Army Pvt. Jennifer A. Ballard 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.

Ballard is the daughter of Dewayne Ballard and the granddaughter of Blanch Ballard, both of McKenzie.

She is a 2011 graduate of McKenzie School.