Promotion is latest highlight in long Maine Guard career

PHOTO: Command Sgt. Maj. Kameel Farag (second from right), with parents Mod Marge, daughters Liv and Emma, and nephew Spc. Cameron Farag (Sgt. Darin Douin photo)

By Staff Sgt. Sarah Myrick
Maine National Guard

BRUNSWICK — Command Sgt. Maj. Kameel Farag, of the Maine Army National Guard, was promoted to his current rank from master sergeant at the Brunswick armory on Sept. 11, in front of an audience of family, friends, veterans and fellow soldiers.
His parents, Mo and Marge, his daughters Liv and Emma, and nephew Spc. Cameron Farag were by his side to replace the pin on his patrol cap and rank patch on his uniform.
Farag, a legacy combat and construction engineer, enlisted in the guard in 1998.
“I believed in service,” Farag said. “The National Guard just felt like a good fit.” He said his recruiter, Sgt. 1st Class (ret.) Slater Claudel, “was honest and caring, and prepared me for what to expect.”

Farag has served as team leader, squad leader, platoon sergeant and first sergeant. He served in an Active Guard and Reserve status for several units as an administrative NCO, training NCO, readiness NCO, and as both battalion and brigade operations NCO. He deployed twice with the 133rd Engineer Battalion, to Iraq in 2004-05, and to Afghanistan in 2013-14.
His next assignment is as the command sergeant major of the Maine Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion.
“I am simply honored that Maj. Gen. Douglas Farnham, Brig. Gen. Dean Preston, Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Dill, and Col. Blair Tinkham placed their confidence in me for this assignment,” Farag said. “I’m also incredibly excited. The RRB has some of the finest NCOs and officers in both recruiting and staff roles. I bring a unit/battalion/brigade level of experience set to this role that I believe will help round out the already fantastic team that is in place.”
Farag hopes to continue the momentum that has been picking up in RRB. “The Maine National Guard is an exceptional organization,” he said. “It can help people achieve goals that they might not have been able to before. The ability to serve part time or in varying full-time statuses, attend college for free and learn or hone skills that will help in any facet of life is unparalleled.”
He added, “The reality is we don’t succeed in this organization without our peers, our subordinates, our superiors and the lessons we learn from each other,”
His nephew, Cameron, followed his lead and enlisted in Norway’s 251st Engineer Company.
“He is blazing his path there and enjoying it,” said Farag. “He is already air assault qualified and went with the unit to DC this last January in support of the inauguration response.”
Farag said many my find it worthwhile to join Maine’s ranks.
“The pride in service that you give to the great state of Maine and the greatest nation on the planet should guide you,” he said. Besides the benefits offered, “You’ll also meet people from every walk of life, profession, and personality.”