Commack graduate finishes basic training

Defense Department announcement

Army National Guard Spec. Gino F. Pena has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C., the Defense Department announced yesterday.

He is the son of Roseann Pena of Vermont St., Melville, and nephew of Dianne Rapczyk of Firtree Lane, Huntington Station. Pena graduated in 1993 from Commack High School, and received a master's degree in 1999 from Arizona State University, Tempe.

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.

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