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 Recruit Roster
Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 1 (Reginald Addie-Tommy Bray)
- Reginald Addie
- Edward Aguilera
- Enemencio Alaniz
- Gary Allen
- Victor Amaral
- Bethany Andrews
- Steve Annett
- William Archer
- David Athey
- Eric W. Baker
- Sharon Barnhill
- Oscar Barrio
- Eric Barr
- Danie Battista
- Brian Baugher
- Howard Biddl
- Alan Blanchard
- James S. Black
- Richard Blystone
- Daniel Bogdansky
- William Bonnell
- Michael Booker
- Gilbert Bowen
- William Bowman
- Tommy Bray
Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 2 (Byron Butler-Bobby L. Dorris)
- Byron Butler
- Byron Butler
- Teresa Carnecchîa
- William Carroll
- Antone Carreia
- Brian Ceol
- Demetrick Cephas
- Ralph Chapman
- Charles Cole
- Chris Comer
- Jewel Cooper
- Catherine Copple
- Lori Costello
- Carmichael Criop
- Mark Crist
- Jose M. Cruz
- Sandra Cruz
- Constance Curcio
- Charles Davis
- Gene Davis
- Beverly Dean
- Ala De La Bruere
- Leroy De Vore
- Doreen Donnelly
- Bobby L. Dorris
Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 3 (Earnest Douglas-Luis Guerrero)
- Earnest Douglas
- Deborah DuBoise
- Robert Duran
- Maria Echevarria
- Tim Esser
- Mark Evans
- Marshall Evers
- Edward Feichter
- Steven Fletcher
- Edward Fox
- Michael Foy
- Dwayne Fuller
- Peter Garland
- Patrick Gerini
- Wayne Getz
- Vaughn Gibson
- Gregory Giles
- James Gillespie
- Omer Glass
- David Gomez
- Victor Gomez
- Ted Gray
- Robert Griffin Jr.
- Michael Gross
- Luis Guerrero
Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 4 (David Hackett-Deanie Jones)
- David Hackett
- Michael Harbison
- Gregory Harley
- David F. Harris
- Garry Harris
- Charles Hawkins
- Joseph G. Hayes
- Michael Henderson
- Otto Hendricks
- Beth Herrlinger
- Willie Highsmith
- Bryan Hilliard
- Scott Hippier
- Frank Hoggland
- Janet Holder
- Daniel Hudy
- Leonard Hungarter
- John Hurst
- Thomas Hustand
- Leo Jaramillo
- Jeff Jirtle
- Andre Johnson
- Charles Johnson
- Barry Jones
- Deanie Jones
Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 5 (Ganson Jones-Larry Mayo)
- Ganson Jones
- Steve Jones
- Eric Kellesvig
- Daryl J. Kelly
- Marvin Kersten
- Timothy Kiner
- Denise E. Kirkwood
- Joanne Kotomski
- James Kowalski
- Robert Kraemer
- Marvin Lee
- Scott Levin
- Steven Litton
- Jonathan Locke
- Michael Logan
- Robert Long
- John Lough
- Henry Lusk
- Robert Malwitz
- James Manion
- Elizabeth Martin
- Kevin Martin
- Kathy Mashione
- Mayra Mateo
- Larry Mayo
Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 6 (Marcus McCall-Sharon Parker)
- Marcus McCall
- Charles McDougal
- Carilyn McKinney
- William McKinnon
- Andres Medina
- Clarence Michaud
- Cathy Miller
- Roxanne Miller
- Ivan Minnis
- Laurie Miszler
- Timothy Mohr
- Geoffrey Moore
- John W. Moon Jr.
- Vernessa Myers
- David Nesbitt
- William Newlin
- Richard Norman
- William Norman
- Jimmie Norris
- Robert O'Donnell
- Faye Olson
- Joseph Osorio
- Douglas Ottinger
- Brian Ousley
- Sharon Parker
Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 7 (Iris Perez-Mark Sczublewscz)
- Iris Perez
- Theresa Perez
- Ronnie Perkins
- Rickey Pottle
- William Price
- William Rainer
- Victor Range
- Dan Remington
- Janet Richardon
- NaVon Rickertsen
- Donald Roorabaugh
- James Roberts
- Barry Rose
- Michael Roulston
- Timothy Ruimueld
- Paul Rutenberg
- Mark Ryan
- Regina Sabol
- Charles Sackey
- George Sandoval
- Michael Schott
- Eric Schuller
- Yvette Scott
- Melanie Scroggin
- Mark Sczublewscz
Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 8 (Matthews Sewell, Jr.-Michael Taylor)
- Matthews Sewell, Jr.
- Darrell Shamblin
- Delmer Shamblin, Jr.
- Dennis Shahan
- Timothy M. Shanahan
- Stephen Shears
- Lynn K. Shedd
- William Simensky
- James Simmons
- Joseph Simmons
- Hazen Smith
- Sheila Smith
- William Smith
- Louis Sorensen
- Cornell Spencer
- Mark Stacy
- Kristine Stein
- LaMar Stellfox
- Mark Stenta
- Steve Stroven
- Raymond Suiter
- John Sutton
- Alvin Taylor
- Larry Taylor
- Michael Taylor
Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 9 (Carlos Thomas-Barry Williams)
- Carlos Thomas
- Cedrick Thomas
- Thomas Thompson
- Gary Tillman
- Joel Trevino
- Andrew Truffer
- Brenda Turner
- Steve Turner
- Bernard Valley
- Troy Varney
- Juan Videa
- Philip Voida
- Kenneth Wade
- Robbie Wagner
- Charles Walters
- James Walton
- Bryan Warrick
- Timothy Watkins
- Annett Watlington
- Tony Welch
- Richard Werner
- Hugh West
- George Wettig
- David Wierschke
- Barry Williams
Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 10 (Jeffrey Williams-Fred Zikorus, Jr.)
- Jeffrey Williams
- Kevin Williams
- Wayne Williams
- Teari L. Wimbush
- John Wong
- Wayne Woods
- Stanley Wood
- Doreen Wright
- Michael Wright
- Sylvester Wright
- Kevin Zahurones
- Dale Zierz
- Fred Zikorus, Jr.
Fort Dix Boot Camp Yearbook Photos - Company C 1979
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
🎖️ 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
Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 2 (Byron Butler-Bobby L. Dorris). | GGA Image ID # 13ddc2f555
Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 3 (Earnest Douglas-Luis Guerrero). | GGA Image ID # 13de256700
Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 4 (David Hackett-Deanie Jones). | GGA Image ID # 13de7453e8
Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 5 (Ganson Jones-Larry Mayo). | GGA Image ID #
Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 6 (Marcus McCall-Sharon Parker). | GGA Image ID # 13de804c8b
Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 7 (Iris Perez-Mark Sczublewscz). | GGA Image ID # 13de8e0853
Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 8 (Matthews Sewell, Jr.-Michael Taylor). | GGA Image ID # 13df891bdd
Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 9 (Carlos Thomas-Barry Williams). | GGA Image ID # 13dfeac8c8
Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 10 (Jeffrey Williams-Fred Zikorus, Jr.). | GGA Image ID # 13e036c593
🌟 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.