Averill Park Resident Joseph Marino named Command Sergeant Major of National Guard Brigade

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Command Sergeant Major Joseph Marino

LATHAM, NY (05/19/2015)(readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Major Joseph Marino, an Averill Park resident and Iraq War veteran, has been named Command Sergeant Major for the Latham-based 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade.

As command sergeant major, Marino serves as the senior enlisted Soldier in the brigade, providing advice on training and other enlisted issues to 42nd Combat Brigade Commander Jack James. He replaced Command Sgt. Major Jorge Vasquez during a ceremony on May 16.

The brigade commands the New York Army National Guard's 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation, a UH-60 helicopter unit, and also the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion and can add additional units from the Active Army and Army Reserve as required by the mission.

"The command sergeant major is charged with a wide-ranging portfolio," James said. "Most of all, he is the maintainer of standards and discipline. He is the final arbiter of what right looks like. He is the standard bearer I look to and the role model I look to. He is my most trusted confidant and battle buddy."

Marino, who works as a helicopter maintenance technician for the Army National Guard in civilian life, previously served 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.

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.

In 2004/2005 the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade mobilized with the 42nd Infantry Division and deployed to Tikrit, Iraq where it conducted combat missions in four Iraqi provinces with units from the Active Army, the California Army National Guard and the Army Reserve.