John Cannon was born in Stephenville Texas. John is the son of Pamela Cannon, and the late Frank Cannon, and older brother to his two sisters, Milanda and Elizabeth. He joined the Army in December 1992, and attended One Station Unit Training at Fort McClellan, in Alabama from June 1993 to October 1993, where he trained to be a Military Policeman. John served in the Army for 21 ½ years. After he retired from the Army, John moved to Gravois Mills, Missouri, where he resides with his wife Deborah. John has four children, Daughter Darby, a student at UCM, Son Tobias, an Infantryman at Fort Polk Louisiana, a son Justice in Gravois Mills, Missouri, and daughter Taylore, a gold star widow and mother of two boys Jace and Emmet, who reside in Cole Camp Missouri.
Sergeant First Class (SFC) (Ret.) Cannon served in Alabama, Virginia, Germany, Bosnia, Missouri, Arizona, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Iraq; he served 27 months in combat with an additional 9 months in “hardship tours” throughout his career as a Military Policeman. He served as a Military Police Patrolman, Desk Clerk, Patrol Supervisor, U.S. Customs Inspector, Military Police Duty Officer, Team Leader, Squad Leader, Security Detail NCO for the U.S. Army Chemical School’s Chemical Defense Training Facility, Recruiter, Battle NCO, Arms and Ammunition NCO, Platoon Sergeant, Operations Sergeant, and Instructor Writer for the U.S. Army Military Police School. He participated in Operation Joint Guard (Bosnia), and Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq).
SFC (Ret.) Cannon’s awards include, The Bronze Star Medal, Two Meritorious Service Medals, 4 Army Commendation Medals, 6 Army Achievement Medals, 6 Army Good Conduct Medals, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, 2 Global War on Terrorism Service Medals, Armed Forces Service Medal, 3 Professional Development Ribbons, NATO Medal, Gold Recruiter Badge with 3 Sapphire Stars, Recruiter Ring, Combat Action Badge, Driver and Mechanic Badge W/Driver-Wheeled Vehicles Clasp, Expert Pistol Badge, Expert Rifle Badge, German Schutzenschnur (Silver), and the Order of the Marechaussee (Bronz).
John’s Education includes 3 Years college in Criminal Justice, and Elementary School Teaching, and has and associates degree in firearms technologies. John also has education from Military Police Basic Course, Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course, Senior Leader Course, Action Officer Development Course, Army Recruiter Course, Cadre Training Course, Civil Disturbance Course (Riot Control), Combat Lifesavers Course, Manager Development Course, Supervisor Development Course, Unit Movement Officer Course, Coaching the Emergency Vehicle Driver (police) Course, U.S. Customs Inspector School, Driving While Intoxicated Detection Course, Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic and Advance Course, Active Shooter Preparedness Course, National School Resource Officer Basic Course, Unit Safety NCO Course, and Unit Victim Advocate and Sexual Assault Prevention NCO Course. SRO Cannon is also a graduate of the National Association of School Resource Officers Basic SRO Course and the ALICE instructor course.
John is also a retired Missouri POST Certified Police Officer commissioned through the town of Stover and Morgan County Sheriff’s Department. John works as a full-time Chief Range Safety Officer, Instructor, and Gunsmith at Base Outfitters and Range LLC. John is a member of the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), a Member of the National Rifle Association, an NRA Pistol, Rifle, and Range Safety instructor.
