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Aaron von Ehlinger
von Ehlinger in 2020
Born	May 7th, 1982 Orofino, Idaho
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	2000–2003
Rank	Corporal
Unit	1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
Battles / wars	War in Afghanistan
Alma mater	University of Alabama (BA)

Aaron Anson von Ehlinger (born May 7, 1982) is a candidate for the Idaho State House of Representatives, District 6, seat A, and is also an American veteran of the War in Afghanistan.  He is a former United States Army Airborne and Air Assault qualified Infantryman who was deployed in support of the initial Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force (CJSOTF) mission to invade Afghanistan and destroy Al Qaeda and the Taliban in 2001-2002. Von Ehlinger was attached to the Combined Joint Task Force Mountain as a member of Task Force Rakkasan. He was initially deployed to Afghanistan with the first conventional, and highest-rated United States Army Infantry battalion in the Global War On Terrorism (GWOT), the 1st Battalion 187th Infantry Regiment (Rakkasans).  Von Ehlinger left the U.S. Army due to multiple service related injuries in June of 2003. 

Early Life and Education

Von Ehlinger was born on May 7th, 1982 in Orofino, Idaho where he spent his childhood playing sports, riding motorcycles, building hot rods, fishing, and hunting.  At the age of 15, von Ehlinger's family moved to Whitefish, Montana.  As a kid, he always thought that the greatest thing a man could do was serve his country, and after his junior year at the age of 17, he entered the U.S. Army's Delayed Entry Program and committed to serving in the Army’s elite Airborne Infantry.  In June of 2000, von Ehlinger graduated from Whitefish High School.  After the military, von Ehlinger graduated from the University of Alabama with a double major Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History (Magna Cum Laude). He made the President’s List multiple times during his time in college.

Military Career

Two weeks after graduating high school in the year 2000, von Ehlinger was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia (The Home of The Infantry) for Basic Training, Advanced Individualized Training, and Airborne School.  He was then stationed with the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment (Rakkasans) of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.  Shortly after arriving, von Ehlinger was sent to Air Assault School to learn the science of rappelling and fast-roping operations and insertions from helicopters.  

Not long after von Ehlinger completed Air Assault School, the September 11th attacks of 2001 occurred.  Von Ehlinger’s unit was immediately placed on full alert and later in 2001, was deployed to Afghanistan and Pakistan in support of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force mission to defeat Al Qaeda and the Taliban as a member of Task Force Rakkasan, while attached to the Combined Joint Task Force Mountain.  Von Ehlinger has stated that It was during this time in his life that he learned the true meaning of sacrifice and leadership. He was 19 years old in Afghanistan. In 2002, von Ehlinger’s unit redeployed to Fort Campbell, Kentucky and in 2003 von Ehlinger was honorably discharged from the Army after sustaining multiple service related injuries in Afghanistan.  Von Ehlinger was discharged having attained the rank of Corporal.

Weapons

As an Infantryman, von Ehlinger has often been asked about his weapons and equipment.  In the field, he used the following:

Weapon	Details
M4 carbine (5.56 NATO)	Equipped with the Knight’s Armament Company (KAC) Rail Interface System, with and without the M203 grenade launcher, and with the AN/PEQ-2 Infrared Target Pointer/Illuminator/Aiming Light (ITPIAL).
M249 SAW (5.56 NATO)	Equipped with the Aimpoint CompM2 M68 Close Combat Optic, and the AN/PEQ-2 Infrared Target Pointer/Illuminator/Aiming Light (ITPIAL).  In Afghanistan, von Ehlinger’s primary weapon was the M249 SAW.
M240 machine gun (7.62 NATO)	Equipped with the AN/PEQ-2 Infrared Target Pointer/Illuminator/Aiming Light (ITPIAL).
MK 19 grenade launcher (40mm, belt fed, fully automatic)	Mounted either on an M3 tripod or a Humvee (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle HMMWV).  In Afghanistan, von Ehlinger was also an MK19 gunner.
M2 Browning (.50 BMG)	Equipped with the AN/PEQ-2 Infrared Target Pointer/Illuminator/Aiming Light (ITPIAL), and mounted on an M3 tripod or a Humvee (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle HMMWV).
Beretta M9 (9x19mm Parabellum)	In Afghanistan, von Ehlinger’s primary side arm was the Beretta M9 pistol.
BGM-71 TOW (Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided)	The BGM-71 TOW ("Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided") is an American anti-tank missile.
AT4 shoulder fired 84mm Anti-tank weapon	The AT4 (also AT-4)[8] is an 84-mm unguided, portable, single-shot recoilless smoothbore weapon built in Sweden by Saab Bofors Dynamics.
M67 grenade	Standard fragmentation hand grenade
M18 Claymore Mine	Directional anti-personnel mine
M9 Bayonet with M10 scabbard.	In Afghanistan, von Ehlinger carried and used the M9 Bayonet.
AN/PVS-14	Monocular Night Vision Device (MNDV).
Interceptor Body Armor	Interceptor Multi-Threat Body Armor System (IBA)

Awards and Decorations

Right Breast		Left Breast
		0em		0em

	Right Breast		Left Breast
Insignia	1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia	Badge	Combat Infantryman Badge
		Badges	Parachutist Badge		Air Assault Badge
		1st Row	Army Commendation Medal w/ Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster		Army Achievement Medal
		2nd Row	Army Good Conduct Medal	National Defense Medal		Afghanistan Campaign Medal
		3rd Row	Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal	Global War On Terrorism Service Medal		Army Service Ribbon
Badge	101st Airborne Division Combat Service Identification Badge (CSIB)	Badge	U.S. Army Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge w/ rifle Clasp

Post Military

After von Ehlinger left the military, he focused on recovering from the injuries he sustained while serving, and also on furthering his education.  Von Ehlinger later attempted to go back into the Army as an officer while in college, but after serious consultation with his doctors, he was deemed to be physically unfit for duty due to the previous service related injuries he incurred as an Infantryman in the Army.  After von Ehlinger’s discharge, he has stated that he felt considerable guilt over not being in the invasion of Iraq with his platoon. For several years this affected aspects of his life. He has stated that this guilt led him to make choices that he is not proud of.  He has since attempted to apologize to all of his platoon mates for not being there when they needed him in Iraq, and also to others he felt he had wronged over the years. He has repented for his actions, and turned his life over to God. In 2004, von Ehlinger was a summer intern for the USDA Forest Service Nez Perce National Historic Trail office.  Von Ehlinger has worked in real estate investment and development, and the construction and private security industries.  He is also currently a substitute school teacher in his local school district. Von Ehlinger has travelled to over 25 countries, all 50 American States and is a member of the All Fifty Club.

Political Aspirations

Aaron von Ehlinger in the Idaho State Senate Gallery

Since his discharge from the military, von Ehlinger has had a keen interest in politics.  He has stated ”politics always get involved in the wars that American heroes fight, so it is important that war veterans get involved in politics”.  After being urged by many people in his community, and after the release of the Afghanistan Papers by the Washington Post, von Ehlinger decided that now is the time to once again serve his country and community.  He is a candidate for the Idaho State House of Representatives, District 6, Seat A, as a member of the Republican Party.

Organizations

• Life Member - Grand Old Party (Republican Party)

• Life Member - National Rifle Association
• Life Member - Veterans of Foreign Wars
• Life Member - Combat Infantrymen’s Association
• Life Member - 101st Airborne Division Association
• Life Member - National Rakkasan Association (187th Infantry Regiment)
• Member - American Legion
• General Board Member - Lewis-Clark Twins/Cubs American Legion Baseball
• Member - University of Alabama Alumni Association
• Member - All 50 Club.