* Navy Seaman Apprentice Timothy M. Branch,son of Robin J. and Keith B. Branch of Maryville, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. Branch is a 2008 graduate of Collinsille High School.

* Marine Corps Pfc. Larry D. Mitchell, Jr., son of Katina E. Scott of Belleville and Larry Mitchell of Liberal, Kansas, assigned to the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, recently arrived in Norfolk, Va. following a seven month deployment in the Medeiterranean and Arabian Seas. Mitchell and past and current crewmembers recently attended the inactivation ceremony of aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, the last official public event for the ship and the more than 100,000 Sailors who served aboard. Mitchell is a 2011 graduate of Belleville West High School and joined the Marine Corps in 2011.

*Navy Seaman Apprentice Airiauana Z. Denzmore, daughter of Everette G. Denzmore of East St. Louis, was promoted to her current rank upon graduation from training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. Denzmore is a 2009 graduate of East St. Louis Senior High School.

*Navy Seaman Michael J. Huffman, son of Lori and Thomas Davidson of Belleville, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11, has completed a seven month deployment to Afghanistan. Huffman was recently part of the Battalion 11 disaster response support in the New Jersey and New York areas affected by Hurricane Sandy.