Army Pvt. April Merritt has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson in Columbia.

During nine weeks of training, she studied the Army's mission, history, tradition, core values and physical fitness. She also 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, the military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches and field-training exercises.

Merritt is the daughter of Gloria Miller of St. Helena Island. She is a 2009 graduate of Beaufort High School.