Ben McDonald

Experience

• 

  Stokes County Schools

  Mar 1986 - Aug 1999

  History Teacher

  Was a high school History and Social Studies teacher. Taught US History, Advanced Placement European History, Advanced Placement US History, World Geography and Government and Economics in grades 9-12. Coached Cross Country and Track and Field.

• 

  USAJFK Special Warfare Center and School

  Aug 1999 - Jul 2003

  Civil Affairs Course Manager

  Was the Course Manager/Primary Instructor for Civil Affairs training for approximately 200 Active Duty Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and International Students each year. Taught four, five week classes yearly for Active Duty Soldiers. Also taught ten, two week courses for Army Reserve Soldiers each year. Developed lesson plans, testing materials and grading rubrics, and a five day practical exercise covering 4-5 counties with role players and students interactions.

• 

  Special Operations Command Korea

  Jul 2003 - Jul 2004

  USAR Advisor/Civil Affairs Planner

  Served as the Senior Army Reserve Advisor for Army Reserve, Air Force Reserve and Navy Reserve personnel assigned to Special Operations units in Korea. Responsible for mentoring, coaching and training peers and subordinates. Conducted mission planning with Korean government officials and military planners. Supervised 13 Active Guard and Reserve Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers working in Operations/Planning, Human Resources and Logistics.

• 

  USACAPOC

  Aug 2004 - Sept 2007

  Responsible for managing, hiring, and replacing 500 Active Guard and Reserve Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers in 53 Army Reserve units across 32 states, Puerto Rico, Germany and Korea. hired approximately 50 new Active Guard and Reserve Soldiers yearly. Responsible for transferring/rotating 150 Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers to new units and assignments each year. Sent approximately 100 Soldiers to advanced schooling/educational opportunities evey year. Served as the Operations Officer for a unit with over 750 Soldiers and units located in five states. Managed all schools, training and deployments of Soldiers to California, Louisana, Germany, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa. Developed missions, and training scenarios for unit Soldiers and coordinated twelve airborne operations for two units each year. Managed 60 full time Soldiers supporting Army Reserve units in Human Resources, Operations, Security, and Logistics

  • AGR Civil Affairs/Psychological Operations Branch Manager

    Jun 2006 - Sept 2007

  • Operations Officer, 360th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne)

    Aug 2004 - Jun 2006
• 

  USAJFK Special Warfare Center and School

  Sept 2007 - Apr 2010

  USAR Advisor/Director of Education

  Served as the Army Reserve Advisor for the schoolhouse. Supervised Officer, Non-Commissioned Officer and Enlisted education for Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations students. Supervised staff of 100 full and part time Soldiers and civilians involved in Adult Education, as instructors, writers and course designers. Wrote lesson plans, created testing materials and grading rubrics, and instituted the use of Blackboard Distance Learning System. Coached and mentored over 400 students each year. Show less

• 

  United States Army Training Center and Fort Jackson

  Apr 2010 - Feb 2015

  Army Reserve Advisor

  Senior Staff Officer for Army Reserve Basic Training Soldiers entering military service (approx 7000 per year). Provides leadership, mentoring and counseling for 250 full time Army Reserve Soldiers supporting 28 Army Reserve units stationed at Fort Jackson; Basic Combat Training and the Drill Sergeant School. Works daily in Adult Education transforming civilians into Soldiers.

• 

  South Stokes High School

  Feb 2015 - now

  History Teacher

  Currently teaching two US History 1 blocks and one block of World History to 9th-11th graders in a rural county school system.

• 

  Parkland Magnet High School

  Aug 2017 - now

  • History Teacher, Parkland Magnet High School

    Aug 2017 - now

  • History Teacher

    Aug 2017 - now