Combat Veterans For Congress-----Embedded Integrity 

The Combat Veterans For Congress PAC is endorsing the 138th Combat Veteran For Congress in 11 years, 1st Sgt John W. Collick, Jr., USMC (Ret) who resides in Suffolk, VA, and served 20 years in the US Marine Corps.  1st Sgt John Collick is running for election in the 3rd Congressional District of Virginia and is a fiscally conservative candidate who will work to reduce the national debt.  He will continue to work toward unleashing the private sector to grow, create jobs, stimulate private sector business investment, and will work to stop the out of control spending by the Pelosi Congress. 

John Collick, Jr. is running for a seat in the 3rd Congressional District currently held by 14-term Democratic incumbent Cong Bobby Scott who has voted along party lines over 92% of the time, in lockstep with Pelosi, and who for 28 years has contributed to the irresponsible out of control spending by the irresponsible members of Congress.  Scott voted against repealing the flawed Obamacare law, voted to reduce Tricare benefits for military veterans and retirees, and voted against extending the requirement of implementation of Obamacare for private citizens.  In an example of poor leadership, Scott voted for the International Iranian Nuclear Weapons Agreement, despite being implored by his constituents to oppose the Congressional bill to approve the Iranian Nuclear Weapons Agreement.  

John Collick is Pro-Life; Scott is Pro-Abortion until birth and is supportive of killing after birth as is his Virginia Governor’s stated policy.  John Collick is a Pro-Constitution conservative; Scott has voted to limit 2nd Amendment Rights and recently stood with Virginia Governor Northam when the Governor announced in a “special session” of the legislature that he will enact new laws to regulate individual guns rights.  John Collick is strong on national defense; Scott has voted to restrict the President’s role as Commander-in-Chief and for the flawed nuclear arms deal with Iran.  John Collick is a strong supporter of Homeland Security; Scott has never voted in favor of any Homeland Security Authorization Bill.  John Collick supports closing the wide open southern border; Scott supports open borders.  John Collick supports strong and well-trained Police Forces; Scott has introduced a bill to reduce funding for Police Forces and making data available to make it easier to file legal action against Police Officers.  John Collick believes students deserves a high-quality education, through school choice if needed; Scott has opposed school choice, in lock step with the teachers union, whenever it is brought up.

John Collick was born in Weymouth, MA on September 13, 1962.  John was raised in Whitman, MA until age 5, when the family moved to Abington, MA until age 18.  John attended Cardinal Spellman High School in Brockton, MA in 1976.  Although John’s parents could not afford to send him to Spellman, he got a job at his church and paid his own way through Spellman.  John ran cross country for two seasons, but because he had to work every day to earn his high school tuition, he was not able to continue on the team.  John graduated from Cardinal Spellman High School, Brockton, MA in May 1980.

John Collick comes from a long line of family members who served in the US military, going back to Revolutionary War on his mother’s side of the family.  John’s Great Uncle Edward Hines served in the Canadian Army, and his step Grandfather Sgt Benjamin Brown both served in WWI.  His Grandfather SSgt John Collick, USA served from 1920 to 1945, including in WWII in the African and European Theatres, also under one unit command by General Patton.  His cousin, PVT Fenton Hines, USA was  killed on D-Day at Normandy.  John’s father, Cpl John Collick, USMC; his Uncle, Cpl Eugene Scattergood, USMC; and his Uncle James Hines, USA served in the Korean Conflict.  John’s Uncle-in-Law Cpl Edward Zezlina, USA served in Vietnam.  John’s cousins MSgt Jack Candy, USMC and MSgt Edward Zezlina, USA both served In Iraq and in Afghanistan.  John’s daughter, Airman 1st Class Sandra Collick, served in the USAF; his son, Cpt John Collick III, USA is on active duty; his sister and two nephews served in the US Navy as Second Class Petty Officers.

1st Sgt Collick obtained a Certificate in Intelligence Studies, in the Undergraduate Intelligence Program at the Defense Intelligence College at Bolling AFB, Washington, DC on May 1997.  John received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Government at Campbell University at Buies Creek, North Carolina on May 30, 2003.  John obtained a Master of Business Administration Degree, with a concentration in Homeland Security at Northcentral University, a private online university located in San Diego, CA on February 11, 2013.

John Collick was sworn into the US Marine Corps on October 16, 1980 on a Delayed Entry Program at the Military Entry Processing Center in Boston, MA.  Recruit Collick reported to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, SC on February 17, 1981.  Pvt Collick completed recruit training on May 8, 1981, and reported to Cryptologic Technician “R” Course at Navy Technical Training Center Cory Station, Pensacola, FL.  He was promoted to Private First Class on July 1, 1992, and completed training in March 1982.  PFC Collick reported to Company E Marine Support Battalion and in January 1, 1983 he was promoted to Corporal.  

In September 1983, Cpl Collick was transferred to the 2nd Radio Battalion, Camp Lejeune, NC.  Cpl Collick was promoted to Sergeant on April 1, 1984.  In May 1984, Sgt Collick reported to SIGINT Analysis and Reporting Course at NTTC Goodfellow, Air Force Base, TX, and completed training in September 1984.  Sgt Collick deployed off-shore Beirut with the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit and off-shore Honduras with the 26th Marine Amphibious Unit.  In May 1986, Sgt Collick reported to Company A Marine Support Battalion, Camp Lejeune, NC.  On August 1, 1988, Sgt Collick was promoted to Staff Sergeant.  

In May 1989, SSgt Collick reported to the Basic Instructor Training Course at the US Army Intelligence School at Fort Devens, MA.  He departed in September 1991 for Arabic Language School at the Defense Language Institute at the Presidio of Monterey, CA.  On February 1, 1992 SSgt Collick was promoted to Gunny Sergeant, and he completed language training in December 1992.  In January 1993, GySgt Collick reported to the Marine Corps Detachment at Cryptologic Arabic Language Course at NTTCD Goodfellow, AFB, TX.  

In May 1993, GySgt Collick reported to 2nd Radio Battalion, Camp Lejeune, NC.  He then deployed off-shore to Somalia with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and later he was detached to Augsburg, Germany and Oslo, Norway.  Upon return from deployment in May 1996, GySgt Collick was ordered to Henderson Hall in Arlington, VA, in preparation for enrollment in the Undergraduate Intelligence Program.  In September 1996, he reported to the Undergraduate Intelligence Program at the Defense Intelligence University at Bolling, AFB, Washington, DC.  In May 1997, GySgt Collick received a Certificate for completion of Intelligence Studies and reported to the Intelligence Section of Headquarters, US Marine Corps. Pentagon, Washington, DC.  

On April 1, 1998, GySgt Collick was promoted to First Sergeant and was transferred to the Weapons Company, 3rd  Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment.  In May 1999, the Weapons Company deployed with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit in USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) for transit off the coast of Albania.  On June 10th, 1st Sgt Collick went ashore with Commanding Officer of the Weapons Company, Headquarters Platoon, and a squad of Marines from the 81mm Mortar Platoon to Kamenica, Kosovo, and set up a command compound. 

1st Sgt Collick traveled regularly to check on the Marines who were attached to other units.  When the CO was gone, 1st Sgt Collick was the senior Marine present.  On three separate occasions, while the CO was absent, he dealt with and provided security for a detachment of Russian soldiers escorting a Russian General who was doing site reconnaissance.  Because the people of Kosovo hated the Russians and posed a threat to the Russian General, a Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel was also assigned to escort the Russian General.  The people of Kosovo had thrown rocks, bottles, other objects at the Russians and injured some of them.  

Marines in Weapons Company and the 81mm Mortar Platoon returned to the Kearsarge after 30 days when the US Army arrived and set up security.  The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit departed in November 1999 for CONUS.  In March 2000, 1st Sgt Collick was transferred to the 2nd Military Police Company.  While attached to Military Police Company, 1st Sgt Collick’s back and knees were injured in a military vehicle accident.  Due to service connected injuries, 1st Sgt Collick was rated 100% disabled.   On February 28, 2001, 1st Sgt Collick retired from the US Marine Corps after 20 years of active service.

1st Sgt John W. Collick, Jr., USMC was Honorably Discharged and retired on February 28, 2001 after 20 years of service in the US Marine Corps at the rank of First Sergeant (E-8).  His military awards for active duty service include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon (Bronze Star for 2nd award), Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon (Bronze Star for 2nd award), Military Outstanding Volunteer Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, Kosovo Campaign Medal, NATO Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and various other Service and Campaign Medals. 

Upon release from active duty John Collick filled executive level positions for over the next 15 years, including the Executive Team Leader for Target Corporation in Jacksonville, NC (1/2001 – 12/2001).  John was self-employed in Gardening Lawn Care in Jacksonville, NC (4/2001 – 4/2002).  He was next employed as a Counterterrorism Analyst, Joint Forces Command (4/2002 – 12/2002), then as a Counterterrorism Analyst; Lead Counterterrorism Analyst, J2; and Sr. Briefer for CG, Standing Joint Forces Headquarters, Homeland Security (1/2003 – 5/2005). 

Then his employment continues as an Intelligence Analyst (Imagery); Joint Forces Command (5/2005 – 1/2006), and later as an Intelligence Analyst (Consultant); U.S. Coast Guard (1/2006 – 11/2006).  John was next engaged as a Senior Threat Analyst; Senior Counterterrorism Analyst; U.S. Coast Guard (11/2006 – 3/2011).  Next, he continued as a Senior Intelligence Analyst; Dept of Homeland Security (3/2011 – 12/2011) and as a HUMINT Issues Manager for Yemen, DIA, (01/2012 – 10/2012).  He was hired as Chief, Illicit Travel Unit, Immigration & Customs Enforcement (10/2012 – 04/2014), and then as a Syrian Refugee Vetting Analyst and Immigration Services Officer, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (04/2014 – 04/2016).

In November 2019, John Collick declared his intention to run for the Republican nomination for the 3rd Congressional District of Virginia, and campaigned over the next 8 months among a large field of candidates.  On June 23rd, John Collick won the Republican nomination to represent the 3rd Congressional District of Virginia. 

1st Sgt Collick has been endorsed by Virginia State Senator, Richard “Dick” Black, President Henry Ayer of POMOCO Auto Group, Former Portsmouth Sheriff Bill Watson, Suffolk Public Schools School Board Member Sherri Story, Military Relocation Team of Hampton Roads Member Barbara Gatewood Sgueglia.  Chairman Nelson Velez of Tidewater TEA Party Alliance, Chairwoman Judy Kuniba of Chesapeake TEA Party, Chairman Steve Trent of Suffolk Republican Party & a Member of State Central Committee, Chairman George Mears of the Tidewater Common Ground Coalition, Treasurer Gary Crossfield of the Suffolk Republican Party, Vice Chairman Miller Cary of the Suffolk Republican Party, Evangelical Pastor Gene Bailey, Evangelical Pastor Larry Reece, Evangelical Pastor E.W. Jackson, Constitutional County of Isle of Wight--Isle of Wight Virginia, Timeshare & Resort Developer Accountability (www.TARDA.org), and the Combat Veterans For Congress PAC.

1st Sgt John Collick is a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and the Knights of Columbus.  John and his wife Lisa have been married for 34 years.  They are proud parents of married Daughter Sandra M. Carnegie age 32, John W. Collick III age 29, Ann M. Collick age 18, and son James F. Collick age 15.  Their married daughter Sandra has two sons Bryce William and Canaan Michael.  The family are members of St. Mary of the Presentation Catholic Church, Suffolk, VA.

The Combat Veterans For Congress PAC is pleased to endorse 1st Sgt John W. Collick, Jr, USMC (Ret) who will bring to Congress private sector skills and wisdom to better solve problems in government and represent the 3rd Congressional District of Virginia.  If you review 1st Sgt Collick’s positions on his website, you would be pleased with his stances; they agree with the Combat Veterans For Congress Mission Statement.  We look forward to working with 1st Sgt Collick and pleased that a Combat Veteran of his caliber is running for Congress.

If you have friends, associates, or relatives who know voters in the 3rd Congressional District of Virginia, kindly pass this E-mail on to them and ask them to support 1st Sgt Collick by working on his campaign, providing financial support for his campaign in any amount, and/or by networking with others who would be willing to support his campaign.  The military is one of the few remaining institutions producing the caliber of men and women needed to restore this nation to the greatness our Founding Fathers envisioned.  We have endorsed another Combat Veteran For Congress that General George Washington would have approved of.  He is a Veteran who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America” for an amount “up to and including his life.”