Major General Ray Shields presents a flag and retirement pin to Bloomingdale’s Sgt. Major Joe Fisher, during his retirement ceremony on Thursday at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham as his wife Cherylin looks on. Fisher retired after 31 years of service. (Photo provided — U.S. Army National Guard/Col. Richard Goldenberg)

LATHAM — New York Army National Guard Sgt. Major Joseph Fisher, a Bloomingdale resident and a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, retired after more than 31 years of service during a ceremony at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham on Thursday.

Fisher, who enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in 1992, had served as the operations and training sergeant major for the New York Army National Guard since 2019.

Major General Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York, who presided at the ceremony, praised Fisher for his service and contributions over the years.

“You have been a fixture in this organization for decades,” Shields said. “I want to thank you for everything you have done for us.”

Shields awarded Fisher with the Meritorious Service Medal and the New York State Conspicuous Service Medal during the ceremony.

His wife, Cherylin Fisher, was also recognized for the support she has shown her husband during his years in the Army National Guard.

In his remarks, Fisher thanked the soldiers he served with who helped him in his career. He also thanked his wife and family for their support.

“It is always the family that takes I on the chin for those of us who chose this path,” Fisher said.

Fisher first joined the National Guard as an intelligence analyst, but in 1995 he reclassified as an infantryman and became full-time National Guard non-commissioned officer.

He served with infantry units in Ticonderoga, Saranac Lake and Morrisonville and served as a recruiter for the Adirondack region.

He deployed to Iraq in 2004 with the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry, and then deployed to Afghanistan in 2007 as a rifle platoon sergeant in an infantry company.

His other assignments have included training non-commissioned officer, battalion instructor, operations non-commissioned officer and operations sergeant major for the New York Army National Guard’s training regiment.

He is a graduate of the Sergeants Major Course, and the Manuever Senior Leader Course, as well as many other Army Schools.

Fishers’ awards include the Legon of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, and the Army National Guard Recruiter Badge.

He belongs to the National Infantry Association, the Combat Infantryman’s Association, the Society of the 1st Infantry Division, the National Guard Association of the United States and the 42nd Infantry Division Association.