Army Pvt. Ashley M. Benton graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C.

Benton is a 2011 graduate of Effingham County High School. She is the daughter of Robert Benton of Guyton.

During the nine weeks of training, Benton 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.