Staff Sgt.

Michael Hartzell, the Army recruiter at Clearview Mall, recently competed at Fort Knox, Ky., with four other soldiers for the honor of Top Recruiter of the United States.He already has earned the Top Recruiter of the Year award for his battalion, the Top Recruiter of the Year award for his brigade and the Top Recruiter of the Eastern Division of the United States.The results of the competition will be announced in February.Hartzell attended Cranberry High School in Venango County and studied at the University of Pittsburgh for two years. He currently is enrolled in the marketing program with Columbia Southern University.He joined the Army in 1999, served in the Iraqi Freedom War in 2003 and has earned three Army Commendation medals, three Army Achievement medals and an Iraqi Freedom Medal.The staff sergeant is the son and stepson of Mary and John Kush of Oil City and the son of John Hartzell of Daytona, Fla.He and his wife, Amy, are the parents of a son, and make their home in Butler.On Nov. 18, Pvt. 2nd Class

Trevor Swidzinski graduated from basic training and infantry training with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 329th Infantry, Fort Benning, Ga.Swidzinski will report to the Pennsylvania National Guard in Connoquenessing Township to join his unit, Alpha Co., 112th, on Dec. 4.He is the son of Carl Swidzinski Jr. and the grandson of Carl and Nancy Swidzinski, all of Butler.Navy Chief Petty Officer

Gary Noblit, son of Joanne and Loyal Noblit of West Sunbury, and his shipmates recently concluded Annual Exercise 2005 while assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan.ANNUALEX 2005 is a joint exercise between the U.S. Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.Noblit is a 1981 graduate of Moniteau High School.Navy Fireman Apprentice

Matthew Dunlap, son of Mark Dunlap of Portersville and Virginia Dunlap of Virginia Beach, Va., and his shipmates concluded Annual Exercise 2005, while assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan.ANNUALEX 2005 is a joint exercise between the U.S. Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).Dunlap joined the Navy in September 2003.Navy Airman Recruit

Nathan Piernik, son of Deb and John Piernik of Glenshaw, recently completed basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.Piernik is a 2005 graduate of Shaler High School.Marine Corps Pvt.

Nick Bazzone, son of Vickie and John E. Bazzone of Cranberry Township, recently completed basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C.