Senate hopeful hit on military record

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Senate hopeful hit on military record

CHICAGO, (UPI) -- Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kirk of Illinois is under fire again over his characterization of his Navy service record, observers say.

Already hammered for misstatements about award citations he received during his service, Kirk is being hit for describing two-week training missions to Afghanistan that were part of his annual reservist's requirements as "deployments," the Chicago Tribune reported Sunday.

Kirk's critics say "deployments" refer to military personnel going off to war for extended periods, not two-week training assignments, the Tribune said.

A Navy spokesman said there is a difference.

Referring to Kirk's missions, Navy Cmdr. Danny Hernandez said, "I would think that would be (considered) two weeks of annual training," Hernandez said. "A deployment is a deployment and annual training is annual training."

Kirk, a five-term congressman and Navy Reserve commander, is locked in a battle with Democratic opponent Alexi Giannoulias, the Illinois state treasurer, for the U.S. Senate seat once held by President Obama.

Kirk's campaign responded the congressman was accurate, saying deployment constituted any reassignment of forces.

"Congressman Kirk was proud to deploy to Afghanistan in 2008 and 2009 on military orders issued by the U.S. Navy," Kirk spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said.
 
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