Ericka G. Bennett

Army Pvt. Ericka G. Bennett 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.

She is the daughter of John Bennett of Virginia Beach, Va., and granddaughter of Penola Bennett of Southern Pines.

Bennett is a 2006 graduate of Pinecrest High School.

Arthur H. Ferguson Jr.

GSCS (SW) Arthur H. Ferguson Jr., son of Arthur H. Ferguson Sr. and Gracie Ann Hunt of Carthage, retired from the U.S. Navy at the end of January.

A graduate of Union Pines High School, he enlisted in the Navy in July 1982.

Following boot camp and "A" school he reported to the USS O'Bannon home ported in Charleston, S.C., where he progressed from GSFN to GSE2. Graduating GSE "C" school in 1986, he selected orders to the USS Shenandoah home ported in Norfolk, Va., where he achieved NAVSEA Certifications for Gas Turbine Repairs and advanced to GSE1.

In 1989, he reported to NTC/SSC, Great Lakes as a Gas Turbine Electrical "C" School instructor, eventually advancing to Chief Petty Officer. Being designated GSE "C" school course supervisor in 1991 he revised the entire GSE "C" school pipeline to be ship specific accommodating two new ship classes, DDG-51 and AOE-6 while simultaneously reducing the training pipeline by 10 weeks.

In the fall of 1992 Ferguson transferred to PRECOM Unit SUPPLY and commissioned the first Gas Turbine Powered Oiler (AOE-6) in the U.S. Navy. Still serving on the SUPPLY (AOE-6) he was frocked to Senior Chief and later transferred to Readiness Support Group, Norfolk serving as Type Desk Representative for all the Norfolk Based Aircraft Carriers and Auxiliary Ships including those home ported in Earl, N.J.

Following a successful tour at RSG he reported to the USS Thorn in January 2000 and guided a 23-year-old destroyer through a grueling training cycle, INSERVE Inspection and Deployment. In January 2003 he reported to Assault Craft Unit Four Maintenance Department as Repair Two Division LCPO then quickly fleeted up to Departmental LCPO where he led ACU 4 to its best Fleet Maintenance Activity Assessment to date. He reported about USS Mitscher Dec. 29, 2005 as Engineering Department's LCPO, retiring Jan. 26, 2007.

Senior Chief Ferguson's awards include five Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, one Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, six Good Conduct Medals and four Sea Service Ribbons.

His hobbies include surfing, bass fishing and other water sports. Ferguson is married to the former Donna McDorman of Chesapeake, Va. They have three children, Shannon and Tony, 23, and Matthew, 19, and reside in Virginia Beach, Va.

Daniela P. Kessler

Army Spec. Daniela P. Kessler 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.

Lamonz J. Kimbrough

Army Pvt. Lamonz J. Kimbrough 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 cere-mony, 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 Celeste Kimbrough of Southern Pines.

Joseph Locklear Jr.

Army Staff Sgt. Joseph Locklear Jr. has returned to the 35th Armor Division, Baumholder, Germany, after being deployed to an overseas forward-operating location in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Operation Iraqi Freedom is the official name given to military operations involving members of the U.S. armed forces and coalition forces participating in efforts to free and secure Iraq. Mission objectives focus on force protection, peacekeeping, stabilization, security and counter-insurgency operations as the Iraqi transitional governing bodies assume full sovereign powers to govern the peoples of Iraq.

Members from all branches of the U.S. military and multinational forces are also assisting in rebuilding Iraq's economic and governmental infrastructure, and training and preparing Iraqi military and security forces to assume full authority and responsibility in defending and preserving Iraq's sovereignty and independence as a democracy.

Locklear, a maintenance supervisor with 12 years of military service, is the son of Joseph and Diane Locklear of Southern Pines.

The sergeant is a 1993 graduate of Pinecrest High School.

Michelle L. McCaskill

Army Pvt. Michelle L. McCaskill 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.

She is the daughter of Richard McCaskill, and granddaughter of Blue McCaskill, both of Carthage.

McCaskill is a 2006 graduate of Grace Christian School in Sanford.

Jason W. Mullen

Army National Guard Pfc. Jason W. Mullen has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga.

During the nine weeks of training, the soldier 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 James Mullen of Cameron, and Darcy Tangvay of Edgewater, Fla.

The private is a 2006 graduate of Overhills High School in Spring Lake.

David M. Owens

Army Pvt. David M. Owens 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, first aid and foot marches.

He is the son of Thomas and Deana Owens of Cameron.

The private is a 2006 graduate of Overhills High School in Spring Lake.

Phillip E. Russell

Phillip E. Russell has joined the United States Army under the Delayed Entry Program. The program gives young men and women the opportunity to delay entering active duty for up to one year.

The enlistment gives the new soldier the option to learn a new skill, travel and become eligible to receive as much as $50,000 toward a college education. After completion of basic military training, soldiers receive advanced individual training in their career job specialties prior to being assigned to their first permanent duty stations.

The recruit qualifies for a $21,000 enlistment bonus.

Russell, a 2003 graduate of Union Pines High School, has reported to Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C., for active duty. He isis the son of Phillip E. and Betty Jo Russell of Carthage.