Former Port Washington resident and 1986 Schreiber HS graduate, Commander John F. Wade, United States Navy, is nearing the end of a year- long deployment to Afghanistan. CDR Wade commands a Joint Provincial Reconstruction Team in Khost, Afghanistan which is located on the eastern border with Pakistan. The team is composed of 150 Army, Navy, and interagency personnel (Department of State, US Agency for International Development, and the Department of Agriculture). Their mission is to enhance security; strengthen the reach, influence, and capacity of the Afghan government; and, to facilitate economic growth and development for the people.

The team commenced its training at Fort Bragg, NC in January 2006 and deployed in early April 2006. They expect to return this coming May.

CDR Wade sincerely thanks the many Port residents, neighbors, friends, former teachers, and especially Arena Sport & Graphics for their ongoing interest, prayers, e-mails, and most of all, donation packages for the troops and children of Afghanistan.

He invites all to visit the team's website--www.prtkhost.com; to gain a better understanding of their mission and the contributions made to the people of Afghanistan.