worked in the civilian sector for a short period of time, then became the Senior Army Instructor at Parkland High School. After servicing several years Parkland, he came the Senior Army Instructor at East Forsyth High School.

EDUCATION: Command and General Staff College (Resident), Combat Arms Service Staff School, Joint Professional Military Education School, Signal Officer Advanced Course, System Automation Course and Signal Officer Basic Course.

AWARDS: Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award), Meritorious Service Medal (5th Award), Army Commendation Medal (4th Award), the Army Achievement Medal (2nd Award), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Expeditionary Medal (Global War on Terrorism), Military Observer Peacekeeping Operation, Combat Action Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.

MSG Hissim is originally from Troy, North Carolina. He is a 1982 graduate of West Montgomery High School and a 2005 graduate of Troy University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. MSG Hissim began his military career in 1982 at Fort Benning, Georgia.

 MSG Hissim is married to the former Ms. Deanna Chapman of Stony Point, North Carolina. They have one child Patrick.

ASSIGNMENTS:

• Ft. Benning, GA, (basic and advanced training)

•  HHC’s Company 2/503 Inf (infantry rifleman) at Ft. Campbell, KY

•  1/17th (m) Infantry HHC company (mechanized infantry) 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Casey, Korea.

• 1990- Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD  (received Advanced Individual Training as a Tank Turret Repairman)

•  317th Maintenance Battalion (71st Maint. BN) Nuremburg Germany-- deployed to Desert Storm with 1st Armored Division; was assigned to HHC 4th Combat Engineer Battalion Ft Carson, CO. US Army Recruiting school at Ft. Jackson, SC  

• Raleigh Recruiting Battalion with duty in Charlotte Recruiting Company, assigned to Salisbury, NC Recruiting station, B Co 426 Forward Support Battalion Ft. Campbell, KY

• 71st Maintenance Battalion Camp Humphrey’s Korea

• B. Co 26th FSB, Fort Stewart, GA (while assigned to Ft Stewart he deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom III and Operation Enduring Freedom V, then returned to Fort Stewart)

•  After 26 years of military service, MSG came to East Forsyth High School and became a JROTC Instructor.

EDUCATION: Basic Infantrymen’s Basic and Advanced Individual Course, Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Advanced Noncommissioned Officer’s Course, First Sergeant’s Course, Rappel Master’s Course, Heavy and Light sling load course, the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps JSOCC.

AWARDS: Bronze Star (2 OLC), the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (4OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (4OLC), the Humanitarian Medal, Drill Instructor Badge, the Army Recruiter Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.