b'Army Reserve Soldier Serves Community As Firefighter, FatherStory by Sgt. Salvatore OttavianoJoint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst01.29.2022www.dvidshub.net/news/415049/army-reserve-soldier-serves-community-firefighter-fatherSome men pursue their dream to be a firefighter; some choose the path of military service as their lifes mission; some favor being a family man as their course in life.Now and again, an exception like Capt. Jon Every-Clayton plunges into all three of these self-sacrificing endeavors.Every-Clayton serves full-time as officer-in-charge of the Soldier Readiness Improvement Program administered by the Capt. Jon Every-Clayton, a volunteer firefighter who serves full-time as officer-in-charge Army Reserves 99th Readiness Division headquartered here. of the Soldier Readiness Improvement Program administered by the Army Reserves 99th While enjoying the challenges of his job at the 99th RD,Readiness Division at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, recently spent the day at McGuire Fire Station 1 in support of the bases fire department.Every-Clayton leads another life volunteering as a firefighter for(U.S. Army photo by Mr. Sal Ottaviano, 99th RD PAO) more than 26 years with the Moorestown Fire Department. wildland firefighters who provide an initial attack response Recently, fire chiefs here at the JBMDL Fire Departmenton remote wildland fires. They are inserted at the site of the needed back-up firefighters to cover down for their crewfire by parachute.for the day. They reached out to local civilian fire chiefsandAs a result of the injury, he wasnt able to attend the thats when Every-Clayton got the call to duty as part of theschool for smoke-jumping skills.crew at McGuire Fire Station 1. When I stopped jumping out of planes, I neededEvery-Clayton says volunteering with the JBMDL Fireanother rush, so this is the next best thing, he said. I came Department is an honor. to New Jersey and became a volunteer firefighter, and the Its good to communicate, exchange stories, see theirrest is history.equipment, to learn and talk to each other, and take care ofEvery-Clayton said that on some fires, he could seeeach other, the Baltimore native said. how a disaster was narrowly prevented and a family or He also noted that while stationed here with the Armypotential victim of a fire was relieved to be rescued byReserve, its not every day that he gets the chance to work onhim or his firefighting crew.the McGuire side of base with service members in anotherIts a very good (sense of satisfaction) if you could avoid military branch. anything, whether its a small fire or a tragedy. We were at They say in the military, One Team, One Fight, and a house fire at 3:30 this morning. Other departments were right here (in the firehouse) its a brotherhood, its a strongat the fire as welljust another tragic situation involving a brotherhood, he said. family, he said. Its community service, taking care of each Air Force Master Sgt. Brian Martenis of the 87th Civilotherwhether its in uniform or in the service, its about Engineer Fire Department, who works at McGuire Firetaking care of each other.Station 1, explained that the 87th CEFD goes into civilianHe also proudly serves as a husband and father ofcommunities on a variety of calls to assist local fire four children, raising his family and watching them growdepartments, which helps their firefighters get well-roundedas people.in their skills. Theyre all passions of mine, all threethe (two) jobs and We go off-base quite often and help our mutual partnersthe family. Its enough, yknow? Four kidsit keeps me busy, quite often, and that gives a lot of the firefighters here onhe said as his smile turned into a chuckle.Jbase a breadth of experience, he said. We have an outstanding working relationship with our off-base partners. We enjoyMoorestown Fire District No. 1working with our neighbors. Its a good time to get face time50+ members, all volunteersand show each other the equipment, prepare rigs, exchangeServes a population of 20,400 residents covering 15 square mileswar stories - thats always part of the fun. of schools, libraries, houses, businesses, churches, synagogues,Every-Clayton explained why he serves in civilian life ascommunity centers, and cultural and historic buildings.well as the military. Responds to over 700 calls a year and provides reciprocal assistanceI was supposed to be a smokejumper, but I got injured onto neighboring townshipsa jump, he explained. Smokejumpers are specially trainedhttps://moorestownfire.orgThank You For Your Service Military Appreciation Resource Magazine 29'