Christopher Michael Nelms graduated from the U.S. Navy school RTC at Great Lakes, Ill., on May 8, 2009, and from the U.S. Navy A-School in Pensacola, Fla., on Sept. 10, 2009.

Nelms is a 2008 graduate of South Effingham High School and is now stationed at Naval Station Mayport, Fla., with the rank of AMAA.

His parents are Karla and Gary Fleming of Guyton and Tommy and Arrah Nelms of Springfield. His grandparents are Levoy and Voncille Nelms of Rincon and Carl and Patricia Mingledorff of Clyo.