Sons of two local families graduate Naval Academy

Dick Benoit

Thursday, June 16, 2005 | 9:19 a.m.

Navy Ensign Paul Bania, son of Jeanne and Paul Bania of Boulder City, has graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., and been commissioned to his current rank in the United States Navy.

Bania, a 2001 graduate of Bishop Gorman High School graduate, earned a bachelor of science degree with a major in Quantitative Economics.

Charles Cuddy, son of Florence and Daniel Cuddy of Las Vegas, has also been commissioned an ensign in that Navy upon graduating from the Academy.

Cuddy earned a bachelor of science degree with a major in Electrical Engineering.

The two new officers successfully completed four years of intensive academic, physical and professional training in total-immersion environment where a strong, balanced academic program focused on the educational needs of the Navy and Marine Corps, is superimposed on a strict, professional military training environment emphasizing the development of leadership skills.

The Naval Academy currently has more than 4, 000 students who comprise the Brigade of Midshipmen, and who come from every state in the union.

Army leaders hope proposed home purchase benefit will boost sagging recruiting rates

According to Bill Carr, acting deputy undersecretary of defense for military personnel policy, the Army hopes to introduce a new benefit that helps soldiers purchase homes with a pilot program that would pay up to $50,000 in mortgage costs for recruits who enlist for eight years of duty.

In an American Forces Press Service release by Donna Miles, Carr said, "... the incentives, if approved by Congress and signed by the president, would not apply to all soldiers, but will be 'selectively applied' depending on the circumstances."

Carr said the concept is popular among potential recruits, but also resonates particularly well among adults who influence their decisions regarding military service.

Army officials express concern that these "influencers" are steering young people away the military over concerns that they'll be deployed to Iraq or elsewhere in harm's way.

The message doesn't minimize the possibility that recruits may go into combat and face danger, Carr said. Instead, it focuses on "the certainty of what the military has to offer," he said. The Army also plans on increasing enlistment bonuses. The current bonus is $20,000.

The version of the fiscal 2006 Defense Authorization Bill under consideration in the House of Representatives proposes raising this figure to $30,000. Carr said the Army is "hopeful we can do even better than that."

In brief