Russell Ballew is the Vice President for Veterans Flyfishing.org. He has served
this project for the past five years. He was born in Clayton Ga and has been an avid fisherman all
his life. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1989. He attended Basic training and Advanced
Individual Training at Ft Benning Ga as a Combat Infantryman. After Airborne School, he was assigned
to the 82nd Airborne Division 1st Battalion 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. SFC Ballew has held
positions as Rifleman, Machine gunner, Squad Leader and Scout Team Leader. In 1999 SFC Ballew was
selected as the 82nd Airborne Division. Non-Commissioned Officer of the year. He was also a Ranger
Instructor at the 5th Ranger Training Battalion, Camp Frank D. Merrill, Dahlonega, Ga.; known as the
toughest phase of Ranger School. SFC Ballew taught Combat Patrolling Techniques and Mountaineering.
He has 16 months deployment time to Iraq and Yemen. His schools include Airborne School, Ranger School,
Sniper School, Army Mountain Warfare School, Assault Climber Course, Jumpmaster School and Drill Sergeant School.