[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 149 (Thursday, November 10, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2339-E2340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING SGT. JEREMY KAMPHUIS FOR BEING NAMED 2005 U.S. ARMY 
                  NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. VERNON J. EHLERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 10, 2005

  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Sgt. 
Jeremy Kamphuis for being named the 2005 U.S. Army Noncommissioned 
Officer of the Year. Sgt. Kamphuis is a member of the 127th Military 
Police Company, stationed in Hanau, Germany. His hometown is Grand 
Rapids, Michigan, in the Third Congressional District of Michigan, 
which I represent, and where his parents, Don and Mary Kamphuis, also 
reside.
  Sgt. Kamphuis, 23, enlisted with the U.S. Army Reserves in August 
2000 shortly after graduating from Covenant Christian High School and 
signed up for active duty in October 2003. In April 2004, Sgt. Kamphuis 
was deployed with his fellow members of the 127th Military Police 
Company from their base in

[[Page E2340]]

Hanau, Germany, to Baghdad, where they were involved in the very 
important work of training Iraqi police.
  Earlier this year, three weeks after returning from his Iraq 
deployment, Sgt. Kamphuis's commanding officer suggested that he 
participate in the Noncommissioned Officer competition. After winning 
four lower levels, beginning at battalion level and through his brigade 
and the Fifth Army Corps, Sgt. Kamphuis found himself at Fort Lee, 
Virginia, this September with nine other finalists, competing for 5 
days and enduring stringent physical and mental challenges. The final 
challenge was a six-mile run in which Sgt. Kamphuis and his competitors 
each had to wear a full uniform, 40 pounds of body armor, a 40-pound 
pack and combat boots. Sgt. Kamphuis completed the course in one hour, 
10 minutes.
  As the Army's Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, Sgt. Kamphuis will 
represent the Army on key occasions, as well as continuing to do his 
job as a member of and trainer for the 127th Military Police Company.
  On the occasion of Veterans Day, I want to commend Sgt. Jeremy 
Kamphuis and all his comrades for the jobs they do in protecting our 
country and our world each and every day. Thank you and congratulations 
to Sgt. Kamphuis on being named the U.S. Army's Noncommissioned Officer 
of the Year.