Lieutenant Awadi (second from right) holds a press conference with the ACRL.

DEARBORN — The highest-ranking Iraqi-born member of the U.S. military has filed a discriminatory complaint against the Michigan Army National Guard.

On Thursday, October 22, the Arab American Civil Rights League (ACRL) held a press conference to announce that Lt. Col. Jason Awadi had filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) regarding the pattern of practices that fail to promote minority members in the military, led by Major General Gregory Vadnais.

Gov. Snyder appointed Vadnais to the position in 2011. Awadi claims that following the major general’s appointment, a string of minorities in the state’s National Guard have been demoted or forced into retirement. 

Awadi said he was unfairly denied a promotion after being approved by all board members for G6 Division communication officer. He was slated to begin the position in October until Vadnais called him into a meeting to tell him “some other people are more deserving of the position.” 

Instead, the position was given to a White officer who Awadi believed was less qualified and may have also been a close friend to Vadnais. 

Awadi had served two tours in Iraq and had served with the Guard since 1995. He has been employed full time with the Michigan Army National Guard since 2002. His accomplishments include training as a communications officer at Fort Gordon, GA; serving in brigade, division and Army staff positions and serving multiple combat tours, making him more than qualified for the position. 

He said this marks the 12th complaint from minority officers against Vadnais and is calling for Snyder to hire an independent investigator to look into the allegations.

“General Vadnais has done nothing to foster a diverse and fair environment,” Awadi said. “He does not want to see a minority in these positions. He’s setting a legacy of cronyism and nepotism and rewarding friends and not rewarding minorities who worked hard.” 

Awadi had the statistics to back up his claims. He said of the 90 command positions in the Michigan Army National Guard, 79 of them are White. Of the 17 Battalion commands, only one is a minority.

Of the 993 soldiers serving at the Michigan Army National Guard headquarters, Awadi said that 89 percent of them are White. He said he believes there’s a major discrepancy between the number of minorities in Michigan’s national guard compared to the overall minority population in the state. 

“This is the environment that General Vadnais has created since being appointed in 2011” Awadi said. “He has systematically removed or marginalized every full time minority member. If you were a minority, particularly African American or non-White, then you were marginalized and removed from your position.” 

Awadi claimed that in the eight years before General Vadnais’ appointment, the Michigan Army National Guard was moving in a positive direction and had encouraged and promoted diversity. 

Back then, there were at least three minority directors in the state’s national guard before Vadnais stepped in. Now Awadi said all of the senior officer ranking positions who set policies and make key decisions are White males. 

Awadi is still presently working in the military, through the Army War College, the highest level of education for officers.  He said he’s aware these allegations could possibly harm his career in the military, but he’s willing to face the backlash because he wants to stand for justice. 

He noted that his claims do not in any way reflect what’s happening in the U.S. military, but that it’s specifically geared toward the Michigan Army National Guard and its general. 

ACRL Executive Director Nabih Ayad said he still can’t fathom the mistreatment Awadi has been subjected to, especially after serving the nation for so long.

“As you can imagine, this is very hurtful and emotional for him,” Ayad said. “One can only imagine the sacrifice you have to commit to protect this nation, especially being an Arab American; especially being in your own home country you were born in and fighting for the U.S. military. Yet, you come home to be treated in this fashion. It’s unjust, unfair and unprincipled and frankly it’s illegal under our Constitution.”