John “Ramrod” McGuire — October CVMA® WI 45-3 Member of the Month
John “Ramrod” McGuire dedicated twenty-one years of his life to the United States Army, proudly serving as a 31B Military Police Officer. Over the course of his career, he held several demanding and honorable positions — including serving as a Drill Sergeant and working as a Protective Services Detail (PSD) agent for two different Supreme Allied Commanders of Europe.
His assignments took him from Fort Riley, Kansas, to SHAPE, Belgium, and across the globe on three combat deployments and three additional overseas tours. His service carried him through some of the most volatile regions of the world — Kosovo, Bosnia, Croatia, Afghanistan, Iraq, the UAE, and Jordan, along with a few other locations that remain classified.
John’s sense of pride doesn’t come from medals or recognition — it comes from the responsibility he carried. “I’m most proud of not getting any generals killed while I ran the protective details,” he said, recalling the weight of his duty. “Some of the most dangerous places in the world, and their safety was my responsibility.”
Throughout his career, John was shaped by exceptional leaders, but one name stands above the rest — SFC Tom Alich. He credits much of his own success and mindset to that influence. “That is a man who should be truly recognized, not me,” he said. “Many of the things I’ve accomplished in my life, even after the military, come from the impact that man had on me.”
Drill Sergeant duty was another defining chapter of his service. “That work is long as hell but rewarding if you put in the effort,” he reflected. “I set the example in that.”
Looking back, his message to his younger self is simple and powerful: “Don’t be afraid of failure. You’re able to accomplish more than you think. Take any challenge head-on.”
Like so many veterans, transitioning out of the military came with its own challenges. “The hardest part of getting out of the military is not having a mission anymore,” John shared. “Not being able to lead my guys in combat. Hearing my friends taking their own lives makes me wish I could do it all again. That struggle is mine to own and will never pass.”
Now serving as a police officer, John continues to support others — especially veterans in crisis. “I too struggle and can relate, not just as a police officer, but as a Soldier first and always,” he said.
For John, being a veteran isn’t about public recognition. “Personally, being a veteran doesn’t mean as much to me as it might to others,” he explained. “I’d rather not be recognized, but I am proud of what I’ve accomplished.”
Maintaining connections with those he served alongside hasn’t been easy. “Some don’t like the reminders, and others have just changed,” he said. “Maybe I’ve changed too. I’m not sure how to answer that. I’ve lost contact with most of the people I served with.”
Despite that, he has found a renewed sense of belonging within the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association®. “The CVMA® helps me by reminding me there are a few knuckleheads out there a lot like me,” he said with a grin. “But it also reminds me that we often are alone among brothers.”
For John, riding is more than a hobby — it’s therapy. “I love to ride,” he said. “The freedom to disconnect from reality is what I need much too often. And sometimes I connect peacefully with the ghosts of my past on those rides.”
He admits he was hesitant to join at first. “At my first CVMA® meeting, I was reluctant,” he said. “I didn’t want to be the guy who seems to want attention or veteran status by wearing that patch. But it turns out, it opens the door for a struggling vet to talk to me.”
John rides a 2019 Street Glide with a 128 build — “It goes fast, and that’s what’s important,” he said with a laugh. He also owns a custom-painted 2007 Night Train, affectionately known as his “asshole bike,” which only comes out a few times a year. “Both bikes were deployment presents, I suppose — like a dumbass new private with his first paycheck. Hell, at least I didn’t marry a stripper.”
John “Ramrod” McGuire’s story is one of humility, grit, and resilience. He’s a man who’s carried the weight of leadership, the pain of loss, and the pride of service — and who continues to find peace on two wheels, wind in his face, with the memories of his brothers riding beside him.
Beyond his military and professional service, John recently completed his term as Sergeant at Arms for CVMA® WI 45-3. His leadership, dedication, and commitment to keeping order and integrity within the chapter left a lasting mark on everyone he served alongside. The chapter extends a heartfelt thank-you to John for his outstanding work in that role and for the example he continues to set on and off the bike.
Congratulations to John “Ramrod” McGuire, our October CVMA® WI 45-3 Member of the Month — a Soldier first, always, and a reminder that even after the uniform comes off, the mission continues.
