[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 167 (Thursday, November 21, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1727-E1728]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR RACHEL L. FAILS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LATHAM

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 21, 2013

  Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate 
Command Sergeant Major Rachel L. Fails for appointment as the Senior 
Enlisted Leader of the Iowa National Guard. This is a truly momentous 
occasion for the State of Iowa as Rachel is the first female Senior 
Enlisted Leader in the Iowa National Guard's 175-year history.
   CSM Fails currently resides in Grimes, but was raised in Nashua, 
Iowa where she graduated from Nashua High School in 1987. Rachel began 
her 27-year military career in 1986 when she enlisted with the Iowa 
Army National Guard's 1133rd Transportation Company based in Mason 
City. Upon graduation from basic training and AIT in 1987, Rachel 
attained two Military Occupational Specialties as a Heavy-Wheeled 
Vehicle Driver and a Unit Supply Specialist. CSM Fails is also a 
graduate of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy resident course and 
multiple Non-Commissioned Officer courses. In 1996, Rachel

[[Page E1728]]

also received an associate's degree in Business from North Iowa Area 
Community College.
   Over the course of her career, Rachel has served her country in 
numerous full-time roles including unit armorer, unit supply sergeant, 
operations sergeant major, and various NCO roles. Throughout her 
service to our state and nation, Rachel has been placed across Iowa and 
across the globe in station assignments from Centerville to Johnston 
and as far away as Kosovo and Iraq. CSM Fails was deployed twice to the 
Middle East, during Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield in 1990, 
and Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in 2008.
   Mr. Speaker, as an outspoken supporter of Iowa's National Guard I 
have always been impressed with the remarkable men and women who serve 
in this organization. Rachel Fail's career is a great example for our 
men and women in uniform and what Iowans are capable of through hard 
work and unwavering commitment to a cause greater than themselves. I 
applaud Command Sergeant Major Fails on her most recent promotion and 
wish her the greatest success. It is a great honor to represent her in 
the United States Congress. I invite my colleagues in the House to join 
me in congratulating Rachel, and all of Iowa's servicemembers, on the 
continued excellence in service they provide to the State of Iowa, and 
our nation as a whole.

                          ____________________