Military news
Air Force Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Barry R. Bissiere II has graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force. Bissiere is a 2007 graduate of Canon-McMillan High School, and his parents are Mary E. and Barry R. Bissiere Sr. of Canonsburg.
Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Jordan Klett, information services technician and son of Robert Klett of Bentleyville, is serving aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy, homeported in Seattle, Wash. On Sept. 5, USCGC Healy arrived at the North Pole, becoming the first U.S. surface ship to do so unaccompanied. It also is only the fourth time a U.S. surface vessel has ever reached the North Pole, and the first since 2005. Healy’s crew and science party, totaling 145 people, departed Dutch Harbor, Alaska, Aug. 9, in support of GEOTRACES, an historic, international effort to study the geochemistry of the world’s oceans. This National Science Foundation-funded expedition focuses on studying the Arctic Ocean to meet a number of scientific goals, including the creation of baseline measurements of the air, ice, snow, seawater, meltwater and ocean-bottom sediment for future comparisons. Healy is the United States’ newest high-latitude vessel. It is a 420-foot, 16,000-ton, 30,000-horsepower icebreaker, capable of breaking over 10 feet of ice. In addition to performing the Coast Guard’s other statutory missions, such as law enforcement and search and rescue, Healy is a research platform with extensive laboratory spaces, multiple oceanographic deck winches and berthing for 50 scientists.
Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Andrew W. McCormick has graduated from Basic Officer Course 3-15, the Basic School, at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Quantico, Va. He qualified as a rifle expert, pistol sharpshooter and Marine Corps martial arts program gray belt. His platoon nominated him for the Charlie Company Gung-Ho Award. Assigned as a student naval aviator, McCormick will report to Marine Aviation and Training Support Group 21, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Pensacola, Fla., for introductory flight screening and aviation preflight indoctrination. McCormick is a 2009 graduate of Washington High School and a 2013 graduate of Colgate University. His parents are Dr. William A. and Ann W. McCormick of Washington. Air Force Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Victoria M. Richer has graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force. Richer is a 2015 graduate of Canon-McMillian High School, and her parents are Shannon G. Richer and Christopher W. Richer, both of Canonsburg.
Air Force Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Gabrielle S. Rose has graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate degree in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force. Rose is a 2015 graduate of Waynesburg Central High School, and her parents are Dan R. and Joey R. Rose of Waynesburg.
Air Force Airman Mia G. Rus has graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force. Rus is a 2015 graduate of Dillard High School, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and her grandmother is Loretta Michaux of Donora.
Army Pvt. Amanda L. Wright has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Wright is a 2012 graduate of Goldsboro High School, Goldsboro, N.C., and her parents are Glenn Wright of Washington and Candace S. Wright of Goldsboro.