Air Force 1st Lt. Jonathan D. Blount is deployed in Afghanistan.

Blount, a security forces officer with 12 years of military service, is normally assigned to the 316th Security Forces Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Camp Springs, Md.

He is the son of Donna and David Blount of Dawsonville and the grandson of John and Frankie Davis of Gainesville.

The lieutenant graduated in 1997 from North Forsyth High School in Cumming.

Chase M. Simpson graduated from the Army ROTC Leader Development and Assessment Course, also known as "Operation Warrior Forge," at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Wash.

The focus of the course is to develop and evaluate each cadet's officer leadership potential by exercising the cadet's intelligence, common sense, ingenuity and physical stamina. The cadet command assesses each cadet's performance and progress in officer traits, qualities and professionalism while attending the course. Cadets in their junior and senior year of college must complete the leadership development course. Upon successful completion of the course, the ROTC program, and graduation from college, cadets are commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army, National Guard or Reserve.

Simpson is a student at Clemson University in Clemson, S.C. He is the son of Shannon M. and Julie R. Simpson of Gainesville. He graduated in 2006 from North Hall High School in Gainesville.