Instructors

Sergeant First Class John M. Mondelli was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina in 1970 and enlisted in the Army in 1988. He attended Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training as an 11C (Indirect Fire Infantryman) at Fort Benning, Georgia.

His initial assignment was to the 2nd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado, where he served as a radio telephone operator and mortar gunner.  He was then reassigned to the 4th Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, Berlin, Germany. Shortly thereafter he volunteered to be attached to 4th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Division, Gelnhausen, Germany where he participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. After returning from Desert Storm, he went back to the Berlin Brigade and was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment where he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and served as a squad leader until 1993. Upon completing his tour in Germany, he was reassigned to the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served as a 60mm mortar squad leader and section sergeant from 1993 to 1996. During this time, he deployed to The Republic Panama in support of Operations Safe Haven and Safe Passage.  He was then reassigned to the 1st Battalion, 72nd Armor, Camp Casey, Korea, where he served as a fire direction center chief computer for a 120mm mortar platoon.  After completing his 12-month tour in Korea in 1997, he was reassigned to the 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he was promoted to staff sergeant and served as a section sergeant, platoon sergeant and later deployed to Ukraine in support of Operation Peace Shield.   In 2000, he was selected to serve as a recruiter and was assigned to the Baltimore Recruiting Battalion where he was promoted to Sergeant First Class and went on to  serve in positions of increasing responsibility until being assigned to the New England Recruiting Battalion and finally the Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Battalion, Lakehurst, New Jersey as a Recruiting Station Commander. He was later reassigned as a Master Trainer until his retirement in 2011 after 22 years of honorable service.

Sergeant First Class Mondelli’s military and civilian education includes the Basic Airborne Course, the Primary Leadership Development Course, the Basic Noncommissioned Officer’s Course, the Infantry Mortar Leaders Course, the Jumpmaster Course, the Advanced Noncommissioned Officer’s Course and the Recruiting Station Commanders Course.  Sergeant First Class Mondelli currently holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Trident University International.

Sergeant First Class Mondelli’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (7th award), Army Achievement Medal (7th award), Good Conduct Medal (7th award), Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal (2nd award), South West Asia Service Medal (two bronze service stars), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (3rd award), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), Multi-National Forces and Observers Medal, Drivers Badge (wheel), the Glen E. Morrell Award for Recruiting Excellence, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Master Parachutist Wings. He was also awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award and the Valorous Unit Award for his unit’s actions during Operation Desert Storm.  Additionally, he was awarded the British Parachutist Wings, German Parachutist Wings, Russian Parachutist Wings and is a graduate of French Commando School No. 10.

He is married to the former Zahra Bavi of Delran, New Jersey and has a daughter named Gabriella.