Promotions and Retirements--

Bath Maine- Petty Officer 1st Class Angel Jimenez, a 1994 George Walton Academy graduate and Conyers, Ga. native is serving aboard one of the U.S. Navy's newest and most advanced ships, the destroyer Zumwalt (DDG 1000), which is currently under construction at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine.

YOKOSUKA, Japan -A 2001 Newton High School graduate and Covington, Ga. Native, Hospitalman Derek Brown is a corpsman and is serving aboard USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), living and working at a Navy base in Japan.

SAN DIEGO- Petty Officer 3rd Class Valencia Benton, a boatswain's mate and 2009 Newton High School graduate from Covington, Ga., is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard one of the world's largest warships, the San Diego-based aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).

Air Force Reserve Senior Master Sgt. David F. Strickland has retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve after serving honorably for 26 years. Strickland was last serving as a First Sergeant with 94th Airlift Wing, Dobbins Air Base, Ga.

Graduates--

Army Pvt. Delante N. Williams has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Benning, Ga
Williams is the son of Willie and Shonda Williams of Conyers, Ga.; and the grandson of Alberta Ferguson of Walterboro, S.C.

Army Pvt. Joseph D. Wright has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
Wright is the son of Dresden and step-son of Clarence Hayes of Conyers, Ga.

Army Pfc. Leondra Alexander has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
Alexander is the daughter of Sarah Alexander of Conyers, Ga.

Army Pvt. Sydney Livingston has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
Livingston is the daughter of Jim Livingston of Stockbridge, Ga. and granddaughter of James Livingston of Covington, Ga.

Army Pvt. Mukal Smith has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
Smith is the son of Angela and Michael Smith of Covington, Ga.

Army Spc. Dixie Robinson has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
Robinson is the daughter of Dale Robinson of Columbus, Ga. and Donna Robinson of Conyers, Ga.

Army Pvt. DeAsia Rudder has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
Rudder is the daughter of Danielle Rudder of Columbia, S.C. and niece of Amelita Sims of Covington, Ga.

Air Force Airman Donovan D. Howard graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
Howard is the son of Jeanine M. Sanders of Conyers, Ga.

Air Force Airman 1st Class Akil J. Maynard graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
Maynard is the son of Monica Callender of Conyers, Ga. and nephew of Sharron Callender of Brooklyn, N.Y., Wendy Kellman of Savannah, Ga. and Brenda Calleneder of Las Vegas, Nev.

Air Force Airman Jaron J. Johnson graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
Johnson is the son of Herman and Tammy Johnson of Conyers, Ga.

Air Force Airman Ramonte T. Grier graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
Grier is the son of Tona Huff S. Huff of Conyers, Ga. and grandson of Ruby L. Huff of Covington, Ga., and nephew of Hazel Kryzanowski of Conyers, Ga.

Air Force Airman Charles D. Tait graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
Tait is the son of Kelly S. Defoor of Conyers, Ga. and Charles D. Tait of Covington, Ga.

Air Force Airman Joshua A. Felice graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas with distinction as an honor graduate.
He is the son of John and Donna Felice of Pelham, N.H., and grandson of Terri Rivard of Conyers, Ga.

Army Pfc. Skylar K. Holcombe has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga.
Holcombe is the son of Jerald and Joann Holcombe of Covington, Ga. and brother of Biff Holcombe of Canton, Ga.

Air Force Airman Isaac D. Alexander graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
Alexander is the son of Patrice M. Veal of Conyers, Ga. and grandson of Michelle Veal of Covington, Ga.

Air Force Reserve Airman 1st Class Leandre R. Webb graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

Air Force Airman Bryan C. Johnson graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
Johnson is the son of Clarise L. and Samuel L. Johnson, and the son of Thelma Johnson and grandson of Clarence Johnson, all of Covington, Ga.

Navy Seaman Alexander Booker recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.
Booker is the son of Vincent M. Booker of Atlanta, Ga. and Cynthia G. Gordon of Sugar Hill, Ga.,

Navy Seaman Christi C. Hatch recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.
Hatch is the daughter of Timothy R. and Grace R. Hatch of Conyers, Ga.