Today we’d like to introduce you to Reginald Blount.
Hi Reginald, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstories.
I am a native of Jacksonville, Florida. After graduating from Paxon Sr. High School, I received my associate’s in commercial graphics from Tampa Tech Institute. In 1983 was offered a Track & Field Scholarship to Edward Water College. I earned my BS in Business Management, A master’s in public policy from Liberty University, and a special graduate certificate from the Naval Post Graduate School. (University).
I enlisted in the United States Army as a surgical medic. During my military career, I served in various leadership positions, including Instructor at the Noncommissioned Officer Academy, a special assignment over all special operations forces in the Washington DC military display under the Obama Administration, and served on the housing policy council at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
My combat deployments had a profound effect on my life. I deployed to Operation Desert Storm Iraq, Bosnia, and Kosovo, and two tours in Afghanistan. By the time of the Afghan war, I was in the United States Army in Special Operations Command with a TOP Secret Security Clearance. I served as a special liaison for the Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs Command under the Army Special Operation Command. While working in the headquarters of the special operation joint task force at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, word came over the communication systems that two choppers (helicopters) were down. We would later find out that two special ops teams and their Afghan allies were shot down attempting to rescue a Soldier. Three days later, 30 American flag-draped coffins and 8 Afghan army coffins arrived on the tarmac (air runway) in two huge C-17 Aircraft at Bagram Air Base. I remember the smoke-filled sky from burning oil fields in Kuwait to the atrocities of human suffering in Afghanistan.
This incident was the subject of the movie “Lone Survivor.” I committed that after my military career, I would do as much as possible to give as much service to my community as long as I could. I retired in April 2016 after 30 years of service. I’m an adjunct professor at FSCJ and serve as a training curriculum writer for the youth mentorship program at Biscayne High School.
You wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
Life naturally brings obstacles, often beyond our control. Let’s take the dynamics of a family. Once you are married and have children, you must reconsider your priorities and goals. Sometimes you either push harder to complete them or readjust, even abandoning plans if they don’t seem attainable at a specific time. While in the military, I was only 2 years into marriage, but my goal was to train and become a Green Beret. I worked out very hard and was preparing for it. I had to eventually give it up because my wife was pregnant and having some complications. I had to choose what was best. I never became a green beret, but I was later trained in civil affairs, a branch of the US Army’s special operations (often working with Green Berets).
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
It’s funny because my life direction torched Art and Creativity, Business, and Professional. I worked as an independent graphic artist, landing several contracts for photography and large-scale mural paintings. I was even hired to do the official banner for the visit of then Presidential candidate Jesse Jackson while I was in college. During my years in the military, I established a part-time photography and art business. It was going very well; however, I could not stabilize the business due to deployments and overseas assignments. I am a Jacksonville City Council Candidate, Adjunct Professor, and Building consultant for group homes.
We all have different ways of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
My father once said never let anyone determine your success, “you determine what success for yourself is.” Setting milestones and meeting those goals can contribute to your inner self accepting it as success, significantly when it contributes to the well-being of others. I had a very successful military career (retiring after 30 years with full benefits). I raised 6 children, all of whom are alive and well. 4 daughters and 2 sons. I never had to visit the paternity ward for my daughters while they were in high school (LOL). “that’s a success!” I was also the track & field coach for all of my children through high school.
Contact Info:
- Website: voterkblount.com
- Facebook: reginald blount
