For the love of country

For the love of country
By:

* COLUMBUS, Ga. - Army National Guard Pvt. Jonathan D. Adams of Lawrence has graduated from the Infantryman One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning. The training consists of Basic Infantry Training and Advanced Individual Training.

During the nine weeks of basic combat training, the soldier received training in drill and ceremonies, weapons employment, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid skills, and Army history, core values and traditions. Additional training included development of basic combat skills and battlefield operations and tactics, and experienced use of various weapons and weapons defenses available to the infantry crewman.

The Advanced Individual Training course is designed to train infantry soldiers to perform reconnaissance operations; employ, fire and recover anti-personnel and anti-tank mines; locate and neutralize land mines and operate target and sight equipment; operate and maintain communications equipment and radio networks; construct field firing aids for infantry weapons; and perform infantry combat exercises and dismounted battle drills, which includes survival procedures in a nuclear, biological or chemical contaminated area.

Adams is the son of Steven and Crystal Gadd of Smithfield Avenue, Lawrence. In 2006, the private graduated from Lawrence High.

* COLUMBIA, S.C. - Army Pvt. Kevin L. Jones Jr., who has ties to Bucks County, Pa., recently graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson.

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.
Jones is the brother of Tiffany Locke of Bath Road, Bristol, Pa.

* TRENTON - Marine Corps Pfc. Timothy J. Thompson, son of Mary M. Daley of Frenchtown, and Raymond R. Thompson Jr of Jackson, is currently deployed with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 (MWSS-172), Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan.

MWSS-172, which joined forces with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) in Al Asad, Iraq, is the first wing support squadron from III Marine Expeditionary Force to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. All previous MWSS's deployed from aircraft wings based in the United States.

The Marines of MWSS-172 will perform aviation ground support aboard Al Asad Air Base and throughout the Anbar province and modify existing helicopter-landing zones (HLZ) while constructing new ones. Using heavy equipment, the Marines level the area and compact the soil, then lay down a coat of soil-stabilizing substance to prevent excessive sand clouds. The process will enhance the pilots' visibility, allowing them to land aircraft safely.

Additionally, MWSS-172 and Alpha Company, 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion (CEB) teamed up with the Engineer Company, 7th Iraqi Infantry Division, to construct a new headquarters site for Iraqi Army soldiers to conduct operations from. For more than two years, 3rd Battalion, 10th Brigade, 7th Iraqi Infantry Division, has occupied the school in the town of Bagdadi while maintaining security in the local area.

The 3rd CEB fortified the new site, placing barriers, guard houses and concertina wire while MWSS-172 and the Iraqi Army engineers erected prefabricated buildings.
The school is scheduled to be de-militarized before the start of the next school term, allowing students to return and reducing overcrowding in the neighboring schools.

Thompson is a 2002 graduate of Delaware Valley Regional High School of Frenchtown. He joined the Marine Corps in April 2007.

Ellie