Army Pvt. Justin L. Higginbotham 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.
Higginbotham is the grandson of Karen McClendon of Miami St., Ladson, S.C., and Mary Paxson of Rural Route 2, Red House, W.Va.
The private is a 2005 graduate of Stratford High School, Goose Creek, S.C.