From the armed services

• Army National Guard Sgt. Michael H. Bennett is completing training to deploy to Afghanistan with the Illinois Army National Guard's 33rd Infantry Brigade Team in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The brigade will be the backbone of Task Force Phoenix VIII and its mission of training and mentoring the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police. He is the son of John and Terri Bennett of Hanover Park and a 2004 graduate of Lake Park High School, Roselle.

• Army National Guard Pvt. Javier Garay is completing training to deploy to Afghanistan with the Illinois Army National Guard's 33rd Infantry Brigade Team in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The brigade will be the backbone of Task Force Phoenix VIII and its mission of training and mentoring the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police. Garay, an infantryman with two years of military service, is normally assigned to the 1st Battalion, 178th Regiment, Fort Bragg, Fayetteville, N.C. He is the son of Javier R. and Isabel M. Garay of Streamwood. The private is a 1997 graduate of Prospect High School, Mount Prospect.

• Keith David Kowalski was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army after successfully completing the Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) program and graduating with a bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University, Macomb. 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 will attend an officer basic course relating to his or her particular military occupational specialty/job. Afterward, he will complete advanced training by attending basic officer leadership courses for career progression purposes.

In addition, Kowalski received the American Legion Gold Medal Award. The award is presented to a cadet that has demonstrated outstanding qualities in academics, military leadership, self-discipline, character and citizenship. He is the son of Dennis E. and Kathleen T. Kowalski of Bartlett and a 2004 graduate of Bartlett High School.

• Army National Guard Sgt. Michael C. Pretto is completing training to deploy to Afghanistan with the Illinois Army National Guard's 33rd Infantry Brigade Team in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The brigade will be the backbone of Task Force Phoenix VIII and its mission of training and mentoring the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police. He is the son of Jack and Anna Pretto of Palatine. The sergeant received a bachelor's degree in 2002 from Western Illinois University, Macomb.