military advisor, weapons expert, writer, producer
The only way OUT is THROUGH...
Trained at the Camp Pendleton School of Infantry in 2001, Jon served as both an infantry assault-man with 1st Marine Division, and then as a light armored vehicle (anti-tank) commander at Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. Jon continued his training throughout his Marine Corps career, earning certificates in over 27 different schools and training courses including Non-Commissioned Officer’s (NCO) school in 2009, and courses in counter-terrorism, reconnaissance, mountaineering, and advanced military operations on urban terrain, to name a few.
After his first combat tour in 2003-4 Jon became the Echo company, 2nd battalion 23rd Marine regiment’s dedicated mountaineering and asymmetric warfare instructor and from 2008 to 2010, served as the asymmetric warfare instructor for Alpha Company, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. Throughout his time in the Marines, he continued to develop expertise in weapons and weapons systems, and in 2008 was one of only a handful of sergeants at Camp Pendleton who completed the comprehensive "long rifle" range safety officer (RSO) course. This allowed him to open, operate, and run platoon, company and battalion level weapons training courses on all light, medium, and heavy weapons throughout the entire military installation. [Text Wrapping Break]
Deploying multiple times in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom between 2001 to 2011, Jon received the Combat Action Ribbon with bravery commendation, three Navy Achievement Medals, along with many certificates of commendations for NCO combat instructor excellence, and mountain warfare at both the company and battalion level.
Jon had been active in the film and television industry since before joining the Corps, and when time and deployments allowed, he collected a team of other veterans, launching his first company, GUNMETAL, which was dedicated to veteran job creation in movies and tv in 2006. From 2006 onward, he served as a senior military consultant and weapons choreographer for some of the biggest movies, video games, and TV shows in the world. He has been a private weapons trainer for celebrities including Tom Cruise, Connor Cruise, Chris Hemsworth, Aaron Eckhart, Ray Stevenson, Kristen Stewart, Shemar Moore, Will Estes, and many others.
In 2010, the ad agency Campbell Ewald enlisted Jon to help them navigate their client USAA. From 2010 to 2018, Jon and his team worked together with the agency and USAA's creative team to realistically depict the military in commercials and photography campaigns for banking, insurance, and retirement investing.
Since then, Jon has helped other agencies, like Mullen Lowe, navigate all things military for their clients. Just days before the COVID-19 pandemic brough massive industry shutdowns, Jon started work on the national ad campaigns for T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, and Met Life. Post pandemic, Jon has worked on many action-packed media projects throughout Hollywood.
As a professional consultant, Jon has a never-ending thirst for military accuracy and proper depiction of the armed services past, present, and future, across all media platforms. Through his extensive network of active duty and retired veterans, he is constantly learning and incorporating all the latest military policies, practices, weapons, and uniforms into his work.
Between projects, Jon continues to write prolifically in both novels and screenplays. To date, he has written over 9 full-length feature films, 1 episodic series, and the first 3 books (1.5 million words!) of the Aurillium book series.
Jon launched Night-Fire Media in 2015 to advance veteran storytellers in all media by supplying access to his vast inventory of historical, modern, and futuristic military props, weapons, and wardrobe to the independent filmmaker.
In February 2022, just days after Russia invaded Ukraine, Jon donated over $1 million worth of REAL military and tactical equipment that he used for celebrity training, to the government of Ukraine to aid them in their defense against Russian aggression.
Whether through efforts in the media, work in veteran charities, or creating a better tasting craft beer, he always finds a way to help those in need... a way to succeed where others failed... or a way to make the world a better place. For 20 years he has been driven by these words: "aut viam invenium aut faciam" (I'll find a way, or make one).
Jon Barton in the news
Hollywood Reporter: Hollywood Military Advisor Supplies Gear for Ukraine War Effort, Urges Solidarity: “I Know What the Studios Have”
LA Times: Former Marine drills Hollywood in weapons and tactics
The Columbus Dispatch: Marine teaches actors how to fight and fire like pros
]The Mercury News: Bay Area Marines reunite 10 years after their role in invasion of Iraq
San Mateo Daily Journal: Ready to serve: Warfighter Brewing Company helps veterans band together
The White Oaks Blog: Warfighter Brewing Company to Open in San Carlos