[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 51 (Wednesday, May 3, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E699-E700]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE JOINT PUBLIC AFFAIRS SUPPORT 
                      ELEMENT IN SUFFOLK, VIRGINIA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. J. RANDY FORBES

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 3, 2006

  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the men and 
women of the Joint Public Affairs Support Element (JPASE). JPASE stood 
up in early 2005 at the Joint Warfighting Center in Suffolk, Virginia.
  JPASE is instrumental in providing public affairs training, counsel, 
doctrine and personnel

[[Page E700]]

in military exercises to better prepare joint force commanders and 
their staffs with media operations and outcomes when real world 
operations begin. Members of JPASE are trained to be able to be rapidly 
deployed in support of regional combatant commander's needs.
  Under the direction of JPASE's active duty leader, Army Colonel 
Stephen Campbell and its reserve director Navy Captain Ken Braithwaite, 
JPASE is already actively fulfilling its mission at home and abroad.
  Members of the JPASE team were among the thousands of responders to 
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. And last October, when Pakistan was shook 
by an earthquake that resulted in enormous damage and loss of human 
life, active duty and reserve members of JPASE again were on the scene.
  Members of JPASE worked tirelessly to ensure the support of U.S. 
military was known here in America and throughout Pakistan. According 
to polls taken throughout Pakistan, their work highlighting the support 
of American forces clearly won the hearts and minds of the Pakistani 
people.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to extend my thanks and appreciation to the JPASE 
members who were part of that mission: Captain Robert D. Newell, 
Commander Nicolas Balice, Major Jeffrey K. Sammons, Major Donald L. 
Langley, Major William M. Manley, Lieutenant Kevin Stephens, and Master 
Sergeant Greg A. Deimel. Additionally, I would like to thank a group of 
reserve JPASE members who relieved their active duty counterparts 
earlier this year and just recently returned home: Captain Ken 
Braithwaite, Commander Gary Kirchner, Lieutenant Cory Schultz and 
Senior Chief Heidi Wasson.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have the Joint Warfighting Center in my 
district but more important, I am very proud of the men and women who 
serve there, the work they do, and the exemplary manner in which they 
represent our nation throughout the world.

                          ____________________