Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Michael A. Garner and Air Force Reserve Airman Trevor B. Messenger have graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.

During the six weeks of training, they studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military customs; performed drill and ceremony marches, and received training in physical fitness and rifle marksmanship.

Garner is a 1999 graduate of Free State High School and received an associate’s degree in 2005 from Heritage College in Kansas City, Kan. Messenger, a 2002 graduate of Free State, is the son of Jill and Mike Bogard, Lawrence.

¢Army Reserve Spec. Clay M. Westerlund has returned to the United States after being deployed to an overseas location in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Westerlund is a nuclear, biological and chemical defense specialist assigned to the 414th Military Police Company in Joplin, Mo. Westerlund, a 2000 graduate of Free State High School, has served in the military for six years. He is the son of Sky Westerlund, Lawrence.

¢Michelle L. Brunt has graduated from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga. She was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

During the 14 weeks of training, Brunt received instruction in leadership, soldier team development, combined arms tactics, weapons defense, combat water survival, squad drill, intelligence, field training exercises, and navigation, maintenance, communications, staff and general military subjects, and physical training.

She is the daughter of Carol K. and Donald W. Long, Lawrence. Brunt graduated in 1999 from Lawrence High School, and received a bachelor’s degree in 2003 from Emporia State University.