Colonel Robert (RJ) M. Jones Jr. enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in May 1999 and reported to Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment in Camp Pendleton. He served as a rifle platoon squad leader and 60mm mortar section leader. During his tour with 2/4, he was deployed twice to Okinawa, Japan, in support of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).
In December 2002, Colonel Jones was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the Meritorious Commissioning Program. After completing The Basic School and Infantry Officer Course, he was assigned the Military Occupational Specialty of 0302, infantry officer.
In November 2003, Colonel Jones reported to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment in Camp Pendleton. From November 2003 to July 2006, he deployed twice, once to Ramadi, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II (OIF) and once to Southeast Asia on the 31st MEU. During his tour with Fox Company 2/5, he served as a rifle platoon commander and boat company executive officer.
From July 2006 to December 2007, Colonel Jones attended Arizona State University through the College Degree Program, earning a promotion to captain while enrolled as a full-time student. In December 2007, Colonel Jones graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History, and in January 2008, Colonel Jones reported to School of Infantry-West. He served as team officer in charge and executive officer for the Mobile Training Company, Advanced Infantry Training Battalion, and in December 2009, Colonel Jones was selected to attend the U.S. Army's Maneuver Captain Career Course (MCCC) in Fort Benning, Georgia and graduated in May 2010 with orders to report to 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment in Twenty-nine Palms, California.
From May 2010 to December 2012, Colonel Jones served as a company commander for the Headquarters and Service Company as well as Company A. He completed two deployments abroad, one in support of the 31st MEU and one to Sangin, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 12.1 and 12.2. Colonel Jones was selected for promotion to the rank of major in the winter of 2011.
In January 2013, Colonel Jones was assigned to Marine Corps Recruiting Station New York as the Commanding Officer. Major Jones completed his tour at Recruiting Station New York in January 2016. He attended the United States Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, in 2016 and graduated with a Master of Arts in Military Studies.
Colonel Jones reported to United States Africa Command in 2017. He served in the J37 as the lead exercise planner for the combatant command's humanitarian assistance exercise and executive officer for the Director for J3 Operations/Cyber.
In 2019, Colonel Jones reported to 8th Marines, 2d Marine Division and served as the Executive Officer for the regiment and Chief of Staff for Task Force Southwest's deployment to Afghanistan. Colonel Jones reported to 5th Marines and served as the Executive Officer from August 2020 to January 2021.
Colonel Jones took command of 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, in January 2021. He deployed as the Battalion Landing Team Commanding Officer for the 31st MEU in 2022. Colonel Jones completed his tour and was selected to attend the United States Naval War College. In March 2024, Colonel Jones received a second Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies.
Colonel Jones reported to 3d Marine Division in the spring of 2024 where he served as the Associate Chief of Staff G-3 for fifteen months.
Colonel Jones' decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, gold star in lieu of third award, the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device and Gold Star, the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon with Gold Star.