From the Armed Forces
• Marine Corps Pfc. Jeremy I. Decarli, son of Penny Nabor, Streamwood, and H. Guy Decarli, Niles, 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, Decarli spent numerous hours in classroom and field assignments that 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 received 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 which culminated in a ceremony when the recruits were presented the Marine Corps Emblem.
• Stan T. Martin, son of Nancy Martin of Streamwood and Stan Martin of Springfield, graduated from Officer Candidate School (OCS) Phase III training at North Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash., and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army National Guard.
The two-week Phase III training is the final phase of a three-phased, 14-month training period. The national guard officer candidate received "basic soldiering" instruction in leadership, professional ethics, soldier team development, combined arms tactics, weapons defense, squad drill, intelligence, land navigation, maintenance, communications, staff and general military subjects, field training exercises, and physical training and conditioning.
Officer candidates are tested and evaluated in leadership skills and team work abilities required of a commissioned officer. Students utilize acquired skills to function in "leader and follower" positions in squad and platoon-sized elements in a stressful and demanding field environment involving various tactical situations.
Students are selected and considered from colleges, active-duty enlisted ranks, and direct commmissions.
Martin was formerly a military police member with the Illinois Army National Guard in Springfield. He has served in the military for more than eight years.
The lieutenant graduated in 1999 from Hoffman Estates High School, and received an associate degree in 2005 from Harper College. Martin is currently attending Governors State University in University Park, working on a bachelor's degree.
• Army Pvt. Aaron P. Olson, son of Laurie Olson of Streamwood, 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.
Olson is a 2006 graduate of Streamwood High School.
• Army ROTC Cadet Keith D. Kowalski, son of Dennis Edwin and Kathleen Therese Kowalski of Bartlett, was awarded the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Honors Award and Dean's List Award.
The ROTC Honors Award is given to cadets who achieve a semester grade point average of 2.5 and a cumulative ROTC grade point average of 4.0 in at least three ROTC military science classes. The Dean's List Award is earned by cadets who achieve a semester grade point average of 3.6 to 4.0. Additionally, he received the Gold Medal Athlete Award and Army Physical Fitness Badge for scoring at least 90 points in each of the three events of the Army Physical Fitness Test.
Kowalski is a 2004 graduate of Bartlett High School.