by Denise Roth Barber
Long-time MEIC member Michael Jarnevic is a retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major with 42 years of continuous service across the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Army Special Forces. While some have questioned the apparent contrast between his military service and environmental advocacy, Michael sees them as deeply connected.
“Some say it’s a contradiction — my military service and conservation,” Michael said. “But part of what I’m fighting for as a soldier is the conservation of the planet we’re living on.”
Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Michael graduated from high school in 1973 and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps that August, serving six years. He later joined the U.S. Army, where he went on to serve an additional 36 years, including extensive work with Army Special Forces.
A conservationist with a master’s degree in creative writing, Michael is now a freelance writer, outdoor lecturer, and environmental activist. He has been a member of MEIC since 2013.
“I learned early on that MEIC was probably the most effective environmental organization I’ve worked with,” Michael said. “You keep on top of issues most people aren’t aware of and that aren’t exactly ‘sexy’ like wilderness or grizzly bears, but [which are] absolutely critical.”
He especially values MEIC’s focus on human health and safety.
“I like that MEIC addresses issues tied to pollution and government actions that are detrimental to public health,” Michael said.
Michael’s commitment to conservation began after moving to Montana in the ’80s, where he witnessed what he described as one of the last pristine ecosystems under threat.
In the 1990s, Michael played a key role in a resistance movement in Missoula that successfully fought notorious polluter Ross Electric, which burned PCB-contaminated transformer oil for disposal. After enforcement issues forced it out of Chehalis, Washington, the company sought to establish operations in Missoula. Michael later followed the company to Baker, Montana, where he continued assisting local efforts to oppose its operations there.
Since retiring from the military in 2015, Michael has remained deeply committed to service — both environmental and humanitarian. He joined Team Rubicon, a veteran-led disaster response organization that works closely with FEMA and has since deployed approximately 10 times to disaster-stricken areas, typically for eight-day missions. Many of these responses have been linked to climate-driven events, including flooding in Missoula, where he helped make 120,000 sandbags in just 10 days.
Michael has also been active with Vet Voice Foundation, lobbying Congress on environmental issues alongside small groups of fellow veterans. Their efforts proved impactful.
“One Congressman told us, ‘When you guys come to town, we take note.’”
Most recently, Michael attended NorthWestern Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan meeting in Missoula on January 28, continuing his long-standing commitment to environmental accountability and civic engagement.
In fact, he plans to continue giving to MEIC even after he is gone, and he encourages others to leave a similar legacy.
“To my fellow MEIC members, please consider taking advantage of their planned giving program, thus ensuring that this stellar organization continues the good fight for our Last Best Place,” he said.
This article was published in the March 2026 issue of Down To Earth.
Read full issues of Down to Earth here.
