User:J9Rowe/sandbox

Michael Paul Rowe (22 June 1968 – ) was a Non-commissioned officer with several deployments to the Middle East including assignments to Naval Coastal Warfare, Navy Provisional Detainee Battalion Ramadi II, and Navy Law and Order Detachment Juliet during Operation Enduring Freedom, the Iraq War, and Operation New Dawn. He also is a leading Grandmaster Instructor of Combat Hapkido and the Director of the ICHF Adaptive Weapons Program.

Early life
Michael Rowe was born and raised in Valley, Nebraska. He was very active in the in the activities of high school including: football, wrestling, golf, the forensics team, band, show choir, and student council. After a life of listening to stories from his grandfather and father who were both Navy Veterans of World War II and the Viet Nam War he decided to enlist in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 between his Junior and Senior year of high school. Despite having a history of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rowe was accepted into the U.S. Navy.

Initial Military Career
Rowe completed basic training at Recruit Training Command San Diego, California, then returned to Naval Training Command San Diego after high school graduation to complete Seaman Apprenticeship Training before attending Iowa State University and participating in the NROTC program there.

Iowa State University & NROTC
Rowe initially was enrolled and participated in the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corp(NROTC) during his first two years at Iowa State. While simultaneously still enlisted in the Navy Reserve where he served as a Boatswain's Mate assigned to PHIBCB2 in Little Creek, Virginia where he served as a CSP Coxswain. After two years at Iowa State University Rowe decided to option his way out of the NROTC program and simply decide to remain a Reserve Petty Officer. He eventually was promoted to Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class before the outbreak of hostilities in Kuwait in 1990. Despite being a qualified CSP Coxswain and a well qualified junior leader the U.S. Navy did not select Rowe to be mobilized with PHIBCB2 to the Persian Gulf. After completing his initial post-secondary education in Computer Information Systems Rowe was discharged from the Navy and sought work as a Programmer/Analyst.

Medals and decorations
Rowe was the recipient of the following military decorations and service medals: