| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 636 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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| 3 | 3 | | recognize the Special Operations Detachment-Africa (Airborne) of |
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| 4 | 4 | | the Texas Army National Guard for its exceptional service; and |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, This elite unit is composed of members of the |
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| 6 | 6 | | United States Army Special Forces, or Green Berets, along with |
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| 7 | 7 | | other soldiers who are expert in the fields necessary to |
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| 8 | 8 | | successfully complete its mission, including intelligence, |
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| 9 | 9 | | logistics, communications, medicine, and law; the detachment is |
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| 10 | 10 | | commanded by Colonel Douglas K. O'Connell, who is ably supported |
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| 11 | 11 | | by his senior enlisted leader, Command Sergeant Major Benjamin |
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| 12 | 12 | | Bitonel Jr.; and |
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| 13 | 13 | | WHEREAS, Over the last three years, the detachment has been |
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| 14 | 14 | | working to aid African governments in countering the growing |
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| 15 | 15 | | threat on the African continent of such violent extremist |
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| 16 | 16 | | organizations as Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda, and the Islamic State in |
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| 17 | 17 | | Iraq and Syria; soldiers from the unit have deployed to countries |
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| 18 | 18 | | across Africa, where they have helped the military forces of our |
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| 19 | 19 | | nation's partner countries enhance their counterterrorism |
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| 20 | 20 | | capabilities, so that those forces are better able to deal with |
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| 21 | 21 | | the threats and prevent their escalation; and |
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| 22 | 22 | | WHEREAS, The dedicated men and women of the Special |
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| 23 | 23 | | Operations Detachment-Africa (Airborne) have demonstrated |
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| 24 | 24 | | exceptional courage, professionalism, and determination in |
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| 25 | 25 | | working to ensure the safety and security of the United States |
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| 26 | 26 | | and its allies, and it is truly fitting that they receive special |
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| 27 | 27 | | recognition for their efforts; now, therefore, be it |
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| 28 | 28 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th |
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| 29 | 29 | | Legislature, hereby commend the members of the Special |
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| 30 | 30 | | Operations Detachment-Africa (Airborne) on their steadfast |
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| 31 | 31 | | devotion to duty and extend to them best wishes for success in |
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| 32 | 32 | | their vital mission; and, be it further |
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| 33 | 33 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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| 34 | 34 | | the unit as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. |
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| 35 | 35 | | Watson |
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| 36 | 36 | | ________________________________ |
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| 37 | 37 | | President of the Senate |
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| 38 | 38 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 39 | 39 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 40 | 40 | | the Senate on April 27, 2015. |
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| 41 | 41 | | ________________________________ |
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| 42 | 42 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 43 | 43 | | ________________________________ |
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| 44 | 44 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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