07/01/2016

Former United States Army Officer, Jason McKay, Will Serve as No. 17 Team Representative During Pre-Race Ceremonies

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 1, 2016) – In honor of Independence Day, Jason McKay will be the No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing team representative during the pre-race ceremonies for Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway where he will line up amongst 150 military members to hold the American Flag during invocation and the national anthem.

McKay, who graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2007 and was commissioned as a 2^nd Lieutenant in the United States Army as an Infantry Officer, is part of the engineering department at Roush Fenway Racing but serves as second gasman for the No. 17 team on raceday.

McKay was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Rifle Platoon Leader from August to November, 2008 and Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from May 2010 to March 2011 as a Scout Platoon Leader.   After his deployment he attended the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course (MCCC) in May 2011 and became an IBOLC Platoon Trainer upon graduation from MCCC where he trained newly commissioned infantry officers on the basics of being an infantry platoon leader in combat.  He completed his military service as the Assistant Operations Officers of IBOLC in January 2014 after 7 years of military service. 

During his seven years of service, he received the following United States Army Awards and Credentials: Valorous Unit Award (1 OLC), U.S. Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), U.S. Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, U.S. Army Service Ribbon, U.S. Army Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, U.S. Army Ranger Tab, U.S. Army Parachutist Badge, U.S. Army Air Assault Badge, U.S. Army Pathfinder Badge.