Company B, 3rd Battalion 172nd Infantry Regiment has received the Valorous Unit Award for extraordinary distinguished service in Eastern Afghanistan. The award, presented at a ceremony in Brewer on Sept. 8, is the second highest unit decoration that may be awarded to an Army unit and is considered the equivalent of the Silver Star.

Capt. Andy Alfiero, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 pilot, recently participated in a refueling mission over the Persian Gulf. Alfiero is from Portland and is deployed from Maine Air National Guard.

Maine Army National Guard announces the August promotion to the rank specified below for the following soldiers:

Spc. Seth Adams II, Brunswick, 133d Engineer Battalion;

Sgt. Leah Badger, Livermore, 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion;

Sgt. Dane Boutin, Naples, 133d Engineer Battalion;

Spc. Daniel Curtis III, Auburn, Detachment 1, 136th Engineer Company;

Staff Sgt. Dana Field, Wiscasset, 488th Military Police Company;

Spc. Adam Gaulin, Northport, 133d Engineer Battalion;

Sgt. Eric Godin, Sanford, Detachment 1, 1136th Transportation Company;

Spc. Jeffrey Hamel, Portland, 133d Engineer Battalion;

Spc. Michael Martel, Auburn, Detachment 1, 136th Engineer Company;

Spc. Grace Miller, Portland, 133d Engineer Battalion;

Pfc. Dewey Mitchell, Bath, 152 Maintenance Company;

SSG Aaron Monty, Standish, 133d Engineer Battalion;

Spc. Zachary Richards, Portland, 133d Engineer Battalion;

Pfc. Christopher Rinaldi, Limington, CO B, 3/172d Infantry (Mountain);

Spc. Christopher Sylvester, Topsham, 133d Engineer Battalion;

Spc. Brandon White, Scarborough, 133d Engineer Battalion.