Editor's note: The Source newspapers publish available information about Virgin Islanders who are serving their country in the military. For earlier notices, see previous months' files in this section. Please e-mail information about yourself or any family member serving in these regards to source@viaccess.net Provide the individual's full name, age, rank, service branch or organization, home island, immediate family members in the Virgin Islands, brief description of education and training, and, if possible, a description of where the person is based or has been deployed. Please limit the information to about 200 words. We welcome photos.
Air Force Airman Houston L. Pettway/St. Croix
Dec. 7, 2005 (Army and Air Force Hometown News) – Air Force Airman Houston L. Pettway has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military customs and courtesies; he 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.
Pettway is the son of Caroline Sackey-Lawrence of St. Croix, Virgin Islands.
The airman is a 2005 graduate of St. Joseph Catholic High School,
Fredricksted, V.I.
Army Pvt. Shakima S. Allick/St. Croix
Dec. 8, 2005 (Army and Air Force Hometown News) – Army Pvt. Shakima S. Allick 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, and physical fitness. She received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship. She also studied armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, the military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.
Allick is the daughter of Faye Richards of Castle Burke, and sister of Shaniqua Allick, both of St. Croix, Virgin Islands.
Coast Guard Ensign Karima Greenaway/St. Thomas
Dec. 12, 2005 (Fleet Hometown News) – On Dec. 16 Coast Guard Academy Cadet Karima Greenaway, daughter of Judith Dawson and George Greenaway of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, will graduate from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. and be promoted to the rank of ensign. She has completed an academic curriculum with an emphasis on nautical science, mathematics, and practical instruction on military customs. She will receive a Bachelor of Science Degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
Ensign Greenaway will become the first known native Virgin Island woman to attend and graduate from the Coast Guard Academy. She credits her mother, Judith Dawson, with providing the inspiration that drove her to excel throughout high school and which drives her still. "My mother's example of love through her personal sacrifices provided me with the right attitude and the courage to rise above all obstacles," she said. Additionally, she attributes part of her success to the instructors of the JROTC Battalion at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School. "If it wasn't for the efforts two JROTC- U.S. Army Reserves instructors, Lt. Col. Dave Waller and Sergeant Major Ward, I doubt that I would be the recipient of this achievement today. They are very instrumental in my development as a future leader in my organization and the shaping of my character amongst my peers." Furthermore, the training that she received in her four-year experience with the JROTC program at IEKHS helped to pave the transition into the Academy.
A proud 1999 graduate of the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School of St. Thomas, V.I., and a 2001 graduate of the Naval Academy Preparatory School, in Newport, Rhode Island, Greenaway is ready to assume her assignment as an engineering officer in training (EOIT) aboard the Coast Guard cutter Dauntless (WMEC 624) in Galveston, Texas.
She is among many women serving in the Coast Guard today that are standing on the shoulders of those that paved the way. In 1976, the Coast Guard became the first military service academy to admit women. In 1980, the first woman graduate, Captain Jean M. Butler, was among 14 women to graduate as part of the Academy's Class of 1980.
Among the group is Coast Guard Academy Director of Admissions, Captain Susan Bibeau. Her message to prospective students states, "The choice to explore the Coast Guard Academy tells me you may be someone special who recognizes that anything truly worth doing requires effort, teamwork and commitment. That's what you'll find here. The Coast Guard Academy extends challenges and rewards unlike what you will find at other colleges."
Greenaway plans on spending time during the holiday season on St. Thomas with her family and friends and meeting prospective academy candidates.
Navy Seaman Ehdie M. Sackey/St. Croix
Dec. 14, 2005 (Fleet Hometown News) – Navy Seaman Ehdie M. Sackey, son of Lateefah A. Collingwood of Tucson, Ariz. and Rael L. Sackey of St. Croix, V. I., and his shipmates concluded Annual Exercise (ANNUALEX) 2005, while assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan.
ANNUALEX 2005 is a joint exercise between the U.S. Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Two U.S. submarines, 10 U.S. Navy ships and 49 JMSDF ships participated in a series of wartime exercises to observe and improve mission interoperability.
USS Kitty Hawk, commissioned on April 29, 1961, is the first of the "super carriers." Carriers like USS Kitty Hawk are deployed throughout the world to maintain U.S. presence and provide rapid response in time of crisis. The ship serves as a highly visible deterrent to would-be aggressors and is equipped with the most versatile and powerful weapons and aircraft available.
Sackey is a 1999 graduate of Rincon High School of Tucson, Ariz. and joined the Navy in April 2002.
Navy Seaman Recruit Desean B. Toussaint/St. Thomas
Dec. 14, 2005 (Fleet Hometown News Center) – Navy Seaman Recruit Desean B. Toussaint, son of Dinia Stuart of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.
During the eight-week program, he completed a variety of training that 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.
Toussaint is a 2005 graduate of Ivanna Eudora Kean High School of St. Thomas, V. I.
Air Force Airman Eliana L. Schuster/St. Croix
Dec. 22, 2005 (Army and Air Force Hometown News Center) – Air Force Airman Eliana L. Schuster has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
During the six weeks of training, she studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military customs and courtesies. The airman performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations.
In addition, ai
rmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
She is the daughter of Elaine and Ernst Schuster of Estate Clairmont, Christiansted, Virgin Islands.
The airman is a 2005 graduate of St. Joseph Catholic High School, Frederiksted, V.I.
