Master Sergeant Michael J. McElmeel
MSG Michael J. McElmeel was born in Manchester, Iowa in 1963. He enlisted in the United States Army in March 1982. He attended Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia.
MSG McElmeel’s military education includes: Indirect Fire Infantryman (11C), Basic Airborne Course, Advanced Indirect Fire Infantryman Course, Primary Leadership Development Course, Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) Defense Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course, Ranger Course, Infantry Mortar Platoon Course, Mountain Leader Certification Course, Assault Climbers Course, Special Forces Assessment and Selection, Special Forces Qualification Course (18B), Special Operation Forces Functional Language Course (Russian), Advanced Airborne Course, VTARNG Mountain School (Winter), Swiss Mountain Technique Course, Military Freefall Parachutist Course, Special Operations Target Interdiction Course, Advanced Noncommissioned Officers Course, Military Freefall Jumpmaster Course, Advanced Military Freefall Parachutist Course, Instructor Training Course, Special Forces Assistant Operations and Intelligence Sergeant Course (18F), Military Tandem Master Course, Advanced Special Operations Technique Course, Airload Planners Course.
His Civilian education includes: an Associates of General Studies from Pikes Peak Community College, Colorado Springs, Colorado, a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Troy University, Troy, Alabama, and a Master of Science in Management from Troy University, Troy, Alabama.
MSG McElmeel’s assignments include: Indirect Fire Infantryman/Squad Leader, 3rd Battalion 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Squad Leader/Section Leader, 2nd Battalion 14th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Benning, Georgia and Fort Drum, New York; Special Operations Weapons Sergeant, 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Devens, Massachusetts; Joint Special Operations Military Freefall Instructor, 2nd Battalion 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne),Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona; Special Forces Assistant Operations and Intelligence Sergeant/Battalion Operations Sergeant/Detachment Operations Sergeant, 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Panzer Kaserne, Germany; Detachment Operations Sergeant, 3rd Battalion 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Carson, Colorado.
MSG McElmeel’s awards and decorations include: the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (3), the Army Commendation Medal (3), the Army Achievement Medal (4), the Good Conduct Medal (6), the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal,the National Defense Service Medal w/1 bronze service star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal w/1 bronze service star, the Kosovo Campaign Medal w/ 2 bronze service stars, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (3), the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal w/1 bronze service star, the Multinational Force and Observers Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award (3), the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Military Freefall Jumpmaster Badge, Greek Military Freefall Jumpmaster Badge, Moroccan Military Freefall Badge, the German Schutzensnur (Gold), the Ranger Tab, and the Special Forces Tab.
MSG McElmeel retired in August of 2004 and currently resides in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He is employed as a Security Account Manager/Private Investigator at a Midwestern Security Company. MSG McElmeel is married to the former Bonita Starr of Fargo, North Dakota. He has four children: Michael McElmeel, Jade McElmeel, Tarrah Daleness, and Jessie Martinez all of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
