Joseph C Flores, a 2011 graduate of Cedar Springs High School, has recently been promoted to Petty Officer First Class (E6), with the United States Navy.  

Joe enlisted soon after high school, and after boot camp, spent 5 years in Mayport, FL on the destroyer USS Roosevelt, DDG-80. Joe is trained in Damage Control and Special Warfare. He has served two deployments to the Mediterranean, Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, with port stops in Greece, Spain, Dubai and Italy, and was gone for nine months and then six months. He is currently serving as a Recruiter/Talent Aquisition Specialist in Sparks, Nevada. 

Joe’s proud parents are Kim Flores of Cedar Springs and Joseph Flores of Caro, MI.  

Randolph Steadman, the son of Tammy Steadman, of Cedar Springs, was recently promoted to the rank of SFC.

SFC Steadman has been in the Army for over 13 years, and is stationed at Ft. Leonardwood, Missouri. He has done tours in Iraq and in the Sani Peninsula. He has been a Criminal Investigator and is now a Drill Instructor.

SFC Steadman is a graduate of Northview High School.

U.S. Air Force Airman Logan J. Ogden graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

He is a 2015 graduate of Creative Technologies Academy in Cedar Springs, Mich.

Cameron Umphrey, US Marine Corp

Cameron Umphrey, the son of Mistie Bowser and the late Brett Bowser, and Michael and Kim Umphrey, all of Cedar Springs, Michigan, graduated from the United States Marine Corp, Hotel Co. 2nd Batallion, Platoon 2022 on March 2, 2018, at Parris Island, South Carolina.

Cameron deployed to boot camp on December 4, 2017 and began the rigorous mental and physical challenges of boot camp. He not only succeeded and completed boot camp but he also earned the Ironman Award, which lists him as the most physically fit Marine for his whole company, which was over 550 Marines with a score of 598 out of 600! This achievement along with others put him as an honor graduate and he was recognized at graduation by receiving the top award. Cameron also earned the rank of Private First Class and will continue to succeed and climb the ranks as he attends two more schools and then is assigned to a base. 

Cameron is a 2016 Cedar Springs High School graduate where he excelled in football, hockey, cross country and track.

He attended GRCC before enlisting in the Marines. 

“We are so proud of Cameron. He makes his family so proud and we love him so much!” said his mom, Mistie.

Brandon F. Sischo has been promoted to Master at Arms Chief Petty Officer, surface warfare, aviation warfare.

Brandon is a 2003 graduate of Cedar Springs High School.  He joined the Navy in Sept. 2004. After recruit training he attended Master at Arms School in San Antonio, Texas. He was then assigned to NAS JRB Willow Grove, Penn.

In 2008, he served on the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN71) where he deployed to the Arabian Gulf. During this tour he attended Naval Corrections Officer and Anti-terrorism training.

In 2012, he transferred to Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Command at NSA Hampton Roads, Virginia, where he was leading Petty Officer of Anti-Terrorism and Physical Security Depts.

Currently Brandon is serving on the USS Bainbridge (DDG96), where he just attended his pinning ceremony for Master at Arms, Chief Petty Officer.

He resides in Virginia Beach with his family. Brandon is the son of Glenn and Tammy Sischo, of Gowen.

U.S. Air Force Airman Courtney G. Butler graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Butler is the daughter of Kelly A. and Todd D. Butler, and sister of Jonathan S. Butler and Kyle D. Butler, all of Cedar Springs, Mich.

She is a 2015 graduate of Rockford High School, Rockford, Mich.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Corey

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class David Wyscaver, Navy Office of Community Outreach  

LEMOORE, Calif. – A Greenville High School graduate and Greenville, Mich. native is serving in the U.S. Navy with Commander Strike Fighter Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CSFWP). Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Corey works as an intelligence specialist and operates out of Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, California. Corey is responsible for updating and maintaining personnel security clearances as well as making sure that the command is adhering to physical security requirements.

“As an intelligence specialist I enjoy the knowledge that comes with my job,” Corey said. “There are so many different types of intelligence that I’m always learning new things and expanding on the knowledge I’ve already learned,” Corey said.

“Lemoore has been home to the Navy’s west coast strike fighter community since 1980, when strike fighter squadron VFA-125 was the first squadron established to train Navy and Marine Corps aviators in the F/A-18 Hornet,” said Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker, Commander, Naval Air Forces. The strike fighter wing, headquartered at NAS Lemoore, ensures that each squadron is fully combat-ready to conduct carrier-based, all-weather, attack, fighter and support missions for the Pacific Fleet.

“I like the opportunities that the command provides for professional growth,” Corey said. “The command has been very helpful with assisting in my desire to apply for an officer program.”

With the CSFWP consisting of more than 20 squadrons, highly specialized jobs range from training new aviators to maintaining airframes and engines, to handling and flying aircraft.  “Hard work is important,” Corey said. “I’ve done work that I’ve loved and I’ve done jobs that I didn’t enjoy so much. I’ve learned to push through those mental barriers to ensure mission accomplishment. I feel like there isn’t anything that I could face in the civilian world that the Navy hasn’t prepared me for.”

Damage Controlman 3rd Class Joseph Flores, from Cedar Springs

ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 18, 2016) – Damage Controlman 3rd Class Joseph Flores, from Cedar Springs, Mich., conducts operational testing of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) stations aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80). Roosevelt is underway conducting Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) with the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group in preparation for a future deployment.(U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Taylor A. Elberg/Released.)

Kyle J. Cory has been commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army after successfully completing the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program and graduating with a bachelor’s degree from Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Mich.

The new officer will be branched to a specific corps in the Army to serve on active duty or in the Army National Guard or Army Reserve. The lieutenant will attend an officer basic course relating to his or her particular military occupational specialty/job. Afterward, the officer will complete advanced training by attending basic officer leadership courses for career progression purposes.

The ROTC curriculum prepares students with the tools, training and experiences to help cadets succeed as effective leaders in any competitive environment. Army officers serve as leaders, counselors, strategists and motivators, who lead other soldiers in all situations occurring in ever-changing environments. As trained problem-solvers, key influencers and planners, they are driven to achieve success with their team on every mission.

Cory is the son of Sally J. Cory of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Daniel J. Cory of Cedar Springs, Mich., and brother of Kallista and Rachael Cory of Grand Rapids, Mich.

He is a 2011 graduate of Forest Hills Eastern High School, Ada, Mich.

U.S. Army Reserve Pvt. Elizabeth L. DeBoe has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Jackson, 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.

Deboe is the daughter of Gary and Vivian L. DeBoe of Cedar Springs, Mich. She is the sister of Norman G. Colborn and Henry DeBoe of Cedar Springs, Mich., and Felicia Holmes of Trufant, Mich.

The private graduated in 2015 from Cedar Springs High School, Cedar Springs, Mich.

This is an updated version of Pvt. DeBoe’s story.

U.S. Army Pvt. Tyler J. Conaty has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Jackson, 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 a 2012 graduate of Cedar Springs High School, Cedar Springs, Mich.

The Post recently traveled to Connecticut and Rhode Island with Rob and Julie Brooks, and their granddaughter Myla Johnson. The ship in the background is the retired submarine USS Nautilus at the Submarine Force Museum in Groton, Connecticut.The trip was to visit their son, local hometown hero, Aaron Brooks. Aaron, a 2012 graduate of Cedar Springs, has been stationed in Connecticut for a little over two years, and is ranked as machinist mate second class. He is currently serving on the USS Toledo SSN 769. They are set to deploy this fall.