Reep

Chief Warrant Officer

Jeff Reep, one of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard's most experienced aviators, recently retired after 29 years of military service.Reep, a pilot with more than 5,000 flight hours in the CH-47 Chinook, UH-1H Huey and AH-1H Cobra, also is an Afghanistan combat veteran with 451 combat flight hours.The Clarion resident, a Slippery Rock native, graduated from Slippery Rock High School in 1979 and Slippery Rock University in 1992. He joined the Pennsylvania National Guard in 1983 after serving a four-year tour in the Navy.Currently Reep flies for STAT MedEvac at Clarion General Hospital.His mother, Marcia Reep, lives in Slippery Rock.———Cpl.

Robert Gillespie, son of Bill and Susanne Gillespie of Saxonburg, recently was deployed as a musician to Camp Foster in Okinawa, Japan, to become the principal oboe player in the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band.He formerly was the oboist in the Parris Island (S.C.) Marine Corps Band.Gillespie graduated from Knoch High School in 2006 and the Armed Forces School of Music in Norfolk, Va., in 2007.———Navy Ensign

Maureen Kane, daughter of Elizabeth and George Kane of Gibsonia, recently graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., and was commissioned as an officer in the Navy.Kane is a 2004 graduate of Pine-Richland High School.———

Melissa Klein graduated May 30 from basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas; and is continuing instruction in security forces.She is the daughter of Jane Faller Klein Costanzo of Kittanning and the late George William Klein.Klein graduated from Slippery Rock High School in 2007.———Navy Reserve Seaman Apprentice

Christopher Andrews, son of Barbara and Leroy Andrews of Butler, recently completed basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.Andrews is a 1989 graduate of Knoch High School.

On June 1, Master Sgt. <B>Robert Belcher</B>, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, retired from the Army after 25 years.He entered the Army on May 17, 1983, in Merced, Calif., and served in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Japan, Panama and throughout the Continental United States.During his career, his assignments included the 6th U.S. Army, Presidio of San Francisco; 6219th Reception Battalion, Sunnyvale, Calif.; 91st Training Division Detachment 1, Dublin, Calif.; 304th Materiel Management Corps, Los Angeles, Calif.; 801st Engineer Port Construction Co., Oakland, Calif.; 335th Replacement Battalion, Butler; USAR Readiness Command, Fort. Jackson, S.C.; 3rd U.S. Army, "Patton's Own," Fort McPherson, Ga.; 99th Regional Readiness Command, Coraopolis; and the 444th Personnel Services Battalion, Pittsburgh.He worked as a training and operations non-commissioned officer and as a human resource manager as subject matter expert providing analysis and guidance to units and soldiers by mentoring and preparing mobilization readiness in unit and personal training for tens of thousands of soldiers.His decorations and awards are three Meritorious Service Medals; five Army Commendation Medals; four Army Achievement Medals; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; six Army Good Conduct Medals; two National Defense Service Medals; three Non-Commissioned Officer Medals; two Armed Forces Reserve Medals; two Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Medals; and Army Service Medal Driver & Mechanic Badge with driver wheeled vehicle clasp.He attended many residential schools and courses and completed the Company Training, Human Resource, Unit Administration, Administration Finance, Senior Personnel, Master Fitness, Advance Non-Commissioned Officer, Equal Opportunity and the Safety Officer courses.He lives in Butler with his wife, Susan, and two daughters, Kelsey and Skyler.

Belcher