Army Pvt. William A. Bell and Army National Guard Pfc. Benjamin L. Ruis have graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

Bell is the grandson of Shirley Bell of Flowery Branch and former ward of Mike Perez of Woodbridge, Va. He is a 2010 graduate of Miami Southridge Senior High School, Fla.

Ruis is the son of Mark and Amanda Ruis of Gainesville.

During the nine weeks of training, the soldiers 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.