JAMAL S. BAADANI, Gunnery Sergeant, United States Marine Corps
Jamal S. Baadani is currently serving as the President and Founder of the Association of Patriotic Arab Americans in Military. Jamal Baadani came into the public activism scene on September 11th, 2001. He volunteered to represent and stand up for the Arab American community during those challenging days we faced as a people after 9/11. Jamal Baadani is a Gunnery Sergeant US Marine Reservist who has been honorably serving the United States since 1981. To promote a patriotic image of the Arab and Muslim American Communities, Jamal founded the Association of Patriotic Arab Americans in Military due to the backlash against Arab Americans and the backlash directed towards his family by Americans in response to the acts committed by the terrorists towards America on September 11th, 2001. Jamal established APAAM in an effort to organize current and former Arab Americans in the military. He has recruited hundreds of Arab Americans in the Military – to include General John Abizaid – for a common cause of promoting the patriotism of Arab Americans.
An Ambassador: Jamal was a member of the 2001 – Military Goodwill Ambassador Contingent to Australia to represent the US State Department in a five country symposium celebrating the ANZAC and ANZUS Treaty between the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Great Britain.
A War Veteran: Jamal recently returned from his second tour in the Middle East as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Jamal served on active duty in participation with the Global War on Terrorism from April 2002 – June 2004 and most recently from June 2005 – July 2006. At the age of 19, Jamal served with the US Marines in Beirut, Lebanon from January – June 1984 as part of the Multi-National Peacekeeping Force at Beirut International Airport followed by service as part of the external security force for the United States Embassy in West Beirut.
An Inspiration: For his efforts, Jamal was awarded the 2002-“Immigrant of Inspiration” Award by the National Immigration Forum – a major national organization representing immigrants in America. He was also awarded the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal by the US Marine Corps for founding APAAM. Additionally in 2005, Gunnery Sergeant Baadani appeared on the cover of Parade Magazine featuring an extensive article on the accomplishments of Arab Americans in the military
Gunnery Sergeant Jamal S. Baadani is currently the National Director, Middle East Cultural Outreach Program (MECOP), Marine Corps Recruiting Command - a newly created position by the U.S. Marine Corps. This is the first time in Marine Corps history that an aggressive program is being planned, developed, and implemented by an Arab American Marine to better serve Marine Corps to reach out to Arab American Communities – giving them a perspective through the eyes of Arab and Muslim Americans.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS/ACCREDITATIONS:
· Founded the Association of Patriotic Arab Americans in military -APAAM shortly after September 11th, 2001
· Received “Immigrant of Inspiration” Award by National Immigration Forum in February of 2002.
· Received “Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal” by US Marine Corps for Founding APAAM in June 2002
· Exclusive Feature on CNN’s Newsnight with Aaron Brown/Brian Cabell.
· Part of PBS Documentary “They Came To America ” Profiling Immigrants Contributions to America
· Featured in People Magazine’s 9/11 Anniversary Edition
· Featured in over 30 Major Newspaper publications for Founding APAAM since 9/11