WITH THE MILITARY

Air Force Airman 1st Class Calida K. Hernandez, daughter of Jody Hernandez, Brainerd, recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Air Force Airman 1st Class John R. Bakkila, son of Maurice Bakkila, Brainerd, recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Air Force Airman Derek E. Bates, son of Carol Bates, Walker, recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Ryan D. Olson, son of Deb Abrams, Little Falls, and Mark Olson, Cambridge, recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Army National Guard Pfc. Ashley C. Harguth, daughter of Gregory Harguth, Little Falls, recently graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

Army National Guard Pvt. Jamie A. Villnow, son of Randy L. Villnow and Laura J. Villnow, both of Brainerd, recently graduated from the Petroleum Supply Specialist Advanced Individual Training course at Fort Lee, Petersburg, Va.

Villnow earned distinction as an honor graduate.

Coast Guard Seaman Apprentice Jarrod T. Dukowitz, son of Mary P. Nagel, Little Falls, and Thomas C. Dukowitz, Brainerd, recently graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, N.J.

TSGT Michael Burke was recently awarded the Leadership Award upon graduation at the Airborne Ranger Training Facility in Fort Benning, Ga. Burke is now one of only 40 active Air Force personnel in the world to attain the Army Ranger classification. He is also a trained sniper and paratrooper. He now returns to his base in Germany where he is in charge of a mobile security force that has been sent to Africa, Middle East and Eastern Europe to provide security for visiting American personnel.

Seth M. Borg, grandson of Steve Borg, Brainerd, and brother of Corey Borg, Brainerd, recently graduated from basic training in Fort Benning, Ga.