Military news
By TIMES WIRES
Published November 19, 2006
Navy Lt. Christopher Miranda is serving at the Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Va., and was selected as Pilot of the Year for the StrikeFighter Wing Atlantic 2005-2006.
He was in the Navy ROTC at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Maryland. Prior to his 1996 enlistment in the Navy, Miranda served six years in the Army, earning a sergeant's rank.
His career in the Navy has taken him to the Mediterranean, Iraq, Japan, Thailand, Singapore and Hawaii.
He is the son of Jose and Sue Miranda of Clearwater. Lt. Miranda was born and raised in Tampa and graduated in 1990 from Armwood High School.
Lt. Miranda and his wife, Lisa, are the parents of a 2½-year-old son, Austin.
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Alexander K. Ameen has graduated from the Defense Information School at Fort George G. Meade in Maryland. Now a Navy Mass Communication Specialist, Ameen was recognized as a distinguished Honor Graduate for completing his Public Affairs Specialist and writer course with the highest grade point average in his class. He was awarded a promotion to Petty Officer 3rd Class.
He is the son of Edward and Sylvia Ameen of Clearwater, and Andrea and Tom O'Neill of St. Petersburg,
Ameen graduated in 1996 from the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg and attended the American Academy of the Dramatic Arts in New York City.
Ameen and his fiancee, Patricia A. Mendez, plan to marry in December.
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Army Pfc. John A. Steigenberger 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.
He is the son of John Steigenberger of Tarpon Springs and brother of Albert Rosebruch of Oldsmar.
Steigenberger is a 2006 graduate of Dunedin High School.
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Army Reserve Pvt. Sam C. Celi has graduated from basic military training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
The program allows students between their junior and senior years 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.
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, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, field tactics, military justice system, basic first aid and field training exercises.
Celi is the son of Sam Celi of Dunedin and Christina Celi of Fayetteville, N.Y.
He is a student at Fayetteville-Manlius High School, Manlius, N.Y.
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Army Reserve Pvt. Donald J. Kiernan has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, physical fitness and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches and field training exercises.
He is the son of Don and Kathy Kiernan of Clearwater.
Kiernan is a 2000 graduate of Pinellas Park High School.
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Army Pvt. Joshua D. Watts has graduated from the Utilities Equipment Repairer Advanced Individual Training course at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, Md.
The student learned to perform maintenance, test, repair, adjust and inspect gasoline engine systems, utility equipment and special purpose support systems, including air conditioning electrical and vapor systems and fire extinguisher rechargers and valves.
He is the son of Eric N. Watts of Clearwater.
Watts is a 2002 graduate of Clearwater High School.