ARMED FORCES

ARMED FORCES

VETERANS

Mailing packages

CLEVELAND

The U.S. Postal Service’s recommended mailing date for the most economical postage to overseas military destinations, including Iraq and Afghanistan, is Nov. 12.

To help get packages on their way, the U.S. Postal Service offers a discount rate of $12.50 on its largest Priority Mail Flat Rate Box sent to overseas (APO/FPO) military addresses. Additional discounts are available for customers printing their Priority Mail postage labels online at Click-N-Ship https://sss-web.usps.com/cns/landing.do. The Postal Service also offers free military care kits for military families sending packages overseas that can be ordered by calling 800-610-8734 and asking for the kit.

To ensure delivery of holiday cards and packages by Dec. 25 to military APO/FPO addresses overseas, check with the Postal Service for recommended mailing dates.

PROMOTIONS

National Guard colonel

Army National Guard Col. Jeffrey F. Wilson was promoted to his current rank while serving as the senior guard adviser assigned to the Army Sustainment Command based at the Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., where he works in the plans-and-training area.

Wilson has served in the military for 28 years and is the recipient of the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service while deployed to Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan from June 2009 to March 2010 in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

During his deployment, Wilson was senior Army National Guard adviser for logistics in Southwest Asia in support of 209 National Guard units and more than 42,000 Guard soldiers in the areas of maintenance, transportation and supply. He provided a cost avoidance to the government of more than $30 million by recovering equipment that had been classified as condemned and returning it to service.

Wilson attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., where he earned a master’s degree in national resource strategy.

Wilson, the son of Franklin C. and Betty L. Wilson of Irondale, Ohio, graduated in 1980 from Southern Local High School in Salineville. In 1994, he received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, and also earned a master’s degree in education from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Va. He and his wife, Tina, have two daughters, Rachel and Abigail.

Lieutenant commander

Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Aaron J. Ortenzio was promoted to his current rank this month while stationed at Coast Guard Air Station in Miami, Fla.

Ortenzio, a HC 144 Ocean Sentry pilot, graduated in 1996 from Cardinal Mooney High School. He graduated in 2000 from the Coast Guard Academy and then earned a master’s degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

Ortenzio is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Ortenzio Jr. of New Middletown. He and his wife, Tamu, live in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

ADVANCED TRAINING

Fire-support specialist

Army Pvt. Quinton A. Moore graduated from the Fire Support Specialist Advanced Individual Training course at Fort Sill, Okla.

Field artillery specialists serve in intelligence activities including target processing in field artillery, cannon battalions, division artillery, artillery and maneuver brigade and headquarters and fire-support elements.

Moore is the son of Dee-Anna M. Moore of Boardman and brother of Alyssa M. Orlando of New Castle, Pa. He is a 2009 graduate of Wilmington High School in New Castle.

BASIC TRAINING GRADS

Air Force: Reserve Airman 1st Class Andrew S. Mitchell (Boardman High School, ’07), son of David Mitchell of Boardman; Airman Ethan Milford (Commodore Perry High School, Hadley, Pa., ’10), son of Paula Vogt of Hadley, Pa., and grandson of Ray Shearer of Clarks Mills, Pa.

Coast Guard: Seaman Apprentice Jay R. Kuester (Mineral Ridge High School, ’08), son of Paulette M. Kuester of Niles.

Navy: Seaman Recruit Donald R. Palotsee, son of Cheryl A. Elser of Warren.

Items of note for the Armed Forces Digest can be sent to The Vindicator, Regional Desk, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501-0780, or e-mailed to alcorn@vindy.com