Congratulations

Army Reserve Pvt. Dustin T. McKleroy, a 2000 graduate of Jacksonville Christian Academy, recently graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C.

He is the son of Jerry and Kathy McKleroy of Jacksonville.

Air Force Airman Michael B. Lafiura recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

He is the son of Donna Giberson of Jacksonville and Michael Lafiura of Ohatchee.

Air Force Airman Joseph W. Simmons, a 2005 graduate of Jacksonville High School, recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

He is the son of Diane Peden of Jacksonville.

Alexander J. Dean joined the U.S. Army in 2007 and completed his basic training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C. He also trained in chemical weapons in California. He is to return to Jacksonville State University as an ROTC sophomore reservist in September. He is a 2007 graduate of Oxford High School.

Dean's brother, Russell O. Dean, recently joined the Army Reserve under the delayed entry program, he has been assigned to a military police unit out of Birmingham and did his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. He will return to Pleasant Valley High School as a senior in September and will serve as a reservist until he graduates and can go active duty.

He and Alexander are the sons of Phillip and Michele Dean of Pleasant Valley and Kathy LeCroy Greene of Oxford.

Pfc. Mitchell Skidmore graduated from the Infantryman One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga., on July 18. The training consists of basic infantry training and advanced individual training. Skidmore is enlisted with the U.S. Army National Guard. During the 14 weeks of basic combat training, he received training in drill and ceremonies, weapons employment, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, first aid skills, Army history, core values and traditions. Additional training included development of combat skills, battlefield operations and tactics, experienced use of various weapons, including the M16-A4 assault rifle, grenades, grenade launchers and familiarization with the anti-tank/armor weaponry and other heavy weapons and defenses. Basic combat training is also where soldiers undergo continual vigorous and intense physical training. The advanced individual training course is designed to train infantry soldiers to perform reconnaissance operations; employ, fire and recover anti-personnel and anti-tank mines; locate and neutralize land mines and operate target and sight equipment; operate and maintain communications equipment and radio networks; construct field firing aids for infantry weapons; and perform infantry combat exercises and dismounted battle drills, which includes survival procedures in a nuclear, biological or chemical contaminated area. By the end of the training, a soldier will have conducted numerous simulated missions and marched more than 100 miles. Skidmore was awarded a Certificate of Achievement and Expert Marksman Metal for achieving a high score of 39 out of 40 on rifle and grenade. He was the highest scoring soldier in his company.

Skidmore is the son of Chris and Lauren Skidmore Hobbs of Jacksonville and the brother of Reid and Hope. He is the grandson of Jim Skidmore of Jacksonville, Hope Wilson of Gadsden and John and Suzanne Hobbs of Fruithurst. He is the great-grandson of Mrs.Clyde Turner of Eastaboga and Jack Skidmore of Harlan, Kentucky.