COLUMBIA, SC – Army Pfc. Benjamin J. Hopper 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.

He is the son of Kimberly Graziano of Clearlake, Calif.

Hopper graduated in 2006 from Carlé Continuation High School, Lower Lake, Calif., and in 2008 from Universal Technical Institute, Sacramento, Calif.