MADISON – As a high school senior, Jensen entered the U.S. Army Reserve in 1989. He went on Active Duty in the U.S. Army in 1991. He retired from Active Duty Service as a Sergeant First Class on Jan 31, 2013.

Jensen completed initial basic combat training (BCT) and advanced individual training (AIT) at Fort Benning, Ga. as 11B Combat Infantryman. On Active Duty, he attended training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas to change Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) to 91A Medical Specialist.

“My first assignment as a Combat Medic was with 2nd Armor Division (FWD) out of Garlstead, Germany,” Jensen said. He only spent 10 months in Germany because of the Army’s drawdown and was re-assigned to Fort Lewis, Wash.

As both Combat Medic and Flight Medic, he deployed to Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras (Humanitarian Mission) for six months and Somalia, Africa (Operation Restore Hope) for six months.

In 1996, his training at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. changed MOS to 91C Licensed Practical Nurse. Jensen then was assigned to Reynolds (AMC) at Fort Sill, Okla. for four years.

In San Diego, Calif., he worked as Army Recruiter. He changed MOS to 79R Career Recruiter and served as Recruiting Center Commander in San Diego; El Paso, Texas; and Aurora, Colo.

In 2008, he served as an Instructor for U.S. Army Recruiting and Retention School with Fort Jackson, S.C. “My final assignment took me to Indianapolis, Ind. as Senior Master Trainer for Indianapolis Recruiting Battalion,” Jensen said.

The Jensens became familiar with the Madison area when his best friend retired here. “My family fell in love with the Alabama area. My wife and I moved to Meridianville in 2015,” he said.

Jensen earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Post University. The Jensens own Signature Sauses LLC, a manufacturing/wholesale company.

“I’ve been married to my beautiful wife Shantel 23 years this coming May,” he said. Their daughter Brittney Smith, 25, and husband Kory live in Greenville, S.C. Their son Brian, 21, is stationed at West Point, N.Y. as a Military Policeman in the Army.

John’s hobbies are hunting and backyard gardening.