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 visource@gmail.com. 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 National Guard Airman Vanessa Ayala/St. Croix
March 7, 2009 (Joint Hometown News Service) – Air National Guard Airman Vanessa Ayala graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits towards an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Ayala is the daughter of Bonnie and the stepdaughter of Roy Canton of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
She is a 2006 graduate of the St. Croix Educational Complex, Frederiksted, V.I.
Army National Guard Pvt. Eyvonnedora P. Wigley/St. Croix
March 7, 2009 (Joint Hometown News Service) – Army National Guard Pvt. Eyvonnedora P. Wigley 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, 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 granddaughter of Dora Wigley of Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Wigley is a 2007 graduate of the St. Croix Educational Complex, Christiansted, V.I.
Army National Guard Pfc. Ken K. Isaac/St. Croix
Oct. 13, 2009 (Joint Hometown News Service) – Army National Guard Pfc. Ken K. Isaac 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 Margaret Welsh of Lorraine Village, Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Isaac is a 2008 graduate of St. Croix Seventh-day Adventist High School, Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Marcus K. Sydney Graduates Army ROTC/St.Croix
Oct. 14, 2009 (Joint Hometown News Service) – Marcus K. Sydney has graduated from the Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) Leader’s Training Course at Fort Knox, Ky.
The four-week course is a leadership internship for cadets that can lead to the ultimate goal of becoming an Army officer. College students experience and examine the Army without incurring an obligation to serve in the Army or ROTC, and are eligible to receive two-year college scholarship offers and attend the Advanced ROTC Course at their college.
Cadets are observed and evaluated during classroom and field training exercises to determine their officer potential in leadership abilities and skills. The cadets are trained to have a sound understanding of traditional leadership values during the challenging, motivating "hands-on" training. The training develops well-disciplined, highly motivated, physically conditioned students, and helps improve the cadets’ self-confidence, initiative, leadership potential, decision making, and collective team cohesion. The cadets receive training in fundamental military skills, Army values, ethics, warrior ethos, basic rifle marksmanship, small arms tactics, weapons training, drill and ceremony, communications, combat water survival training, rappelling, land navigation and squad-level operations field training.
The cadet is a student at the University of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix.
He is the son of Irwin G. Sydney of Upper Love, and Paula C. Cumbermack of Enfield Green St., Frederiksted, St. Croix, U.S.V.I.
Sydney is a 2005 graduate of Free Will Baptist College, Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Roger O. Simon Graduates Army ROTC/St. Croix
Oct. 15, 2009 (Joint Hometown News Center ) – Roger O. Simon has graduated from the Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) Leader Development and Assessment Course, also known as Operation Warrior Forge, at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash.
The 32 days of training provide the best possible professional training and evaluation for all cadets in the aspects of military life, administration and logistical support. Although continued military training and leadership development is included in the curriculum, the primary focus of the course is to develop and evaluate each cadet’s officer potential as a leader by exercising the cadet’s intelligence, common sense, ingenuity and physical stamina. The cadet command assesses each cadet’s performance and progress in officer traits, qualities and professionalism while attending the course.
Cadets in their junior and senior year of college must complete the leadership development course. Upon successful completion of the course, the ROTC program and graduation from college, cadets are commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army, National Guard or Reserve.
Simon is the son of Myrtle N. Rogers of Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Air Force Airman Sheniece J. Griffin/St. Thomas
Oct. 24, 2009 (Joint Hometown News Service) – Air Force Airman Sheniece J. Griffin graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
She is the daughter of Kirthley Griffin of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.
Griffin is a 2009 graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School, St. Thomas.
