FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, September 21, 2007

For More Information Contact:
Karen Tatum (910) 642-7141 EX 259- Southeastern Community College, Public Information Officer

SOUTHEASTERN TEACHER RECIEVES ARMY RESERVE DIRECT COMMISSION TO LIEUTENANT, U.S. Senator John McCain pins on 2Lieutenant bars

Whiteville, N.C. -- Katherine Jenerette, who teaches U.S. History and African American History as an adjunct instructor at Southeastern Community College in Whiteville has accepted a Direct Commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve. U.S. Senator John McCain pinned the gold bars on Jenerette’s uniform during his visit to South Carolina last week. U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who had nominated Jenerette for the appointment was also present for the ceremony along with Jenerette’s husband, Van and their four children, Christian, Benjamin, Drake and Wilson.

Jenerette, who is a U.S. Army Veteran of the Persian Gulf War – Operation Desert Storm, has received orders to active duty for training and has been assigned to the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C. After schooling, she is slated to serve with the 360th Civil Affairs Brigade who has deployed teams on missions worldwide including operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Many students at SCC have known me from back in 1991 when I returned from the Persian Gulf War – Operation Desert Storm after I was a young Army NCO and just getting started; many students remember me from my Upward Bound Teaching or my Critical Thinking classes and History classes, and many also knew me later when I left SCC for a time to serve as a U.S. Congressional Field Representative for the 1^st District in South Carolina.”

“I just want everyone at SCC to know that I feel very humbled and privileged to be able to serve our country again in these trying times as an U.S. Army Officer.”

“I’ve been asked by many students why and when I decided to go back into the Army Reserves. I wanted to put back on the uniform after 9-11; but waited to volunteer until all of my children were in school. Well, my son is now in High School and the other three are scattered through the rest of the grades, so last year seemed like the right time to come back and I volunteered for a Direct Commission in the Army Reserves.”

I’m scheduled to leave for training in a few weeks and I am looking forward to joining one of my unit teams who are deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan, working directly with the people of those nations for their future in a region that means so much for our nation’s security.

I am also looking forward to having the opportunity to serve under one of America’s finest and most honorable soldiers – General David H. Petraeus.

While I’m not particularly brave, I am looking forward to serving alongside the finest and the bravest men and women this new generation of Americans has to offer.

But most of all, knowing the value of the freedom that America has for all of our people - I am looking forward to the opportunity to do my SMALL PART for this great nation that has given SO MUCH to me.”

Jenerette resides in North Myrtle Beach with her husband Van, who is a Political Science and Sociology instructor at Southeastern, and their four children. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina , Coastal Carolina campus and she holds a Masters Degree from USC, Columbia .

Katherine Jenerette is a U.S. Army veteran of the Persian Gulf War - Operation Desert Storm and has served as a U.S. Congressional Field Representative for the 1st Congressional District, South Carolina. She was a candidate for the South Carolina Senate in 2004.

After coming home from the Gulf War, Katherine attended USC-Coastal on a Cross Country and Track scholarship as a 'walk-on.' She was recognized as one of the region’s top runners when she was named to the NCAA Track & Field Big South Conference in 1994.

Katherine is currently a member of the North Myrtle Beach Planning Commission and is on the Horry County Envision 2025 Comprehensive Planning Committee task force.

She has taught at SCC since 1996. Her classes include Western Civilization, American History and African American History.

Katherine remains very involved in sports activities which include golfing, running, ocean kayaking, fishing, triathlons, windsurfing, etc. Jenerette he has done post graduate studies at the University of South Carolina.

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SUBJECT: Q & A – Interview SCC Public Information - Katherine Jenerette

Q: Tell me about yourself

A: There’s really not a whole bunch to say except that I’ve had a very fortunate life so far. Being in a lot of the right places at the right time. I was a US Congressional Field Rep. for the 1^st District; I’m an Army veteran of the Persian Gulf War 1991; I went to Coastal Carolina University and was named an NCAA Big South All-Conference Runner; went on to get my Masters Degree at USC Columbia; mother of 4 children; I’m on the North Myrtle Beach planning commission; I’m a member of the I-73 Association; I’m a charter member of the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, I ran for South Carolina Senate in 2004, I teach college history and I drive a pick-up truck – I even represented North Myrtle Beach in the Mrs. South Carolina pageant in 2000. I have had chances to do a lot of things….I recently did the North Myrtle Beach Triathlon two weeks ago.

Q: Why did you join?

A: I’ve never been somebody to sit on the sidelines while a fight’s going on. I’ve always been involved with politics and the real world my whole life. Some people are able to just talk about what we should do, I’ve always wanted to be the kind of person who does just more than talk about what should be done on this issue or that issue – I’ve always felt that if you really believe in what you are saying you should be willing to step into the middle of it. I don’t intend to just say I support the troops, I intend to be right there with the troops.

I feel very humbled and privileged to be able to serve our country again in these trying times as an U.S. Army Officer. I wanted to put back on the uniform after 9-11; but waited to volunteer until all of my children were in school. Well, my son is now in High School and the other three are scattered through the rest of the grades, so last year seemed like the right time to come back and I volunteered for a Direct Commission in the Army Reserves.

I’m scheduled to leave for training the week after next and I am looking forward to joining one of my unit teams who are deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan, working directly with the people of those nations for their future in a region that means so much for our nation’s security.

I am also looking forward to having the opportunity to serve under one of America’s finest and most honorable soldiers – General David H. Petraeus.

While I’m not particularly brave, I am looking forward to serving alongside the finest and the bravest men and women this new generation of Americans has to offer.

Q: What will your job be in the Reserves?

A: I’m an officer with a civil affairs brigade along with the Civil Affairs and Psychological Unit out of Fort Bragg. We deploy small teams; for example Iraq and Afghanistan, that work with Special Operation Forces with local governments and tribal leaders with everything from Infrastructure, to schools, and counter insurgencies. I’ve heard the term “combat politician” used to describe what civil affairs does in wartime. Talking to the people in my unit, it’s a pretty good description. So I get to do my part in something that’s very important to me and the nation. If we can stop terrorism over there, it’s less of them that can come here. After my hardball senate campaign of 2004, combat politician sounds pretty close to Carolina politics – that’s a joke.

Q: Iraq War

A: As you know, I served in the first Persian Gulf War. And later as a Congressional Field Representative, got to see a lot of the political and policy side of the War against Terror. Bottom line – that area is a vital interest to us and represents a very real threat as a major center of gravity in the War on Terror. This is a war that is not like Vietnam – that we could just leave. If we leave Iraq and the Middle East – these terrorists will follow us home and I don’t any more of them here – my family and children are here.

I’m surprised at the number of politicians that beat their chest and demand a withdrawal from Iraq who know nothing about fighting and war – it comes down to this – don’t start a fight that you are not willing to finish and don’t start a fight and walk out leaving someone else holding the bag. On a personal level I place a lot of value in a person who will stand by me in a fight and care little for those types of people who run when it starts getting rough.

My question for those politicians is this: If the United States was to withdrawal its forces from Iraq tomorrow, I want them to tell me what they think that country will look like ten days from now and what the Middle East will look like in two weeks from now? I know enough that it won’t be a pretty picture. Like it or not America has a major role to play on the world stage.

Q: Politics – Running for office

A: Right now with everything I’m doing, politics is kind of the side burner; some day my intentions are to get into the U.S. Congress and work for the people of our district in both domestic and foreign policy issues – everywhere from healthcare, senior citizens, roads, education, illegal immigration and keeping the war on terror as far away from Coastal South Carolina as possible.

I’ll let you know when the time comes.

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