Hometown Military News for Oct. 26, 2012:

Army National Guard Pvt. Michael L. Brooks

Army National Guard Pvt. Michael L. Brooks has graduated from One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort Leonard Wood, Waynesville, Mo., which included basic military training and advanced individual training (AIT).

During basic military training, the trainee received instruction in drill and ceremony, weapons qualification, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army doctrine, history, principles and traditions.

During AIT, the soldier completed the military police specialist course to acquire skills to provide combat area support, conduct battlefield circulation control, area security, prisoner of war operations, civilian internee operations, and law and order operations. The trainee performed as a team member in support of battlefield operations, installation law and order operations and security of Army resources and installations.
Additional training included providing peacetime support to the military community through security of resources, crime prevention programs, and preservation of law and order.

Brooks is the son of Latney Brooks III of West Washington Street, Bloomington, and Cindy Zimmerman of West South Street, Bellflower.

He is a 2011 graduate of Blue Ridge High School, Farmer City.

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Patrick M. Gegg

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Patrick M. Gegg graduated from the Naval War College, College of Naval Warfare in Newport, R.I. Qualified students earned a master of arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. The college is the oldest war college in the nation and oldest institution of its kind in the world devoted to advanced military studies.

The College of Naval War College is a multidisciplinary program designed for U.S. Navy and Coast Guard officers in the grades of captain or commander; U.S. Marine Corps, Army and Air Force officers in the grade of colonel or lieutenant colonel; and civilians of equivalent seniority from various federal agencies. This senior level of professional military education provides students with executive-level preparation for higher responsibilities as senior captains/colonels and flag/general officers.

The college instruction enhances the professional capabilities of its students to make sound decisions in command and managerial positions, and to conduct research leading to the development of advanced strategic and tactical concepts for the future of employment of naval forces.

Gegg is the son of Barbara Roy of Bradford Circle, St. Joseph, and Paul Gegg of Camelback Road, Heyworth.

His wife, Elizabeth, is the daughter of Kathleen Scherer of Lakeside Drive, Champaign.

He is a 1994 graduate of St. Joseph-Ogden High School. He received a bachelor's degree in 2001 from the United states Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.

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