Marine Corps Pfc. Samantha B. Donders recently completed the basic electrician’s course.
During the course at Marine Corps Engineer School, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, N.C., students receive instruction on the repair and maintenance of generators, transformers and power lines.
Donders joined the Marine Corps Reserve in May. She is the daughter of Agnes Freed of Flint and Robert Donders of Ortonville.

Army Reserve Pvt. Leslie L. Coffer has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla.
During nine weeks of training, Coffer studied the Army mission and received instruction and training exercises in drill and ceremonies, Army history, core values and traditions, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, rifle marksmanship, weapons use, map reading and land navigation, foot marches, armed and unarmed combat, and field maneuvers and tactics.
Coffer, a 2010 Brandon High School graduate, is the daughter of Mecquelch Chapman of Ortonville and Joseph Brown of Pineville, Mo.

Logan G. Mancini of Ortonville has been promoted to the rank of sergeant in the Michigan Army National Guard.
Mancini is an unmanned aerial vehicle operator, with the Lansing-based Company B, Brigade Special Troops Battalion. He has been a member of the Michigan National Guard for 3 years.
Mancini attended basic training in 2007, at Fort Jackson, S.C. He also attended the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operations Course in 2008, at Fort Huachuca, Ariz.
During his military career, Mancini has received numerous awards including the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, and the Aviation Badge.
In civilian life, Mancini is working towards a degree in criminal justice from Michigan State University.
He is the son of Lou and Lori Mancini of Ortonville.
Navy Seaman Joshua D. Severeide recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.
During the eight-week program, the 2008 Brandon High School graduate completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.
The capstone event of boot camp is ‘Battle Stations.? This exercise gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet. ‘Battle Stations? is designed to galvanize the basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance in each recruit through the practical application of basic Navy skills and the core values of honor, courage and commitment. Its distinctly Navy flavor was designed to take into account what it means to be a sailor.
Severeide is the son of Kathryn J. Lozier of Ortonville and Douglas F. Severeide of Cana, Va.

Army Sgt. Chad A. Brannan recently competed in the 3-day event ‘Best Sapper? to determine what 2-man team would endure as the Army’s best combat engineers.
Brannan, a 2006 Goodrich High School graduate, was part of a team from Alpha Company, 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team at Fort Campbell in Kentucky.
Day one kicked off with the 29 teams taking a non-standard physical fitness test that consisted of five minutes each of push-ups, pull-ups, chin-ups and a 3-mile run. After the run, the teams competed in a round robin phase that included knot tying and identification, various weapons assembly, mine identification and manual breaching of obstacles while carrying a mannequin on a stretcher.
Day two started with a rucksack march in the dark. When the sun came up the teams performed a helo cast and poncho raft swim while pulling 90 pounds of gear. After the swim, teams completed events in which they ran an obstacle course, fired various weapons as quickly and accurately as they could, rapelled 90 feet down the face of a cliff, breached one door with explosives and another with a shotgun, built and detonated field expedient charges, and conducted room entry and clearance.
A night navigation event through the woods took the teams into the final day of competition in which they completed a nearly 10-mile run with stake drive, bridge building, log cutting and a tire flip course.
Brannan is the son of Timothy and Heather Brannan of Goodrich.

Army Pvt. Jayme-Michael A. Hensley has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla.
During the nine weeks of training, Hensley studied the Army mission and received instruction and training exercises in drill and ceremonies, Army history, core values and traditions, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, rifle marksmanship, weapons use, map reading and land navigation, foot marches, armed and unarmed combat, and field maneuvers and tactics.
Hensley’s family includes father Shawn Hensley of Royal Oak, mother and stepfather, Elizabeth and Daniel Wilson of Flint, sister Dakota-Kristine (who serves in the Air Force), and aunt, Jayne Putsey of Goodrich.

Air Force Airman Thomas C. Hatton graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. Hatton 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. Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force. Hatton, a 2009 graduate of Goodrich High School, is the son of Robert and Christina Hatton of Goodrich.

PFC Alan C. Cole has graduated from basic combat training in Ft. Knox, Ky. Over the course of nine weeks, Cole received training in drill and ceremonies, weapons, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, core values, and traditions. Cole had advanced individual training to become a military operational specialist, graduating from Ft. Sill, Okla. and received several honors, including the Army Achievement Medal, the Distinguished Honor Graduate Award, and the Physical Fitness Excellence Badge.
Cole attends the University of Kentucky and is a member of the Kentucky National Guard. The 2007 graduate of Mt. Zion High School is the son of Tom and Kathy Cole of Ortonville.

Army Pvt. Jacob Beebe has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. During the nine weeks of training, Beebe received training in drill and ceremonies, weapons, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, core values and traditions. Additional training included development of basic combat skills and battlefield operations and tactics, and experiencing use of various weapons and weapons defenses available to the infantry crewman. Beebe, a 2009 graduate of Brandon High School, is the son of Cindy Beebe of Brandon Township.

PFC Matthew Zagone, a 2008 graduate of Goodrich High School, has successfully completed his Marine Corps basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot and Camp Pendleton, San Diego, Calif.
He graduated from Marine Corps boot camp on August 21 and Marine combat training on Sept. 28. Zagone was taught water survival skills; field, urban, and night maneuvers; and core Marine values. He was trained in the use of the M16 rifle, and other combat weapons, and has spent many hours on physical training and drill.
Zagone is the son of Louis and Nancy Zagone of Hadley Township and is currently stationed in Pensacola, Fla., where he is receiving training in his military occupational specialty of avionic electronics.

Alexzander B. Christie
Navy Seaman Alexzander B. Christie recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.
During the eight-week program, Christie completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness. The capstone event of boot camp is ‘Battle Stations.? This exercise gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet. ‘Battle Stations? is designed to galvanize the basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance in each recruit through the practical application of basic Navy skills and the core values of honor, courage and commitment. Its distinctly Navy flavor was designed to take into account what it means to be a sailor.
Christie is the grandson of Herb and Sandra Leon of Ortonville.

PV2 Nathan Richard Grant – has enlisted into the Michigan Army National Guard and is assigned as a generator mechanic with the 1072nd Maintenance Company, Detroit.
Grant reported to basic at Fort Knox, Ky. in 2008 and completed advanced individual training in Aberdeen, MG.
The 2008 Brandon High School graduate is the son of Tony and Laura Grant of Ortonville.

Air Force Airman Jenna L. Miller – graduated from basic military training atLackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
Miller 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. Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
The 2004 Brandon High School graduate is the daughter of Shelly Miller of Goodrich and granddaughter of Henry Kaubisch of Spring Hill, Fla.

Army Pvt. Christine L. Gray has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
During the nine weeks of training, Gray studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.
She is the daughter of Nancy Gray of Ortonville and granddaughter of Patricia Bridson of Lake Orion.

Logan G. Mancini
Army National Guard Pvt. Logan G. Mancini has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.
Mancini, a 2006 graduate of Brandon High School, is the son of Lucian Mancini of Ortonville and the nephew of Leslie Michals of Birmingham.

Pfc Jordan D. Wingett
Pfc Jordan D. Wingett graduated from Marine Corps recruit training during a ceremony Jan. 4 at MCRD in San Diego, Calif.
In attendance were his proud parents, Tony and Kathie Wingett of Ortonville, and siblings Kara, Nic and Melissa Wingett.
Wingett leaves Jan. 22 for further training at the School of Infantry in Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Navy Seaman Recruit Lindsay M. Budny
Navy Seaman Recruit Lindsay M. Budny recently completed U.S. Navy basic training with honors at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill.
During the eight-week program, Budny completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.
Budny is a 2005 graduate of Brandon High School and the daughter of Gregory Budny of Commerce and Karen Davis of White Lake.

Polasek
Joshua Polasek, a 2007 Brandon High School graduate, completed eight weeks of basic training at Great Lakes Naval Academy in Illinois on Nov. 21. He will now attend submariner school in Groton, Connecticut.
Polasek is the son of Jeff and Donna Polasek of Ortonville.