Brothers reunite for promotion

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Mullett | Brig. Gen. Gerald Lang, deputy commanding general for support of Multi-National Division – South, congratulates Chief Warrant Officer 4 Kevin Jensen, second from the right, with his brothers after his promotion ceremony at Contingency Operating Base Basra, Sept. 25.  

BASRA, IRAQ

09.25.2009

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Mullett 

Multi-National Division-South

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq — Out of seven siblings in the Jensen family, five are in the Minnesota Army National Guard and four of the five were able to attend the promotion of the youngest to Chief Warrant Officer 4 at Contingency Operating Base Basra, Sept. 25.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kevin Jensen, supply systems technician, 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, was pinned as Chief Warrant Officer 4 by his brother, fellow Chief Warrant Officer 4 Brent Jensen.

Col. Charles Parins, sustainment chief, 34th Inf. Div., presided over the ceremony, held in the Sandstorm Conference Center at Multi-National Division — South Headquarters. He introduced the brothers by age — and lack of hair — to the assembled members of 34th Inf. Div. and 1st Battalion, 151st Field Artillery Regiment out of Montevideo, Minn., currently based at Camp Buehring, Kuwait.

Brent and Master Sgt. Brad Jensen, the oldest of the brothers, travelled to COB Basra to attend Kevin's ceremony.

"It was a tremendously unique experience to have three of my four brothers, members of my old unit and my friends in the military here for this," said Kevin. Of the seven Jensens there are five males and two females. All the males are members of the Army National Guard.

Kevin is deployed to COB Basra with another brother, Maj. Brian Jensen, information operation plans officer, 34th Inf. Div. in Basra. "Kevin is the youngest of seven, but he's proven himself to his older and wiser siblings," said Brian with a smile.

Brent, who is two years older than Kevin, and Brad are deployed with 1st Bn., 151st FA Regt. in Kuwait and were able to make the trip to COB Basra this week.

"Brent and I were commissioned together on the same day at Ft. Rucker [Ala.] in 1995," said Kevin, adding that it was an honor to have him in Basra for the ceremony.

Unfortunately, Col. Bruce Jensen, the second-oldest Jensen brother, also with the 34th Inf. Div. and a facilities management officer for the state of Minnesota, was not deployed and unable to attend.

• Date Taken: 09.25.2009
• Date Posted: 10.02.2009 03:27
• Story ID: 39564
• Location: BASRA, IQ