Ron Welch

Last updated
Ronald P. Welch
Born (1960-01-09) January 9, 1960 (age 63)
New London, Connecticut
Allegiance State of Connecticut
Service/branchFlag of the United States Army.svg  United States Army
Years of service1978–2017
Rank US-O7 insignia.svg Brigadier general
Commands held
  • 85th Troop Command
  • 14th Civil Support Team
  • 1st OCS Battalion, 169th Leadership Regiment
  • HHC, 1st Battalion, 169th Infantry Regiment, 43rd Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Division
Battles/wars Operation Enduring Freedom
Awards https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_of_Merit Soldier's Medal
Bronze Star

Brigadier General (Ret.) Ronald Paul Welch (born January 9, 1960) was an American Military officer and the former Director of the Joint Staff of the Connecticut National Guard. He began his military service in 1978 when he enlisted in United States Army and served as an NCO in 2nd Bn (Ranger) 75th Infantry. He was later commissioned, through Connecticut Military Academy in August 1984 through the Officer Candidate School. [1]

Contents

Education

1985: Mohegan Community College, Associate in Science, Norwich, CT

1992: Eastern Connecticut State University, Bachelor of General Studies, Willimantic, CT

2007: Eastern Connecticut State University, Master of Science in Organizational Management, Willimantic, CT

2011: U.S. Army War College, Master of Strategic Studies

Military career

United States Army

Ron Welch enlisted in the United States Army in on October 3, 1978, where he served on active duty with the 2nd Ranger Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Lewis, Washington. During his active duty service he attained the rank of sergeant and completed Basic Airborne School, Ranger School, Jungle Warfare Course, USMC Amphibious Recon Scout Swimmer Course, Jumpmaster Course, Primary Non Commission Officer Course, USMC Scout Sniper Course, Emergency Medical Technician Course, Special Operations and Tactics Course, and the Pathfinder School. On May 4, 1981, he sustained serious injuries during an in-line of duty parachute accident. He left active service on October 2, 1982. [1]

Connecticut National Guard

After leaving active service, Welch joined the Connecticut National Guard, where he attended Officer Candidate School in 1983. On August 11, 1984, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry. He then served in numerous positions in the Connecticut National Guard's Infantry units as a rifle platoon leader, company commander and various staff positions. He also served as an operations officer in a Combat Engineer battalion. While as a member of the National Guard, Welch graduated from The Infantry Officer Basic Course, Master Fitness Trainer Course, Air Assault Course, Infantry Officers Advanced Courses, NBC Officer/NCO Defense Course, Rappel Master Course, Combined Arms Service Staff School, Command and General Staff College, Israeli Defense Force Airborne Center, the US Army War College, Army Combat Lifesaver Course, Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Dual Status Commander Orientation Course, Leadership in Homeland Security Course, Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, the General & Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar. [1]

Operation Enduring Freedom

Welch deployed to Afghanistan from 2005 to 2006 as a senior American advisor to an Afghan National Army, Infantry Brigade located in Eastern Afghanistan, providing training, advice and conducting combat operations. [2] While in Afghanistan, he continued to advise units of the Connecticut National Guard in preparing them for their deployments to Afghanistan. His main advice was to learn the culture, the language and customs while continuing traditional military skills such as physical fitness and marksmanship. [3]

Soldier’s Medal

On December 11, 1992, during an intense winter storm, a dispatcher from the Fairfield, Connecticut, fire department called the Stratford Armory for assistance evacuating residents. Then Captain Welch and four others, Sergeants First Class Roger G. Barr, Douglas E. Bell, Raymond C. Spry and Specialist Chi Tranh Chong, drove to the scene in a canvas-covered military truck. They rescued 34 personnel, including a 94-year-old woman and students from nearby Fairfield University. The soldiers had to evacuate the vehicles, wade through chest-high water of 42 degrees and carry the victims to the truck. While attempting to leave the flooded area, the truck stalled in the rising flood waters. The team was able to secure some small boats drifting in the water and used them to hand tow the victims to a waiting fire boat. Others were brought to a small dry piece of land, where they were eventually rescued by helicopter. [4]

Assignments

Awards and decorations

Combat Infantry Badge Combat Infantry Badge.svg
Combat Infantry Badge
Expert Infantry Badge Expert Infantry Badge.svg
Expert Infantry Badge
Ranger Tab Ranger Tab.png
Ranger Tab
Master Parachutist Badge Master parachutist badge.jpg
Master Parachutist Badge
Pathfinder Badge Malaysian Pathfinder Badge.svg
Pathfinder Badge
Air Assault Badge AirAssault.svg
Air Assault Badge
Soldier's Medal ribbon.svg Soldier's Medal
Bronze Star ribbon.svg Bronze Star Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Meritorious Service ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg
Army Commendation Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Army Achievement Medal ribbon.svg
Army Achievement Medal
Army Good Conduct ribbon.svg Army Good Conduct Medal
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Army Reserve Achievement ribbon.svg
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster and 1 bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Afghanistan Campaign ribbon.svg
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one service star
Transparent square.svg
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
ResMedRib.svg Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Gold Hourglass and M Device
NCO Professional Development Ribbon.svg Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon.svg Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg Overseas Service Ribbon
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Army Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon.svg
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon with numeral 2


Effective dates of promotion

Promotions
InsigniaRankDate
US-O7 insignia.svg Brigadier General July 31, 2015
US-O6 insignia.svg Colonel October 1, 2004
US-O5 insignia.svg Lieutenant Colonel August 29, 2000
US-O4 insignia.svg Major August 3, 1995
US-O3 insignia.svg Captain February 24, 1990
US-OF1A.svg First Lieutenant August 10, 1987
US-OF1B.svg Second Lieutenant August 11, 1984

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Official Biography". National Guard Bureau. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  2. Schmitt, Eric (25 September 2005). "Where Armies Must Be Built, It's Slow (Iraq) and Even Slower (Afghanistan)". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  3. "Advice From The Afghan Front Lines". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  4. Guinness, Meredith. 4 Guardsmen Lauded as Heroes, Connecticut Post, Bridgeport, CT: March 13, 1994