COMMAND CHANGE
COMMAND CHANGE
New 99th commander
CORAOPOLIS, Pa. -- Maj. Gen. James L. Snyder is the new commander of the 99th Regional Readiness Command at the Army Reserve Center. Snyder, former commander of the 411th Engineer Brigade in New Windsor, N.Y., replaced Maj. Gen. William H. Johnson, who was reassigned as chief of staff, U.S. Transportation Commander at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Johnson became commander of the 99th on Aug. 13, 2005.
The 99th, under the federal 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission, will be relocated to Fort Dix, N.J., where it will be a headquarters unit responsible for support of Army Reserve elements throughout the Northeast.
ADVANCED TRAINING
Going to Japan
Naval Lt. Ian Midgley, originally of Christchurch, England, has completed the Naval Officer Indoctrination School at Newport, R.I., and leaves this week for Yokosuka, Japan, where he will be a legal assistant and trial defense attorney at the Naval Legal Services Office.
Joining Midgley will be his wife, the former Petunia Cernica, whom he met while working at a summer camp run by the Youngstown YMCA.
Mrs. Midgley, a daughter of John and Patricia Cernica of Boardman, graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School in 1982 and received a bachelor's degree in education in 1987 and a master's degree in education in 1993, both from Youngstown State University. She received a doctorate in special education from Kent State University in 1998.
Lt. Midgley graduated in 1965 from YSU and in 1998 from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Before joining the Navy, he served four years as a captain in the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps in Bavaria, Germany, and Florida. He also clerked for Judge Gene Donofrio of the 7th District Court of Appeals.
Struthers Marine
Struthers Marine Corps Pfc. Morgan E. Porada, daughter of Holly and Brian Porada of Struthers, has completed the Basic Enlisted Supply Course at the Combat Service Support Schools Training Command, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Porada is a 2005 graduate of Struthers High School.
BADEPLOYED
From Afghanistan to Italy
Army Sgt. Daniel A. Beckett has returned to the Southern European Task Force (Airborne) at Caserma Ederle, Vicenza, Italy, after being deployed to Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, he was a member of Combined Joint Task Force-76, an interagency and multinational organization.
Beckett, the son of Gary T. Beckett, and Anna M. Beckett, both of Youngstown, is an ammunitions team chief. The newly promoted sergeant is a 1999 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Youngstown.
Back from Middle East
Navy E-3 Craig R. Baker, a 1996 graduate of Jackson-Milton High School, has returned from deployment to the Middle East, where he served aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt as part of Operation Steel Curtain. Baker, a son of Guy and Judy Baker of Lake Milton, received the Enlisted Service Warfare Award, Aviation Warfare Specialist Award and a Letter of Commendation from the Theodore Roosevelt Strike Force commanding officer while on the mission.
SIC GRADS
Air Force: Reserve Airman Noel N. Morris (Howland High School, '05), son of Regina Day of Warren; Airman 1st Class Renee E. Fox (Lakeview High School, Cortland, '05), daughter of Robert and Patricia Fox of Cortland; Airman Kenneth J. Hillyer (Reynolds Junior-Senior High School, Greenville, Pa., '05), son of James Hillyer of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Jeanne Emrick of Greenville; Airman Camille R. Howard (Sharon High School, '05), daughter of Carri Andrien of Sharon, Pa.
Army: Reserve Pvt. Jaimie L. Dine (East Liverpool High School, '05), daughter of Jodi Dine of East Liverpool.
Navy: Seaman Recruit James L. Stauffer (Champion High School, '97) son of Linda M. Stauffer of Warren and Kendell L. Stauffer of Girard; Seaman Apprentice Vincent S. Flegenheimer (Jefferson Area High School, Jefferson, '04); Seaman Recruit Johnny M. Brown (Maplewood High School, Cortland, '05), son of Leona R. and Johnny M. Brown of Cortland.
XItems of note for the Military Roundup can be sent to The Vindicator, Regional Desk, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501-0780, or e-mailed to alcorn@vindy.com.