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Military news

By Times Staff Writer
Published November 18, 2007

Air Force Airman 1st Class Kristine Rodriguez arrived for duty at Hurlburt Field, Fort Walton Beach.

Rodriguez is a personnel separations counselor assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing and has served in the military one year.

She is the daughter of Sylvia Ruiz-Torres and stepdaughter of Jose Torres, both of Tarpon Springs.

Rodriguez is a 1997 graduate of Gateway High School in Kissimmee.

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Navy Seaman Recruit Amanda M. Sullivan was recently promoted to her current rank upon graduation from recruit training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill.

Sullivan received the early promotion for outstanding performance during all phases of the training cycle, 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.

She also participated in "Battle Stations," an exercise that gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet.

Sullivan is the niece of Maryann E. Sullivan of Clearwater.

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Air Force Airman Nathan C. Ledbetter graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

During six weeks of training, Ledbetter studied the Air Force mission, organization, 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 degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

He is the son of Vince and Cologeria Ledbetter of Tarpon Springs and is a 2007 graduate of Tarpon Springs High School.

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Three local soldiers have graduated from basic combat training at Fort Sill in Lawton, Okla.:

- Army Reserve Pvt. Cashen T. Crabtree, who attends Pinellas Park High School, is the son of Holly Crabtree of Clearwater.

- Army Pfc. Christopher R. Sears, a 2003 graduate of Countryside High School, is the son of Ronald and Susan Sears of Safety Harbor.

- Army Pfc. David R. Sauter, a 2007 graduate of Clearwater High School, is the son of David R. Sauter of Largo.

During nine weeks of training, the soldiers 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.

* * *

Three local soldiers have graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C.:

- Army Pfc. Katrina J. Echols, a 2007 graduate of Bethune-Bowman High School, Rowesville, S.C., is the daughter of James Brown of Bowman, S.C., and Linda Echols of Clearwater.

- Army Pvt. Robert A. Vanderbush, a 2005 graduate of J.W. Mitchell High School, New Port Richey, is the son of Charles Vanderbush of Holiday, and nephew of Cindy Wieman of Palm Harbor.

- Army Pfc. Richard J. Paradis Jr. is the son of Richard Paradis Sr. of South Portland, Maine, and grandson of Ellen Gallant of Clearwater. He graduated in 2003 from South Portland High School and graduated in 2005 from the Universal Technical Institute, Chicago, Ill.

During their nine weeks of training, the soldiers 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.

[Last modified November 17, 2007, 21:21:52]