JROTC - GGH Titan Batallion

Senior Army Instructor

I am your Senior Army Instructor for the Golden Gate AJROTC program.  I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Behavioral Science from National University. I began my military career as a Marine Tank Crewman from 1984 to 1988 and joined the California National Guard in 1996 where I served as a Tank Crewman and a Combat Engineer as an Enlisted Soldier.  I was commissioned through Officer Candidate School in 1999.   

I served in the military for 25 years in positions of increasing responsibility, commanding at the Platoon and Company Level, I have served on Staffs at the Battalion, Squadron and Brigade Level and California National Guard Counterdrug Task Force 1997 - 2013 and multiple deployments, Noble Eagle III, Dugway Proving Ground 2003 - 2004, Kosovo 2004 - 2006, Ukraine 2008 and Kosovo 2008 - 2009.

Upon retirement from the Army in 2013, I took a position teaching Organizational Leadership at San Diego High School.  In Aug of 2015, I accepted the Senior Army Instructor position at Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles CA.  In Aug of 2016 I accepted the Senior Army Instructor position at Will C. Crawford High School in City Heights, San Diego CA where I taught for 7 years.  June of 2023 I accepted the position of Senior Army Instructor at Golden Gate High School.

I am a graduate of both the Armor Officer Basic and Advanced Courses. I am a graduate of the Combined Arms Staff Course and Command and General Staff College (Intermediate Leader Education). The Civil Affairs Qualification Course at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center.

My military awards and decorations include the  Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal(with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)   Kosovo Campaign Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Star), National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Star), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with "M" Device, Hourglass and Numeral 2), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd Award), Reserve Components Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Service Medal, U.S. Coast Guard Special Operations Ribbon, Non Article 5 NATO Service Medal, Public Service Commendation Medal, California Medal of Merit, California Good Conduct Medal, California Service Medal, Enlisted Trainers Excellence Ribbon (CA), Enlisted Excellence Ribbon (CA, 2nd Award), Recruiting Achievement Ribbon (CA), National Guard Federal Service Ribbon (CA), State Service Ribbon (CA), Counterdrug Service Ribbon (CA, 9th Award), Drill Attendance Ribbon. German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (GOLD). Order of Saint George (BRONZE).

Army Instructor

First Sergeant Craig DeJager was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and moved to the united states in 1985, he entered the United States Army on 1 June 1993 at Orlando Florida. He trained as an Infantryman and graduated at Fort Benning, Georgia.

First Sergeant DeJager has served in the following duty positions and organizations: Machine Gunner, Team Leader and Bradley Fighting Vehicle Gunner in 1st ID, 1-16 Infantry, Fort Riley, Kansas; Squad Leader in 2nd ID, 1-9 Infantry, Camp Hovey, South Korea; Squad Leader, Section Leader and Platoon Sergeant in 3rd ID, 3-15 Infantry, Fort Stewart Georgia; Section Leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant and First Sergeant in 11th ACR, Fort Irwin, California and Operations Sergeant and Senior Military Instructor in Cadet Command, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida; First Sergeant in Attack Company 5th Battalion 20th Infantry and Brigade Deputy Chief of Operations for 2-2 BCT.

First Sergeant DeJager has attended and graduated from the following courses PLDC, BNCOC, ANCOC, First Sergeants Course;  Airborne, Air Assault, Special Forces Basic Sniper and Instructor Trainers Course, Tagging, tracking and Locating course.

First Sergeant DeJager’s deployments include Bosnia-Herzegovinian; Operation Iraqi Freedom; Operation Enduring Freedom along with small contingency operations supporting both peace-keeping and combat operations.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star; Meritorious Service Medal (2 oak leaf cluster); the Army Commendation Medal (5 oak leaf cluster); the Army Achievement Medal (1 silver oak leaf cluster, 4 bronze oak leaf cluster); the Army Good Conduct Medal (5th award); the National Defense Service Medal with 1 bronze star; South Korean Defense Service Medal; the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; the Global War on Terror Service Medal; the Iraq Campaign Medal; the Afghanistan campaign medal; the NCO Professional Development Ribbon (with numeral 3); the NATO medal; the Army Service Ribbon; the Overseas Service Ribbon; the Expert Infantryman Badge; the Combat Infantryman Badge; the Parachutist Badge; and the Air Assault Badge.

First Sergeant DeJager has three children: Jessica, Ryan and Conner.

1. Ranks: For class A Jacket, pin on metal rank will be worn on the epaulets, centered 5/8" from the outside seam. Class B shirt will be cloth shoulder ranks. Privates will be a pin on rank on the collar.
2. Cords: no more than 2 cords at a time •School/Position Cord: Always right shoulder •Commander/Club Cord: Either shoulder without the school cord •2 Cords: Either shoulder, as long as school cord is not worn
3. Star: Centered, 1/4" above the right pocket (If inside an academic wreath, the bottom of the wreath is 1/4'' above the right pocket)
4. Nametag: Centered between the top of the button and top of the pocket
5. Unit Crest: Centered, 1/4" above the star or academic wreath with star
6. Ribbons: Centered, 1/8" above the left pocket, no more than 3 across
7. Marksmanship Badge: Centered 1/4" below the top of the pocket (along with the seam). Medals go to the wearer’s right of marksmanship awards. Medals/badges must be equally spaced below ribbons.
8. Special Team Badges/Arcs: Centered between the bottom of the right pocket flap and bottom of the pocket, if more than 1, 1/8" between each tab •Summer Camp/JCLC: always on top •Other badges: any order
9. Earrings: Not authorized
10. Beards and Goatees: Not authorized
11. Only Authorized 'Jewelry': •Wristwatch •ID Bracelet •1 ring per hand

1. Ranks: For class, A jacket, pin on metal rank will be worn on the epaulets, centered 5/8" from the outside seam. For class B shirts, cloth shoulder ranks will be worn. For privates, pin on rank on the collar.
2. Cords: No more than 2 cords at a time •School/Position Cord: Right shoulder •Commander/Club cord: either shoulder as long as school cord is not being worn
3. Unit Crest: Centered 1/4" above the star or academic wreath w/star
4. Star: Centered 1/4" above the nametag
5. Nametag: 1-2" above the top button and centered on the wearer's right side
6. Ribbons: Bottom of 1st row is parallel with the bottom of the nametag, with no more than 3 across
7. Marksmanship Badge: Centered, 1/4" below the first row of ribbons. Medals go to the wearer’s right of marksmanship awards. Medals/badges must be equally spaced below ribbons.
8. Special Team Badges/arcs: Centered roughly 4th button down (slightly above the waist), if you have more than 1, 1/8" between each tab, may be adjusted to individual figure differences •Summer Camp/JCLC: Always on top •Other Badges: any order
9. Earrings: Matching pair with 1 earring per ear on the earlobe, circular shape, and no greater than 1/4" in size, no loops, gauges or logos (gold, silver, diamond, pearl OK)
10. Other Authorized 'Jewelry': •Wristwatch •ID Bracelet •1 ring per hand
11. Nail Polish: Conservative - no multi-color nails, purple, black, gold, silver, white, blue etc.
12. Piercings - no visible piercings while in uniform