Blogs > Soldier stories

Stories and news from the men and women in the Reporter's coverage area who are currently serving in the military and stories from our veterans.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Area woman graduates finishes combat training

Army National Guard Spec. Kathleen M. Wilt has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.
Wilt graduated in 2003 from North Penn High School, Towamencin, and earned a master's degree in 2008 from an online program at the University of Phoenix.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Area man receives pilot's wings

Air Force 2nd Lt. Thomas J. Horan has received silver pilot's wings after graduating from Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT) at Laughlin Air Force Base, Del Rio, Texas.The SUPT is a 52-week training program consisting of a three-week preflight phase I, which includes academics and physiology training for flight preparation. The second phase, primary training, is conducted in the twin-engine, subsonic T-37 Tweet aircraft to learn flight characteristics, emergency procedures, takeoff and landing procedures, aerobatics, and formation flying.After the T-37 training, students select advanced training in the fighter-bomber track, tanker-transport track, turboprop aircraft track or helicopter track. Each track is designed to best train pilots for successful transition to their follow-on aircraft and mission.The fighter-bomber track trains in the T-38 Talon supersonic trainer, the tanker-transport track trains in the T-1A Jayhawk, the military small version of a passenger business jet. The turboprop aircraft track trains in the C-130 Hercules aircraft, and the helicopter track trains in utility helicopters.Horan is a KC 135 pilot assigned to the 47th Flying Training Wing and has served in the military for two years.He is the son of Kevin and Diane Horan of Summit Ave., Fort Washington, Pa.Horan graduated in 2004 from Upper Dublin High School, Fort Washington, and received a bachelor of science degree in 2008 from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.

Wissahickon graduate completes Marine Corps course

Marine Corps Pfc. Samuel B. Peca, son of Katherine LeBlanc of Blue Bell, and Stephen Peca, of Annandale, N. J., recently graduated from the Marine Corps Basic Combat Engineer Course at Marine Corps Engineer School, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, N. C. During the five-week course, Peca received instruction in the fundamentals of engineering support for combat units, including the procedures for building and repairing bridges, roads and field fortifications. Peca also received training on demolition concepts, land mine warfare and camouflage techniques. Peca is a 2010 graduate of Wissahickon High School of Ambler.