ARMED FORCES

ARMED FORCES

PROMOTIONS

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown native and 1999 Chaney High School graduate Robert A. Rudolph was promoted to the rank of Marine Corps gunnery sergeant during a ceremony at Expeditionary Base Little Creek, Fort Story, Va.

Rudolph is assigned as an intelligence specialist for the Coordination, Liaison and Assessment Team, Marine Corps Forces Central Command, Marine Corps Training and Advisory Group at Virginia Beach, Va. Before that, he was an intelligence specialist at Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, N.C., and with the 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, Marine Corps Base in Hawaii.

He also has deployed as an intelligence specialist in support of both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Rudolph is the son of Donald and Sarah Rudolph of Youngstown. He and his wife, Amanda, also formerly of Youngstown, have four children.

ADVANCED TRAINING

Marine Corps Pfc. Travis C. Barber, son of Tammy L. Sherbondy and Todd A. Barber, both of Greenville, Pa., has completed the Basic Electrician’s Course at Marine Corps Engineer Center, Engineer Training Battalion, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Barber, a 2010 graduate of Greenville High School, Greenville, Pa., joined the Marine Corps in June 2010.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Joshua W. Sharer, a 2008 graduate of Riverside Beaver County High School, Ellwood City, Pa., has completed the Naval Nuclear Power Training Pipeline course at Nuclear Power Training Unit, Ballston Spa, N.Y., qualifying as a nuclear operator. He joined the Navy in December 2008.

BASIC TRAINING GRADS

Air Force: Reserve Airman Harold Brown Jr., son of Debra and Harold Brown of Youngstown; Airman Christopher A. Swecker (Austintown Fitch High School, ’10), son of Robert and Carol Swecker of Austintown.

Army: Reserve Pvt. Jared J. Harold (Columbiana High School, ’10), son of Renee Harold of Columbiana; Pvt. Aaron J. Tate, Infantryman One Station Unit Training (Youngstown Christian High School, ’06), son of Robert and Mechelle Tate of Struthers.

Navy: Seaman Eric N. Jewell (Riverside High School, Ellwood City, Pa., ’05).

VETERANS

TRIANGLE, VA.

The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation is accepting nominations through Feb. 28 for its annual awards program at which it presents awards to Marines and civilian community members recognizing exemplary work in advancing and preserving Marine Corps history.

The 15 awards will be presented at the Foundation’s annual ceremony April 16 at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va. Categories include historical scholarship, journalism, letters and arts. For a detailed list of the awards and nomination requirements, visit www.marineheritage.org/Awards.asp.

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