LATHAM, NY (01/31/2014)(readMedia)-- Joseph Marino, an Averill Park resident,a veteran of the Iraq War, and an almost 30-year member of the New York Army National Guard has graduated from the prestigious United States Army's Sergeants Majors Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas.

The academy prepares Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard non-commissioned officers to serve at the highest enlisted grade. Sergeants major serve as key enlisted advisors to officers in key staff positions and at leadership positions at the battalion, brigade, and division and higher levels.

Marino, who works as a helicopter maintenance technician for the Army National Guard in civilian life, now serves as the Command Sergeant Major of the 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation Battalion., The battalion is headquartered in Ronkonkoma but has units based at the Albany International Airport as well .

Previously he has served as company first sergeant for five years, to include a deployment to Iraq. p>

Marino has served in the New York Army National Guard since 1984. Prior to that he served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps. This included service in Beirut, Lebanon in the early 1980s.

He has served in a number of military positions ranging from helicopter repairer, to attack helicopter crew chief to platoon sergeant and first sergeant.

Marino's awards include the Bronze Star, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy and Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Humanitarian Service Medal, NATO Medal, New York State Conspicuous Service Medal and the New York State Defense of Liberty Medal for service following the attack s of Sept. 11, 2001.

Posted Saturday February 01, 2014 at 10:34 am by New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs
Last Updated Saturday February 01, 2014 at 10:34 am