Fort Dix 1979 U.S. Army Basic Training Yearbook – Company C, 1st Battalion, 3rd Training Brigade

Front Cover, Fort Dix Basic Training Yearbook 1979 Company C, 1st Battalion, 3rd Training Brigade. | GGA Image ID # 13dcd44748

📖 Review & Summary – Fort Dix Basic Training Yearbook 1979, Company C

⭐ Introduction

The 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Yearbook for Company C documents the graduation of 238 recruits in the 1st Battalion, 3rd Training Brigade, on 8 August 1979. This yearbook reflects the U.S. Army’s continued development during the all-volunteer force era, only six years after the draft ended.

The Company was commanded by 1st Lieutenant Robert Connor, with a cadre of experienced NCOs and sergeants shaping these young men and women into soldiers. The yearbook captures both the human faces of service and the institutional transformation of the Army as it diversified and adapted to new Cold War responsibilities.

🏅 Engaging Content Highlights

Large Graduation Cohort

With 238 recruits, this was one of the largest training companies at Fort Dix, reflecting strong volunteer enlistment despite post-Vietnam skepticism toward military service.

Integration of Women 👩‍✈️

Recruits like Bethany Andrews, Sharon Barnhill, Teresa Carnecchia, Catherine Copple, Lori Costello, Constance Curcio, Beverly Dean, Deborah DuBoise, Maria Echevarria, Beth Herrlinger, Janet Holder, Denise Kirkwood, Joanne Kotomski, Elizabeth Martin, Kathy Mashione, Carilyn McKinney, Cathy Miller, Roxanne Miller, Laurie Miszler, Faye Olson, Sharon Parker, Iris Perez, Theresa Perez, Janet Richardson, Regina Sabol, Yvette Scott, Melanie Scroggin, Kristine Stein, Brenda Turner, Annett Watlington, Doreen Wright — illustrate the Army’s growing embrace of women in Basic Combat Training.

Ethnic & Cultural Diversity 🌍

The roster includes Aguilera, Edward (Hispanic), Nguyen, Phuong (Vietnamese), Mateo, Mayra (Puerto Rican heritage), Johnson, Andre (African American), Sackey, Charles (possibly West African), Wong, John (Asian American), and Guerrero, Luis (Latino).

This reflects the Army as one of the nation’s most diverse institutions by the late 1970s.

Women in NCO Roles

Leadership includes Sgt Inez M. Paroly, part of the training cadre, demonstrating how women were also advancing into drill and NCO positions.

Explore the 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Yearbook for Company C, 1st Battalion, 3rd Training Brigade. Includes rosters, portraits, and leadership profiles of 238 recruits during the early All-Volunteer Force era, reflecting the Army’s growing diversity and gender integration.

Company C 1979 Organization and Schedule

• Organization: 1st Battalion, 3rd Training Brigade
• Commenced Training: Not Reported
• Completed Training: 8 August 1979

Company C 1979 Leadership

• Commanding Officer: LTC Donald L. Peters
• Executive Officer: MAJ John D. Latimer
• Command Sergeant Major: CSM George L. Hood
  
• Company Commander: 1LT Robert Connor
• Training NCO: SFC Thomas K. Kelley
• First Sergeant: SFC Edward Walsh
• Platoon Sergeant: SGT Lawrence M. Mayer
• Platoon Sergeant: SGT Thomas Griffin III
• Platoon Sergeant: SGT Edward L. Ellis
• Platoon Sergeant: SSG Lee LaFountaine
• Platoon Sergeant: SGT Inez M. Paroly
• Platoon Sergeant: SFC Gary A. Ross
• Platoon Sergeant: SFC Bobby L. Saunders
• Platoon Sergeant: SFC Robert E. Studdard, Jr.

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 1 (Reginald Addie-Tommy Bray)

1. Reginald Addie
2. Edward Aguilera
3. Enemencio Alaniz
4. Gary Allen
5. Victor Amaral
6. Bethany Andrews
7. Steve Annett
8. William Archer
9. David Athey
10. Eric W. Baker
11. Sharon Barnhill
12. Oscar Barrio
13. Eric Barr
14. Danie Battista
15. Brian Baugher
16. Howard Biddl
17. Alan Blanchard
18. James S. Black
19. Richard Blystone
20. Daniel Bogdansky
21. William Bonnell
22. Michael Booker
23. Gilbert Bowen
24. William Bowman
25. Tommy Bray

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 2 (Byron Butler-Bobby L. Dorris)

1. Byron Butler
2. Byron Butler
3. Teresa Carnecchîa
4. William Carroll
5. Antone Carreia
6. Brian Ceol
7. Demetrick Cephas
8. Ralph Chapman
9. Charles Cole
10. Chris Comer
11. Jewel Cooper
12. Catherine Copple
13. Lori Costello
14. Carmichael Criop
15. Mark Crist
16. Jose M. Cruz
17. Sandra Cruz
18. Constance Curcio
19. Charles Davis
20. Gene Davis
21. Beverly Dean
22. Ala De La Bruere
23. Leroy De Vore
24. Doreen Donnelly
25. Bobby L. Dorris

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 3 (Earnest Douglas-Luis Guerrero)

1. Earnest Douglas
2. Deborah DuBoise
3. Robert Duran
4. Maria Echevarria
5. Tim Esser
6. Mark Evans
7. Marshall Evers
8. Edward Feichter
9. Steven Fletcher
10. Edward Fox
11. Michael Foy
12. Dwayne Fuller
13. Peter Garland
14. Patrick Gerini
15. Wayne Getz
16. Vaughn Gibson
17. Gregory Giles
18. James Gillespie
19. Omer Glass
20. David Gomez
21. Victor Gomez
22. Ted Gray
23. Robert Griffin Jr.
24. Michael Gross
25. Luis Guerrero

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 4 (David Hackett-Deanie Jones)

1. David Hackett
2. Michael Harbison
3. Gregory Harley
4. David F. Harris
5. Garry Harris
6. Charles Hawkins
7. Joseph G. Hayes
8. Michael Henderson
9. Otto Hendricks
10. Beth Herrlinger
11. Willie Highsmith
12. Bryan Hilliard
13. Scott Hippier
14. Frank Hoggland
15. Janet Holder
16. Daniel Hudy
17. Leonard Hungarter
18. John Hurst
19. Thomas Hustand
20. Leo Jaramillo
21. Jeff Jirtle
22. Andre Johnson
23. Charles Johnson
24. Barry Jones
25. Deanie Jones

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 5 (Ganson Jones-Larry Mayo)

1. Ganson Jones
2. Steve Jones
3. Eric Kellesvig
4. Daryl J. Kelly
5. Marvin Kersten
6. Timothy Kiner
7. Denise E. Kirkwood
8. Joanne Kotomski
9. James Kowalski
10. Robert Kraemer
11. Marvin Lee
12. Scott Levin
13. Steven Litton
14. Jonathan Locke
15. Michael Logan
16. Robert Long
17. John Lough
18. Henry Lusk
19. Robert Malwitz
20. James Manion
21. Elizabeth Martin
22. Kevin Martin
23. Kathy Mashione
24. Mayra Mateo
25. Larry Mayo

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 6 (Marcus McCall-Sharon Parker)

1. Marcus McCall
2. Charles McDougal
3. Carilyn McKinney
4. William McKinnon
5. Andres Medina
6. Clarence Michaud
7. Cathy Miller
8. Roxanne Miller
9. Ivan Minnis
10. Laurie Miszler
11. Timothy Mohr
12. Geoffrey Moore
13. John W. Moon Jr.
14. Vernessa Myers
15. David Nesbitt
16. William Newlin
17. Richard Norman
18. William Norman
19. Jimmie Norris
20. Robert O'Donnell
21. Faye Olson
22. Joseph Osorio
23. Douglas Ottinger
24. Brian Ousley
25. Sharon Parker

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 7 (Iris Perez-Mark Sczublewscz)

1. Iris Perez
2. Theresa Perez
3. Ronnie Perkins
4. Rickey Pottle
5. William Price
6. William Rainer
7. Victor Range
8. Dan Remington
9. Janet Richardon
10. NaVon Rickertsen
11. Donald Roorabaugh
12. James Roberts
13. Barry Rose
14. Michael Roulston
15. Timothy Ruimueld
16. Paul Rutenberg
17. Mark Ryan
18. Regina Sabol
19. Charles Sackey
20. George Sandoval
21. Michael Schott
22. Eric Schuller
23. Yvette Scott
24. Melanie Scroggin
25. Mark Sczublewscz

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 8 (Matthews Sewell, Jr.-Michael Taylor)

1. Matthews Sewell, Jr.
2. Darrell Shamblin
3. Delmer Shamblin, Jr.
4. Dennis Shahan
5. Timothy M. Shanahan
6. Stephen Shears
7. Lynn K. Shedd
8. William Simensky
9. James Simmons
10. Joseph Simmons
11. Hazen Smith
12. Sheila Smith
13. William Smith
14. Louis Sorensen
15. Cornell Spencer
16. Mark Stacy
17. Kristine Stein
18. LaMar Stellfox
19. Mark Stenta
20. Steve Stroven
21. Raymond Suiter
22. John Sutton
23. Alvin Taylor
24. Larry Taylor
25. Michael Taylor

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 9 (Carlos Thomas-Barry Williams)

1. Carlos Thomas
2. Cedrick Thomas
3. Thomas Thompson
4. Gary Tillman
5. Joel Trevino
6. Andrew Truffer
7. Brenda Turner
8. Steve Turner
9. Bernard Valley
10. Troy Varney
11. Juan Videa
12. Philip Voida
13. Kenneth Wade
14. Robbie Wagner
15. Charles Walters
16. James Walton
17. Bryan Warrick
18. Timothy Watkins
19. Annett Watlington
20. Tony Welch
21. Richard Werner
22. Hugh West
23. George Wettig
24. David Wierschke
25. Barry Williams

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 10 (Jeffrey Williams-Fred Zikorus, Jr.)

1. Jeffrey Williams
2. Kevin Williams
3. Wayne Williams
4. Teari L. Wimbush
5. John Wong
6. Wayne Woods
7. Stanley Wood
8. Doreen Wright
9. Michael Wright
10. Sylvester Wright
11. Kevin Zahurones
12. Dale Zierz
13. Fred Zikorus, Jr.

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Leadership, Page 1. Portrait Photos of LTC Donald L. Peters, MAJ John D. Latimer, and CSM George L. Hood. (Bottom): First Row, Sgt Lawrence M. Mayer, Ssg Thomas Griffin III, Sgt Edward L. Ellis, Ssg Lee LaFountaine, Sgt Inez M. Paroly, Second Row, ILt Robert Connor, Sfc Edward Walsh, First Sergeant, Sfc Gary A. Ross, Sfc Bobby L. Saunders, Sfc Robert E. Studdard, Jr., Sfc Thomas K. Kelley, Training NCO. | GGA Image ID # 13dd28c650. Click to View a Larger Image.

🎖️ Noteworthy Leaders

LTC Donald L. Peters – Commanding Officer of the Battalion, part of Fort Dix’s restructuring to support larger training cycles.

MAJ John D. Latimer (Executive Officer) – Coordinated battalion logistics and company administration.

CSM George L. Hood (Command Sergeant Major) – Senior enlisted advisor, enforcing training discipline.

1LT Robert Connor (Company Commander) – Directly led Company C during this intense training cycle.

SFC Thomas K. Kelley (Training NCO) – Oversaw training standards.

SFC Edward Walsh (First Sergeant) – The “backbone” of the company, enforcing discipline and standards.

Sgt Inez M. Paroly (Platoon Sergeant) – Notable female leader among the cadre, unusual for this period, highlighting gender integration at leadership levels.

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 1 (Reginald Addie-Tommy Bray). | GGA Image ID # 13dd991450. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 2 (Byron Butler-Bobby L. Dorris). | GGA Image ID # 13ddc2f555. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 3 (Earnest Douglas-Luis Guerrero). | GGA Image ID # 13de256700. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 4 (David Hackett-Deanie Jones). | GGA Image ID # 13de7453e8. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 5 (Ganson Jones-Larry Mayo). | GGA Image ID # 233fe1f9c6. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 6 (Marcus McCall-Sharon Parker). | GGA Image ID # 13de804c8b. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 7 (Iris Perez-Mark Sczublewscz). | GGA Image ID # 13de8e0853. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 8 (Matthews Sewell, Jr.-Michael Taylor). | GGA Image ID # 13df891bdd. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 9 (Carlos Thomas-Barry Williams). | GGA Image ID # 13dfeac8c8. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 10 (Jeffrey Williams-Fred Zikorus, Jr.). | GGA Image ID # 13e036c593. Click to View a Larger Image.

🌟 Notable Soldiers & Observations

While no nationally famous individuals are immediately identified from this roster, several aspects stand out:

Future Leaders Possible – Soldiers like Charles Hawkins, Andre Johnson, or Robert O’Donnell may have gone on to long careers in the Army. Many in this class would have served during the Cold War buildup of the early 1980s.

Diverse Representation – Names like Victor Amaral, Oscar Barrio, Jose Cruz, Luis Guerrero, Iris Perez, Juan Videa, John Wong represent ethnic diversity crucial to the modern Army.

Dual Entry Note – Byron Butler appears twice in the roster, perhaps an administrative duplication.

🖼️ Noteworthy Images

Front Cover (1979 Yearbook) – Bearing the Company C identity, emblematic of Fort Dix’s heritage (GGA Image ID #13dcd44748).

Leadership Page (Company Cadre Group) – Features 1LT Robert Connor, SFC Edward Walsh, SFC Kelley, Sgt Inez M. Paroly, and others (GGA Image ID #13dd28c650).

Recruit Portrait Pages (2–11) – Hundreds of individual recruit portraits showcasing diversity and size of the company.

🎓 Relevance for Key Audiences

Teachers & Students – Illustrates the Army’s transformation into a diverse, volunteer-based institution.

Genealogists – Provides full rosters and faces, critical for tracing family service history.

Historians & Military Archives – Demonstrates gender and racial integration during late Cold War U.S. Army training.

Veterans & Families – Serves as a nostalgic record for those who trained at Fort Dix in the late 1970s.

📘 Key to Officer, NCO, and Enlisted Ranks

• LTC – Lieutenant Colonel (O-5)
• MAJ – Major (O-4)
• 1LT – First Lieutenant (O-2)
• SFC – Sergeant First Class (E-7)
• SSG – Staff Sergeant (E-6)
• SGT – Sergeant (E-5)

📖 Dictionary of Military Terms & Abbreviations

Training Brigade – A brigade dedicated to training recruits in Basic Combat Training.

Drill Sergeant – NCO responsible for training and discipline.

Platoon Sergeant – NCO overseeing a platoon of ~40 recruits.

First Sergeant – Senior NCO in a company, directly responsible for discipline and standards.

Guidon – Small flag carried by each company, symbolizing unit pride.

🎯 Final Thoughts

The 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Yearbook – Company C is a rich snapshot of the early all-volunteer Army, with 238 recruits reflecting the era’s gender integration, ethnic diversity, and professional training ethos.

📘 For genealogists, it provides names and faces.

📖 For historians, it highlights structural and social change.

🎖️ For veterans, it preserves a pivotal chapter of Army life in the Cold War.