From the Armed Forces

• Army National Guard Pvt. Nabil Farooq, son of Sarwat J. Farooq of Mount Prospect, 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.

Farooq is a 2007 graduate of Niles West High School, Skokie.

• Marine Corps Pvt. Christopher R. Biggs, nephew of Michael R. Biggs of Des Plaines, recently completed 12 weeks of basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, Calif., designed to challenge new Marine recruits both physically and mentally.

In addition to the rigorous physical conditioning program, Biggs and fellow recruits 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.

The recruits also receive instruction on the Marine Corps' core values -- honor, courage and commitment, and what the core values mean in guiding personal and professional conduct.

The training phase ended with The Crucible, a 54-hour, team evolution culminating in a ceremony in which recruits are presented the Marine Corps Emblem.