Spc. Scott Stockreef, 24, the son of Bart and Mary Stockreef of Cedar Springs, and brother of Austin and Will, has returned home for a few weeks from a recent nine-month deployment in Afghanistan (Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and Resolute Support).  

He is a 2012 Cedar Springs graduate.  

Scott enlisted in the Army on October 2015. He started his active duty Army career at Fort Sill, Oklahoma where he attended Basic Combat Training (BCT). After graduating BC, he attended Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Huachuca in Arizona for his Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) training to become a qualified 15W Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) operator. After graduating AIT, SPC Stockreef attended Basic Airborne Course (BAC) at Fort Benning, Georgia and became airborne qualified.

Upon graduating BAC he PCSd to his first duty station at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Alaska.  While at JBER he has been a part of one Brigade level FTX and two CTC rotations with his platoon to the National Training Center (NTC) (rotation 17-03) and the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) (rotation 17-07.5).

Spc Stockreef has filled the role of Mission Coordinator (MC) as a qualified UAS operator.

His assignments include: 6th BEB, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division (ID), Ft. Richardson, AK.

Education includes: UAS Operator School (AIT) and BAC.

Awards and decorations: Parachutist’s badge and the Aviation badge.

He has enlisted for 6 years in the service with 2 years in the reserves and will have completed his 3rd year in October of this year.

After his leave, he will return to his station base in Alaska and continue his education and rank advancement to Sergeant status upon completion of four weeks of sergeant school later this summer/early fall.  He then will proceed to Instructor Operator School.

We welcome our local, resident soldier home, congratulate him on his success, thank him for his service to our great country and wish him well on his future military career! God bless you soldier and the many others serving and we pray for your safety.

Roger Willis Towns, 71, of Grand Rapids, died March 1, 2016. Roger was born June 13, 1944 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was an Army Vietnam Veteran. He enjoyed motorcycle riding and car races. Surviving are his sons, Brian Towns and Matthew Huizenga; siblings, Janet (Craig) Blossom, Mary (Don) Charron, Paul (Sarah) Towns, Patsy (Ed) Pierson and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willis and Inez Towns; sister, Judy Robinson and brother, Tommy Towns. Cremation has taken place. Interment Sand Lake Cemetery at a later date.

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs.

Roger Willis Towns, 71 of Grand Rapids died March 1, 2016. Roger was born June 13, 1944 in Grand Rapids. He was an Army Vietnam Veteran. He enjoyed motorcycle riding and car races. Surviving are his sons, Brian Towns and Matthew Huizenga; siblings, Janet (Craig) Blossom, Mary (Don) Charron, Paul (Sarah) Towns, Patsy (Ed) Pierson and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willis and Inez Towns; sister, Judy Robinson and brother, Tommy Towns. Cremation has taken place. Interment Sand Lake Cemetery at a later date.

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs.

Army Pvt. Alisha M. Irwin

Army Pvt. Alisha M. Irwin has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, 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.

Irwin is the daughter of Lisa and Kevin Irwin of Cedar Springs, Mich.

She is a 2013 graduate of Cedar Springs High School.

Sgt. Bryan Teneyck, a military police officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Garrison Benelux-Brussels, and representing the U.S. Army Installation Management Command, works to remove a spare tire from a Humvee during the Recovery Operations task of the 2013 edition of Best Warrior Nov. 20. He was one of 23 contestants in competition at Fort Lee, Va. Photo by Terrance Bell

By Judy Reed

Sgt. Bryan Teneyck

Sgt. Bryan Teneyck, a 2005 Sparta graduate, recently had the honor of being one of 24 warriors to compete in the Army’s Best Warrior competition in Fort Lee, Virginia. The competition took place November 19-22.

Teneyck, the son of Renee’ Teneyck, of Sparta, and John and Ginger Teneyck, of Grand Rapids, competed against 11 other officers—corporal through sergeant first class—for Non-commissioned officer of the year. The other 12 competitors, with ranks of private through specialist, competed for Soldier of the Year.

Warriors selected for the competition had to master a series of benchmarks to qualify, starting at their own unit level and working their way up. Sgt. Teneyck has been in the Army for five years, and is a military police officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Garrison Benelux-Brussels. He represented the U.S. Army Installation Management Command in the competition.

Teneyck said this competition appealed to him because of the challenge to be the best. “My motivation for competing is to test myself against my peers and seniors and to be the best I can be,” he explained.

Sgt. Bryan Teneyck wipes his eyes and expresses his frustration during the Recovery Operations task Nov. 20, 2013, which included changing a Humvee tire. He was one of 23 contestants in the 2013 edition of the Army Best Warrior Competition at Fort Lee, Va. Photo by Terrance Bell

According to ARNEWS, The first day of competition involved some intense simulated scenarios, including a pre-dawn physical fitness test; responding to an attack involving chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear material; moving a soldier who lost a limb in a warzone bomb attack; responding to an ambush; and changing a tire on a humvee. The second day tested their leadership and problem-solving skills, and their expertise in handling weapons. The third day involved oral interviews where competitors demonstrated their professionalism and Army knowledge before a board of senior sergeant majors.

Winners were announced Friday, November 22. Sgt. 1st class Jason Manella, of Fremont, California, with the Army Reserve Command, won Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year. Spc. Adam Christensen, of Las Vegas, Nevada, with U.S. Army Pacific Command, was named Soldier of the Year.

According to Sgt. Maj. Of the Army Raymond F. Chandler, each soldier can be proud of rising to this level, even though they didn’t win. “Everyone who made it this far is a winner,” he told ARNEWS. “When you see the caliber of the soldiers and non-commissioned officers that represent those organizations, I think you really have to take a step back and say ‘wow, we have some great leaders.’”

Sgt. Teneyck plans to spend some time at home in Sparta before traveling back to Europe, where he is stationed and lives with his wife, Jennifer.

Congratulations to Mike Reyburn, who was promoted from Major to Lt. Colonel on March 2.

Mike is a graduate of DeWitt High School, and a 1995 West Point graduate. He has spent 17 years in the Army and is now stationed in Suffolk, Virginia.

He is the son of former residents Kris and Teri (Covell) Reyburn, and the grandson of Richard and Joan Covell, of Cedar Springs.

He is pictured here with his family—wife Jennifer, daughter Jacqueline, and son Jake.

Nicholas W. Bolt

Army Pvt. Nicholas W. Bolt has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
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.
He is the son of William and Angela Bolt of Cedar Springs, Mich., and grandson of Frank and Joyce Bolt of Grand Rapids, Mich.
Bolt graduated in 2009 from Kent City High School.

Army Pvt. Taylor A. Jonas has graduated from the Infantryman One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. The training consists of Basic Infantry Training and Advanced Individual Training.
During the nine weeks of basic combat training, the soldier received training in drill and ceremonies, weapons employment, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid skills, and Army history, core values and traditions. Additional training included development of basic combat skills and battlefield operations and tactics, and experienced use of various weapons and weapons defenses available to the infantry crewman.
The Advanced Individual Training course is designed to train infantry soldiers to perform reconnaissance operations; employ, fire and recover anti-personnel and anti-tank mines; locate and neutralize land mines and operate target and sight equipment; operate and maintain communications equipment and radio networks; construct field firing aids for infantry weapons; and perform infantry combat exercises and dismounted battle drills, which includes survival procedures in a nuclear, biological or chemical contaminated area.
Jonas is the son of William LaRose of Cedar Springs.
The private is a 2009 graduate of Cedar Springs High School.