Military News of the Virgin Islands for September

Marine Corps Reserve Pvt. Zachary D. Riley/St. Thomas

Sept. 1, 2009 (Fleet Hometown News Center) – Marine Corps Reserve Pvt. Zachary D. Riley, son of Deanna R. and David L. Riley of St. Thomas, V. I., recently completed 12 weeks of basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., designed to challenge new Marine recruits both physically and mentally.

Riley and fellow recruits began their training at 5 a. m., by running three miles and performing calisthenics. In addition to the physical conditioning program, he spent numerous hours in classroom and field assignments, which included learning first aid, uniform regulations, combat water survival, marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat and assorted weapons training. They performed close order drill and operated as a small infantry unit during field training.

Riley and other recruits also received instruction on the Marine Corps’ core values – honor, courage and commitment, and what the core values mean in guiding personal and professional conduct.

Riley and fellow recruits ended the training phase with The Crucible, a 54-hour, team evolution culminating in an emotional ceremony in which recruits are presented the Marine Corps Emblem and are addressed as "Marines" for the first time in their careers.

Sept. 2, 2009 (Fleet Hometown News Center) – Marine Corps Reserve Pfc. Christopher L. Cohen, son of Meuriel G. Adams of St. Thomas, V. I., and Cecil L. Cohen of Asheville, N. C., recently completed 12 weeks of basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S. C., designed to challenge new Marine recruits both physically and mentally.

Cohen and fellow recruits began their training at 5 a. m., by running three miles and performing calisthenics. In addition to the physical conditioning program, Cohen spent numerous hours in classroom and field assignments, which included learning first aid, uniform regulations, combat water survival, marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat and assorted weapons training. They performed close order drill and operated as a small infantry unit during field training. He also received instruction on the Marine Corps’ core values – honor, courage and commitment – and what the core values mean in guiding personal and professional conduct.

Cohen ended the training phase with The Crucible, a 54-hour team evolution culminating in an emotional ceremony in which recruits are presented the Marine Corps Emblem, and addressed as "Marines" for the first time in their careers.

Coast Guard Seaman Malachi H. Maduro/St. Thomas

Sept. 3, 2009 (Fleet Hometown News Center) – Coast Guard Seaman Malachi H. Maduro, son of Alicia Maduro Lima of St. Thomas, V. I., recently graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, N. J.

During the eight-week training program, Maduro completed a vigorous training curriculum consisting of academics and practical instruction on water safety and survival, military customs and courtesies, seamanship skills, first aid, fire fighting and marksmanship. A major emphasis is also placed on physical fitness, health and wellness.

Maduro received instruction on the Coast Guard’s core values — honor, respect and devotion to duty — and how to apply them in their military performance and personal conduct. The seaman will join 36,000 other men and women who comprise the Coast Guard force. Men and women train together from the first day in the Coast Guard just as they do aboard ships and shore units throughout the world. To reinforce the team concept, Maduro was trained in preventing sexual harassment, drug and alcohol awareness, civil rights training, and the basics of the work/life balance, as well as total quality management.

Sept. 16, 2009 (Joint Hometown News Service) – Army Pvt. Andrew A. James 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. He 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 Andrew James of Maple Drive, Baytown, Texas, and Hazel Smith of Mount Pellier St., Frederiksted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

James is a 2007 graduate of Sterling High School, Baytown.

Sept. 17, 2009 (Fleet Hometown News Center) – Coast Guard Seaman Alex R. Dennis recently graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, N. J.

During the eight-week training program, Dennis completed a vigorous training curriculum consisting of academics and practical instruction on water safety and survival, military customs and courtesies, seamanship skills, first aid, fire fighting and marksmanship. A major emphasis was also placed on physical fitness, health and wellness.

The seaman also received instruction on the Coast Guard’s core values of honor, respect and devotion to duty and how to apply them in their military performance and personal conduct. He will join 36,000 other men and women who comprise the Coast Guard’s force.

Men and women train together from the first day in the Coast Guard just as they do aboard ships and shore units throughout the world. To reinforce the team concept, Dennis and other recruits were trained in preventing sexual harassment, drug and alcohol awareness, civil rights training and the basics of the work-life balance, as well as total quality management.

He is the son of Carmen L. and Hugo I. Dennis of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.

Dennis is a 2003 graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School of Charlotte Amalie, V. I.

Sept. 17, 2009 – USAF AIC II Nisey Greenidge is part of the 729th Air Control Squadron at Hill AFB, Utah.

She has been in the Air Force since April 2008 and is currently in Iraq on a six-month deployment. The soldier is a surveillance technician who monitors the aircraft in the sky to determine they are friendly and not hostile.

She is the daughter of Beverly Greenidge of Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the sister of Vinecia Greenidge, who is in the Army National Guard.

Greenidge graduated in 2003 from Charlotte Amalie High School, St. Thomas,V.I.

Army National Guard Pvt. Ted D. Fahie/St. Thomas

Army National Guard Pvt. Ted D. Fahie 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. He received instruction and practice in physical fitness, 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 Sharleen Fahie, and brother of Tedisha Fahie, both of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Fahie is a 2007 graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School, St. Thomas.

Chief Warrant Officer Four (CW4) Ellen M. Magras recently completed an educational tour of duty at Compass Group in Charlotte, North Carolina, while assigned to the Training with Industry Program for the US Army.

While on tour, she was exposed to a wide spectrum of food operations and the latest in sustainability initiatives. CW4 Magras is now headed to Ft. Lee, Virginia, where she will be the first female chief of the Management Assistance Division. This team travels around the world and provides assistance to dining facilities concerning food service regulatory compliance. She has completed two tours of duty in Iraq and will celebrate 24 years of active duty in November.

Magras is the daughter of the late Richard “Frenchie” Magras and Dariel C. Ruiz of St. Croix.