From the Armed Forces

• Anthony R. Davila has graduated from the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps Leader's Training Course at Fort Knox, Ky.

The 28-day course is a leadership internship for cadets who are normally between their sophomore and junior college years. 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 ROTC Advanced Course at their college.

The Army observes and evaluates cadets 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, rifle marksmanship, small arms tactics, weapons training, drill and ceremonies, communications and squad-level operations field training.

The cadet is a student at the University of Georgia, Athens. He is the son of Fernando Davila Lake in the Hills Colleen Lizardi of Dacula, Ga. Davila is a 2005 graduate of Dacula High School.

• Army Pvt. Jessica L. Finze 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 Theresa Finze of Holiday Hills, and sister of Joseph Finze of Crystal Lake. Finze is a 2002 graduate of the Quentin Road Christian School, Lake Zurich.

• Army National Guard Pvt. Robert D. Flores has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Knox, Ky. During the nine-week training period, the trainee received instruction in drill and ceremony, weapons, rifle marksmanship and bayonet training, chemical warfare, field training and tactical exercises, armed and unarmed combat, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, traditions and core values. He is the son of Paul Hernandez of Atascosa, Texas, and nephew of Debra Heath of Oakwood Hills. Flores is a 2003 graduate of Northwestern High School, Palmyra, Ill.

• Army Pvt. Randy J. Garza 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. He is the son of Barb Garza of Woodstock and a 2005 graduate of Woodstock High School.

• Erik D. Hanson has been commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army after successfully completing the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program and graduating with a bachelor's degree from Indiana University, Bloomington.

The new officer will be branched to a specific corps in the Army to serve on active duty or in the National Guard or Reserve. The lieutenant also will attend the officer basic course relating to his or her particular military occupational specialty/job.

The ROTC curriculum prepares students with the tools, training and experiences to help them succeed as effective leaders in any competitive environment. Army officers serve as leaders, counselors, strategists and motivators, who lead other soldiers in all situations occurring in ever-changing environments. As trained problem-solvers, key influencers and planners, they are driven to achieve success with their team on every mission.

Hanson will be assigned to the 142nd Signal Command Team 3, Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash.

He is the son of David and Marjorie Hanson of Crystal Lake. His wife, Kathryn, is the daughter of Christine Kauffman of Columbia City, Ind.

In 2003, he graduated from Concordia Lutheran High School, Fort Wayne, Ind.

• Ryan M. Harth has graduated from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga., and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

During the 14 weeks of training, the officer candidate received "basic soldiering" instruction in leadership, professional ethics, soldier team development, combined arms tactics, weapons defense, combat water survival, squad drill, intelligence, field training exercises and navigation, maintenance, communications, staff and general military subjects, and physical training and conditioning.

The candidate was tested on leadership skills and team work abilities required of a commissioned officer. The student utilized acquired skills to function in "leader and follower" positions in squad and platoon sized elements in a stressful and demanding field environment.

Harth, a military police officer, and has served in the military for nine years. He is the son of Paul Harth of South Elgin. The lieutenant is a 1997 graduate of Crystal Lake Central High School.

• Navy Hospitalman Recruit Ryan J. Hedrich, son of Donna and Bruce Hedrich of Johnsburg, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes.

During the eight-week program, Hedrich completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis also was 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.

Hedrich is a 2005 graduate of Johnsburg High School.