Army Reserve Pfc. Theodore J. Blanchard has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla. He is the son of Helene Blanchard of Sage Drive, and Ted Blanchard of Tilbury Road, both of Alexandria. Blanchard is a 2009 graduate of Thomas Edison High School.

Army Pvt. Jazmyne M. McFail has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. She is the daughter of Kris McFail of S. Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington, and Tracy Martin of Fordson Road, Alexandria. The private is a 2008 graduate of West Potomac High School, Alexandria.

Army Reserve Pvt. Berhan K. Teferi has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla. Teferi is the brother of Mismak Teferi of Chicory Place, Alexandria.

Army Spec. Ericka T. Collins has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. She is the daughter of Stephanie Beekman of Alexandria. Collins graduated in 2002 from Bishop O'Connell High School, and received a bachelor's degree in 2007 from Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond.

Army Pfc. Derek Awantoh has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. He is the brother of Elsie Awantoh of Alexandria.

Air Force Airman 1st Class Narang Choi graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. She is the daughter of Okju Choi of Saint Genevieve Place, Alexandria. Choi graduated in 2004 from Hayfield Secondary School, Alexandria, and received a bachelor's degree in 2008 from the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington.

Air Force 1st Lt. Christina J. Willy has graduated from the Air Force Institute of Technology, Graduate School of Engineering and Management at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. She is the daughter of James M. and Nancy A. Willy of Cameron Mills Road, Alexandria. The lieutenant received a bachelor's degree in 2005 from the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind.

Army National Guard Pfc. Mohamed Awad has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. He is the son of Ali Awad of Stevenson Ave., Alexandria. The private is a 2007 graduate of T.C. Williams High School.

Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Brooke A. Sorrell graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. She is the daughter of Chris and Roberta Sorrell of Cromwell Place, Alexandria.

Air Force Airman Lacey N. Freebern graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. She is the daughter of Kirt Forrest of Long Valley Road, Penn Valley, Calif., and sister of Deidra Daniel of Sunny Vien Drive, Alexandria. Freebern is a 2001 graduate of Bear River High School, Grass Valley, Calif.

Army Pvt. Edvid R. Caballero Arias has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla. He is the son of Ana Arias of Hammond St., Alexandria. Caballero Arias is a 2005 graduate of Mount Vernon High School, Alexandria.

Air Force Airman Francis L. Luginbill III graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He is the son of Francis Luginbill Jr. of Greenleigh Lane, Alexandria, and Mike and Arleen Strider of Garrity Road, St. Leonard, Md.

Allyson M. Knight has graduated from the Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) Leader's Training Course at Fort Knox, Ky. The cadet is a student at George Mason University, Fairfax. She is the daughter of Patricia K. Charlton of Lebanon Road, Alexandria. Knight is a 2007 graduate of Thomas Edison High School, Alexandria.

Coast Guard Seaman Alex E. Curtis, son of Joyce R. and stepson of Donald L. Davis of Alexandria, Va., recently graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, N. J. Curtis is a 2001 graduate of Loudoun County High School of Leesburg, Va.

Navy Seaman Rudy W. Picardo, a 1993 graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School, Alexandria, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

Ketajh Brown, of Alexandria, joined candidates from 34 states to begin Phase 1 of Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Camp Fretterd Military Reservation in Reisterstown, MD. This two week phase is the first of three phases toward the goal of becoming a Second Lieutenant in the Army National Guard.

David H. Besson has entered Basic Cadet Training at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo., in preparation to enter the first academic year at the academy. He is the son of Paul and Marguerite Besson of Pheasant Ridge Road., Fairfax. Besson is a 2009 graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School, Alexandria.

Navy Ensign Daryl A. Dawson, daughter of Debbie and Cutler Dawson of Alexandria, Va., and more than 300 fellow sailors aboard the guided-missle destroyer USS Chung-Hoon homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, recently returned from a six-month deployment to the Fifth and Seventh Fleet areas of operation. Dawson is a 2003 graduate of Norfolk Academy of Norfolk, Va. and joined the Navy in May 2007. She is a 2007 graduate of U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md. with a BS degree.

Michael A. Fife has entered Basic Cadet Training at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo., in preparation to enter the first academic year at the academy. The six-week, two-phased orientation program must be successfully completed by the cadets prior to entering their freshman year. The training prepares men and women to meet the rigorous mental and physical challenges experienced by new cadets. He is the son of Michael and Nancy Fife of Elaine Court, Alexandria. Fife is a 2009 graduate of Bishop Ireton High School, Alexandria.

Marine Corps Reserve Pvt. Paul E. Smith, son of Daphne D. Smith of Blacksburg, Va., and Paul E. Smith, Sr. of Alexandria, recently completed 12 weeks of basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. designed to challenge new Marine recruits both physically and mentally.

Stephanie A. Marris has entered Basic Cadet Training at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo., in preparation to enter the first academic year at the academy. The six-week, two-phased orientation program must be successfully completed by the cadets prior to entering their freshman year. The training prepares men and women to meet the rigorous mental and physical challenges experienced by new cadets. She is the daughter of Randy and Maria Marris of Farndon Court, Fairfax. Marris is a 2009 graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School, Alexandria.

Navy Seaman Apprentice Grant G. Leal, a 2009 graduate of Mount Vernon High School, Alexandria, recently reported for duty at Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center, Virginia Beach, Va. Leal joined the Navy in July 2009.

Megan L. Welch graduated from the Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) Leader Development and Assessment Course, also known as "Operation Warrior Forge," at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash. The cadet is a student at Shippensburg University, Pa. Welch is the daughter of Mark S. and Mary E. Welch of Patent Parish Lane, Alexandria.

The Army bid an official farewell to Maj. Gen. John A. Yingling, son of the late, long-time Old Town Alexandria residents Lorna and Roswell Yingling, in recognition of his 35 years of dedicated service. His retirement ceremony was held at the headquarters of the Army's largest command, Army Forces Command, where he had been the deputy chief of staff G3/5/7 (equivalent to a large civilian corporation senior vice president for operations) since December 2007. A native of Alexandria, Maj. Gen. Yingling is a graduate of T.C. Williams High School, Class of 1970. He began his Army career in 1974 when he was commissioned a second lieutenant of field artillery upon his graduation from the Reserve Officers Training Corps at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Army National Guard Pvt. Bryston Brauer has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. He is the son of Nancy O'Donnell of River Ridge Road, Frederick, Md., and John O'Donnell of N. Columbus St., Alexandria. Brauer is a 2008 graduate of Governor Thomas Johnson High School, Frederick.

Air Force Airman Itzkar S. Bonilla graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. He is the son of Ena Semino of N. Armistead St., Alexandria. Bonilla is a 2008 graduate of T.C. Williams High School, Alexandria.

Army Pvt. Edward G. Hooks has graduated from the Infantryman One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. The training consists of Basic Infantry Training and Advanced Individual Training. Hooks is the son of Edward and Fiona Hooks of Holmes Run Parkway, Alexandria. He is a 2007 graduate of T.C. Williams High School, Alexandria.

Jonathan H. Fanelli graduated from the Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) Leader Development and Assessment Course, also known as "Operation Warrior Forge," at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash. The cadet is a student at Virginia Military Institute, Lexington. He is the son of Richard F. and Karen H. Fanelli of Lynley Terrace, Alexandria. The cadet is a 2006 graduate of Thomas Edison High School, Alexandria.

Austin D. Roberts graduated from the Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) Leader Development and Assessment Course, also known as "Operation Warrior Forge," at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash. The cadet is a student at Canisius College, Buffalo, N.Y. He is the son of Stephen G. and Ruth Roberts of Farm Road, Alexandria. Roberts graduated in the year 2000 from T.C. Williams High School, Alexandria.

Army National Guard Pfc. Matthew S. Ferguson has graduated from the Infantryman One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. The training consists of Basic Infantry Training and Advanced Individual Training.
Ferguson is the son of Sharon Ferguson of Vermont Ave., Alexandria. He is a 2008 graduate of the Fishburne Military School, Waynesboro, Va.

Michael R. Andriani has received a four year Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) scholarship to attend Virginia Military Institute, Lexington. The mission of ROTC is to provide future officers with leadership qualities needed in the regular Army and the Reserve Components. He is the son of Michael R. Andriani of Craig Ave., Alexandria.

Justin K. Kubat graduated from the Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) Leader Development and Assessment Course, also known as "Operation Warrior Forge," at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash. The cadet is a student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He is the son of Robert A. and Anne Marie Kubat of Wycliffe Drive, Lafayette, Ind. His wife, Heather, is the daughter of Terry Benjamin and Patricia Harper of Braddock Station, Alexandria.

Stephen R. Hill graduated from the Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) Leader Development and Assessment Course, also known as "Operation Warrior Forge," at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash. The cadet is a student at Boston University, Mass. Hill is the son of Stephen L. and Susan M. Hill of W. Boulevard Drive, Alexandria.

Air Force Airman Osmin H. Gallardo graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He is the son of Hugo Gallardo of Elk Park Court, Alexandria, Va. Gallardo is a 2009 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School, Springfield.

Army Spec. David A. Lampen has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla. Lampen is the son of David A. Lampen of Oxpen Court, and Mary Ellen Flaherty of Polins Court, both of Alexandria. He graduated in 2004 from Thomas Jefferson High School, Alexandria, and received a bachelor's degree in 2008 from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville.

Air Force 2nd Lt. Andrew G. Boston has entered into the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md., as a first-year medical student of a four-year program. The student will be trained and prepared to serve as a physician in the Army, Navy, Air Force or the Public Health Service. Outstanding scientists and health care practitioners are prepared for careers in service to the nation. He is the son of Ronald A. and Barbara L. Boston of Cameron Station Blvd., Alexandria. The lieutenant received a bachelor's degree in 1999 from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.