Army Pvt. Melody Peppers 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.

Peppers is the daughter of Douglas Peppers of Coral Lake Drive, Flowery Branch, and Crest Pearson of Hicks Ford Road, Ellijay.

She is a 2010 graduate of Gilmer High School in Ellijay.