RHS Grad awarded Air Force Achievement Medal

Airman First Class John Jason English II, a former Ramona resident and Ramona High School Class of 2005 graduate, has been awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal for his accomplishments while serving in Iraq.

English was a member of the 332d Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, 332d Expeditionary Security Forces Group, and 332d Air Expeditionary Wing at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The award states that English excelled at defending the airbase and protecting the Department of Defense’s busiest single runway operation, along with 24,000 personnel.

“Additionally, Airman English immediately responded to the perimeter fence line and prevented local nationals from damaging the perimeter intrusion detection system, protecting the $22 million system,” the award states.

The Air Force also commended English for installing sirens and emergency light bars for up-armored high mobility multipurpose vehicles that improved the unit’s contingency response capability.

English is the son of former resident Mary Lou English and the grandson of Ramona resident Judy Eaton. He attended Ramona Elementary and Olive Peirce Middle Schools before entering Ramona High School.

The RHS grad enlisted in the Air Force in January 2006, “chasing his dreams into reality,” according to his mother. He has been deployed twice—once to Kuwait and once to Iraq.

English married his high school sweetheart, Kaleena Gervias, and they have two daughters, Shayla and Ryleigh. The family lives in Colorado Springs where English is stationed out of Cheyenne Mountain and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).