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'''Allen West''' (born February 7, 1961 in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]]) is a former [[Republican]] [[United States Representative]] for [[Florida]]'s 22nd congressional district. He was previously a has served in the [[United States Army]] as a Lieutenant Colonel. West received his Bachelor's degree from the [[University of Tennessee]] and his Master's degree from [[Kansas State University]], both in political science. He also holds a Master's of Military Arts and Sciences from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff Officer College in political theory and military operations.
His military career includes serving in several combat zones: [[Operation Desert Storm]], [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] (in which he was battalion commander for the Army’s 4th Infantry Division), and [[Afghanistan]], where he trained Afghan officers. Also, West taught a year of high school in Broward County, Florida. He had the support of the [[Senate Conservatives Fund]] and the [[Tea Party Movement]]. Critics of the Tea Party occasionally slander it by claiming it's inherently racist, yet most likely haven't heard of West, and other conservative African-American members.{{fact}}