[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 6648-6649]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     IN RECOGNITION OF JASON BRANCH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM R. KEATING

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 10, 2012

  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate 
Specialist Jason Branch, the winner of the Massachusetts Army National 
Guard's 2012 Best Warrior Competition.
  To be eligible for the grueling contest, Spc. Branch was first 
selected by his unit, the

[[Page 6649]]

189th Engineer Detachment, as the most qualified candidate. The 
Massachusetts Best Warrior Competition is known to test participants 
with rigorous physical and mental challenges. Now in its fourth year, 
the competition continues to evolve to meet the caliber of the 
contestants. This year's event included tests of physical fitness and 
marksmanship, a written exam and a challenging mock urban combat 
situation. The demanding weekend culminated in an interview with a 
board of Command Sergeants Major testing each participant's knowledge 
on a variety of subjects.
  Throughout the competition, Spc. Branch demonstrated the dedication, 
ingenuity and perseverance that make an excellent soldier, and in the 
end, emerged victorious amongst the commissioned officers competing. 
When not in uniform, he continues to serve his community as a Unit 
Manager at Plymouth's Radius HealthCare and Pediatric Center, playing a 
vital role in the rehabilitation of the center's patients. Spc. Branch 
truly represents the very best of our community and our country.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Spc. Jason Branch as he 
is honored for his excellence as a soldier, and we wish him the best of 
luck as he moves on to the regional stage of the competition.

                          ____________________