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 Force Airman Grio A. O’Bryan/St. Croix
March 4, 2011 (Joint Hometown News Service) – Air Force Airman Grio A. O’Bryan 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.
He is the son of Rupert and Sandra O’Bryan of St. Croix, Virgin Islands.
O’Bryan graduated in 2006 from St. Joseph High School, St. Croix, and received a bachelor’s degree in 2010 from St. Leo University, Fla.
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.
He is the son of Rupert and Sandra O’Bryan of St. Croix, Virgin Islands.
O’Bryan graduated in 2006 from St. Joseph High School, St. Croix, and received a bachelor’s degree in 2010 from St. Leo University, Fla.
Army National Guard Pvt. Kendra K. Biodan/St. Croix
March 4, 2011 (Joint Hometown News Service) – Army National Guard Pvt. Kendra K. Biodan 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 daughter of Leneth Simon of Old Castle Coakley, Christiansted, Virgin Islands.
Biodan graduated in 2009 from St. Croix Central High School, Kingshill, Virgin Islands.
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 daughter of Leneth Simon of Old Castle Coakley, Christiansted, Virgin Islands.
Biodan graduated in 2009 from St. Croix Central High School, Kingshill, Virgin Islands.
Army National Guard Pvt. Afiya N. Cameron/St. Thomas
March 4, 2011 (Joint Hometown News Service) – Army National Guard Pvt. Afiya N. Cameron 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. The private 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.
Cameron graduated in 2008 from Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness. The private 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.
Cameron graduated in 2008 from Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands.
Army National Guard Pfc. Shinell Johnson/St. Croix
March 15, 2011 (Joint Hometown News Service) – Army National Guard Pfc. Shinell Johnson 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 also 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 Angela Lebron of Williams Delight, and niece of Ana Munoz of White Bay, both of Frederiksted, Virgin Islands.
Johnson graduated in 2008 from Educational Complex, Frederiksted.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values and physical fitness. She also 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 Angela Lebron of Williams Delight, and niece of Ana Munoz of White Bay, both of Frederiksted, Virgin Islands.
Johnson graduated in 2008 from Educational Complex, Frederiksted.
Air Force Tech. Sgt. Deaira S. Smith/St. Croix
March 15, 2011 (Joint Hometown News Service) – Air Force Tech. Sgt. Deaira S. Smith has deployed to Iraq to serve in support of Operation New Dawn, the formerly named Operation Iraqi Freedom. This transition signifies a formal end to U.S. military combat operations in Iraq.
Operation New Dawn shifts the U.S. emphasis from predominantly military to predominately civilian as the U.S. officials assist Iraqis in accordance with the Strategic Framework Agreement.
The three primary missions of U.S. Forces include advising, assisting, and training the Iraqi Security Forces; conducting partnered counterterrorism operations; and providing support to provincial reconstruction teams and civilian partners as they help build Iraq’s civil capacity.
Smith, a command chief executive assistant with 17 years of military service, is assigned to the 321st Air Expeditionary Wing at Baghdad, Iraq.
She is the daughter of Jim and stepdaughter of Debi Smith of Island Drive, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
The technical sergeant’s mother, Anita Anderson, resides on Circle Drive, Denison, Texas.
Her grandparents are Paul and Juanita Smith of Gilliam Road, and Bobbie Anderson of Sears Road, all of Bells, Texas.
In 1992, Smith graduated from Bells High School.
Operation New Dawn shifts the U.S. emphasis from predominantly military to predominately civilian as the U.S. officials assist Iraqis in accordance with the Strategic Framework Agreement.
The three primary missions of U.S. Forces include advising, assisting, and training the Iraqi Security Forces; conducting partnered counterterrorism operations; and providing support to provincial reconstruction teams and civilian partners as they help build Iraq’s civil capacity.
Smith, a command chief executive assistant with 17 years of military service, is assigned to the 321st Air Expeditionary Wing at Baghdad, Iraq.
She is the daughter of Jim and stepdaughter of Debi Smith of Island Drive, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
The technical sergeant’s mother, Anita Anderson, resides on Circle Drive, Denison, Texas.
Her grandparents are Paul and Juanita Smith of Gilliam Road, and Bobbie Anderson of Sears Road, all of Bells, Texas.
In 1992, Smith graduated from Bells High School.
Army Reserve Spec. Taiesa A. Lashley/St. Thomas
March 17, 2011 (Joint Hometown News Service) – Army Reserve Spec. Taiesa A. Lashley is returning to the U.S. after a deployment to Iraq serving in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn, or Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations.
The soldiers return to Joint Base Dix-McGuire-Lakehurst, N.J., for debriefing, evaluations and out-processing procedures before returning to their regularly assigned Army Reserve or National Guard units.
Operation New Dawn transitions and signifies a formal end to U.S. military combat operations in Iraq. The transition shifts the U.S. emphasis from predominantly military to predominately civilian as the U.S. officials assist Iraqis in accordance with the Strategic Framework Agreement. The three primary missions of U.S. Forces include advising, assisting and training the Iraqi Security Forces; conducting partnered counterterrorism operations; and providing support to provincial reconstruction teams and civilian partners as they help build Iraq’s civil capacity.
Operation Enduring Freedom is the official name given to anti-terrorism military operations involving U.S. troops and allied coalition partners. Active duty and reserve component members from all branches of the U.S. armed forces have been deployed to support the war against global terrorism outside the borders of the United States. U.S. troops serve in South, Southwest and Central Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, the Horn of Africa, the Pacific islands and Europe.
Lashley, a civil affairs specialist with two years of military service, is regularly assigned to the 478th Civil Affairs Battalion, based out of Perrine, Fla.
She is the daughter of Theodore S. Lashley and Cresida A. Reid of Estate Tutu, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
The specialist graduated in 2005 from Charlotte Amalie High School, and received a bachelor’s degree in 2009 from Johnson and Wales University, North Miami, Fla.
The soldiers return to Joint Base Dix-McGuire-Lakehurst, N.J., for debriefing, evaluations and out-processing procedures before returning to their regularly assigned Army Reserve or National Guard units.
Operation New Dawn transitions and signifies a formal end to U.S. military combat operations in Iraq. The transition shifts the U.S. emphasis from predominantly military to predominately civilian as the U.S. officials assist Iraqis in accordance with the Strategic Framework Agreement. The three primary missions of U.S. Forces include advising, assisting and training the Iraqi Security Forces; conducting partnered counterterrorism operations; and providing support to provincial reconstruction teams and civilian partners as they help build Iraq’s civil capacity.
Operation Enduring Freedom is the official name given to anti-terrorism military operations involving U.S. troops and allied coalition partners. Active duty and reserve component members from all branches of the U.S. armed forces have been deployed to support the war against global terrorism outside the borders of the United States. U.S. troops serve in South, Southwest and Central Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, the Horn of Africa, the Pacific islands and Europe.
Lashley, a civil affairs specialist with two years of military service, is regularly assigned to the 478th Civil Affairs Battalion, based out of Perrine, Fla.
She is the daughter of Theodore S. Lashley and Cresida A. Reid of Estate Tutu, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
The specialist graduated in 2005 from Charlotte Amalie High School, and received a bachelor’s degree in 2009 from Johnson and Wales University, North Miami, Fla.
