AIR FORCE | Ryan Majka

Air Force Airman Ryan Majka has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

During the six weeks of training, Majka studied the Air Force mission, organization, core values, and military customs and courtesies, performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises and special training in human relations.

He is the son of Ann and DJ Majka, of St. John.

Majka is a 2006 graduate of Lake Central High School, St. John.

AIR FORCE | David Thurman

Air Force Airman David Thurman has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

During the six weeks of training, Thurman studied the Air Force mission, organization, core values, and military customs and courtesies, performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises and special training in human relations.

He is the son of Donna and Robert Thurman, of Homewood, Ill.

Thurman is a 2008 graduate of Homewood Flossmoor High School.

AIR FORCE | Fidel Desiderio

Air Force Airman Fidel Desiderio has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

During the six weeks of training, Desiderio studied the Air Force mission, organization, core values, and military customs and courtesies, performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations.

In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

He is the son of Rhea and Fidel Desiderio and grandson of Faye Desiderio, of Beecher, Ill.

Desiderio is a 2006 graduate of Bishop McNamara High School, Kankakee, Ill.

Air Force | Marcus Mola

Air Force Airman Marcus Mola has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

During the six weeks of training, Mola studied the Air Force mission, organization, core values, and military customs and courtesies, performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises and special training in human relations.

In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Mola earned distinction as an honor graduate.

He is the son of Cynthia Hawes, of Valparaiso, and James Mola, of Portage.

Mola graduated in 2003 from South Haven Christian School and received a bachelor's degree in 2008 from Purdue University, West Lafayette.

ARMY | Kaylene Anderson

Army Reserve Pvt. Kaylene Anderson has graduated from basic military training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C., to be a member of the Army National Guard or Reserve Split-option Program.

The program allows students between their junior and senior year of high school to attend National Guard or Reserve weekend drills while still in school and pursue a military career specialty after they graduate from high school.

She is the daughter of Dean Anderson, of Hobart.

Anderson is currently a student at River Forest Junior-Senior High School, Hobart.

ARMY | Jonathan Cowley

Army National Guard Pvt. Jonathan Cowley has graduated from basic military training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C., to be a member of the Army National Guard or Reserve Split-option Program.

The program allows students between their junior and senior year of high school to attend National Guard or Reserve weekend drills while still in school and pursue a military career specialty after they graduate from high school.

He is the son of Mike Cowley, of Merrillville, and Marta Cowley, of Hialeah Gardens, Fla.

The private is a student at Merrillville High School.

ARMY | John Camery, Jr.

Army Pfc. John Camery Jr. has graduated from Basic Combat training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla.

Camery is the son of John Camery Sr., of Highland. In 1980, Camery Jr. graduated from Highland High School.

MARINES | Wesley Holiday

Marine Corps Cpl. Wesley Holiday, son of Lois and James Holiday, of Kouts, along with more than 6,000 Marines and sailors of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group out of Norfolk, Va., embarked with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Marine

Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. They are currently deployed to the Navy's 5th and 6th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security operations and the war on terror.

While in Naples, Italy, MEU Marines teamed with Commander, Naval Installation East and 6th Fleet sailors to participate in the 6th Fleet's annual evacuation control center exercise. The Marines and sailors

practiced the skills required for the safe evacuation of embassy personnel and civilians during natural disasters.

ARMY | Alexis Underwood

Army National Guard Pvt. Alexis Underwood has graduated from basic military training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C., under the Split-option Enlistment Program to serve as a member of the Army National Guard or Reserve.

The program allows students between their junior and senior year of high school to attend basic training during the summer after their junior year. After completing basic training, the recruits will attend National Guard or Reserve weekend drills while still in school. The summer following graduation, the guardsmen or reservists attend advanced individual training in the career specialty they selected at the time they enlisted.

During the nine weeks of training, Underwood 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 Sandra Underwood of Valparaiso, and Scott Underwood of Schererville.

Underwood is currently a student at Valparaiso High School.

ARMY | William Gnerlich, Jr.

Army Reserve Pvt. William Gnerlich Jr. has graduated from Basic Combat training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla.

During the nine weeks of training, Gnerlich 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.

He is the son of William and Carol Gnerlich, of St. John.

Gnerlich is a 2008 graduate of Lake Central High School.

ARMY | Justine Jones

Army National Guard Pvt. Justine Jones has graduated from basic military training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C., under the Split-option Enlistment Program to serve as a member of the Army National Guard or Reserve.

The program allows students between their junior and senior year of high school to attend basic training during the summer after their junior year. After completing basic training, the recruits will attend National Guard or Reserve weekend drills while still in school. The summer following graduation, the guardsmen or reservists attend advanced individual training in the career specialty they selected at the time they enlisted.

During the nine weeks of training, Jones 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 Ronnie Jones, of Gary.

NAVY | Kevin Petersen

Navy Seaman Apprentice Kevin Petersen, son of Denise A. Petersen-Castro and stepson of Romulo G. Castro, of Hammond,

recently completed U.S. Navy basic training and was meritoriously promoted to his current rank at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

During the eight-week program, Petersen 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 in today's U.S. Navy.

Petersen is a 2008 graduate of Clark High School of Hammond.

ARMY | Joseph Goodman

Army Pvt. Joseph Goodman has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

During the nine weeks of training, Goodman 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.

He is the son of Joseph Goodman, of Merrillville.

ARMY | Ryan Sanders

Army Reserve Pfc. Ryan Sanders has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga.

During the nine weeks of training, Sanders 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.

He is the son of Donna and stepson of Gerald Hayes, of Hammond.

The private is a 2008 graduate of Donald E. Gavit High School.

ARMY | Joseph Williams II

Army National Guard Pvt. Joseph Williams II has graduated from Basic Combat training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla.

During the nine weeks of training, Williams 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. He is the son of Linda Robinson, of Crown Point. Williams is a 2006 graduate of Merrillville High School.