Navy Ensign

Michael Pyne, son of Jeffrey Pyne of Rimersburg, recently received his commission as a naval officer after completing Officer Candidate School at Officer Training Command, Pensacola, Fla.Pyne, a 2001 graduate of Fletcher High School of Atlantic Beach, Fla., joined the Navy in November 2003. In 2004, he received a bachelor's degree from the University of North Florida, Jacksonville.---Army 1st Lt.

Timothy O'Neal is deploying to Afghanistan to serve as a member of Combined Joint Task Force-76. He is regularly assigned to the Southern European Task Force (Airborne) at Caserma Ederle, Vicenza, Italy.O'Neal is a rifle platoon leader with six years of military service.He is the son Lynne O'Neal of Mars and Richard O'Neal of Jeannette. He is a 1998 graduate of Jeannette High School and received a bachelor's degree in 2003 from Indiana (Pa.) University.---Karns City native, Lance Cpl.

Nathaniel Slaugenhoup, 19, currently is a squad automatic weapon machine gunner with Regimental Combat Team-2 Security Force.He is a member of the security team, the regimental reserve force for Regimental Combat Team 2, Camp Ripper, Al Asad, Iraq.He is a 2003 alumnus of Karns City High School.---

Jessica McCormick has been promoted to the rank of staff sergeant in the Air Force.McCormick, an aircrew life support journeyman, is assigned to Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. She has four years of military service.Her husband, Staff Sgt. James McCormick, is the son of Donna McCormick of Evans City. She is the daughter of Jamie Phillips of Randleman, N.C.The sergeant graduated in 2000 from Rockingham County High School, Reidsville, N.C.---Army Spec.

Grant Miller, a 1999 graduate of Butler High School, is a member of the 48th Brigade Combat Team and recently participated in one of the most realistic scenarios offered by the Army at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif.He is a member of the Georgia National Guard and is assigned to Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, Valdosta, Ga.The infantryman is the son of Alice L'Schmid-Miller of Connoquenessing.---Air National Guard Airman 1st Class

Eric Wearing has graduated from basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.Wearing is the son of Mike and Earla Wearing of Evans City.He is a 1998 graduate of from Seneca Valley High School and received an associate's degree in 2002 from Butler County Community College.