Gardnerville resident Cole Sonnemann was one of 17 Northern Nevada teenagers who completed the 2009 Devil Pups encampment at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif.
The son of Doug and Val Sonneman, Cole participated in 10 days of training and a Marine Corps style graduation and pass in review.
The Devil Pups stepped off to marching music provided by the 1st Marine Division Band.
Each Devil Pup was presented with physical fitness achievement and citizenship awards.
In addition to Sonnemann, others participating in the training were Wellington resident Coby Souza, Carson City residents Cole Chandler, Austin Patridge, Rhett Petrenko and Andrew Toland, Reno residents Austin Bassi, Eric Boatman, Treg Fiesler and Eric Pfennig, Sparks residents Ashley Smith and Kurt Hansen, Dayton resident Brian Tubridy, Christipher Johnson of Cresent Valley and Fallon residents Lisa Brown, Ashlyn Olson and Travis Gill.
Pfennig and Smith were named honor pups for their scores on the final physical fitness test.
While at Camp Pendleton the Devil Pups learned to march, ran an obstacle course numerous times and went through rubber boat training in the Pacific Ocean.
They all completed a five-mile run on the beach and participated in abandon ship drills by jumping from a three-story tower into a pool. They underwent hours of Marine Corps style training.
The cost for each Devil Pup Candidate to attend the annual encampment is approximately $450.
Numerous organizations, businesses and individuals sponsored the Devil Pups again this year, including the Department of Nevada Marine Corps League, Battle Born and High Desert Detachments Marine Corps League, Northern Nevada Devil Dogs, retired Air Force Maj. Ed Sandelius; retired Marines Chief Warrant Officer Dennis Hansberry, 1st Sgt. Al Fragione, 1st Sgt. Bob Roach, Gunnery Sgt. Art Bennett; Lee and George Shaffer, Chip and Pam Kramer, Harry Hines, Tony and Shirley Klein, Sonny Russell, Ben Benscoter, Jack McLeod, Kenneth and Marietta Alexander, Ethel Hutchings, Jo Ann Gill, Daria Petrenko, Becky Tecero, J. Elton and Evelyn Patridge, Patricia Souza, Mark and Catrina Ryan, Smith Valley Youth Foundation, Douglas County Sheriff's Explorers, Walmart, and Raley's.
The program also thanked Systems Consultants Inc. and retired Marine Lt. Col. Tom Reeves for providing air transportation for five Devil Pups back to Minden, Reno and Fallon.
Retired Marines Sgt. Maj. Wayne Baker, 1st Sgt. Bob Roach and Master Sgt Robert Gonzalez served as screeners and testers.
Retired Marines Chief Warrant Officer Dennis Hansberry , 1st Sgt. Bob Roach and retired Army Master Sgt. Harry Marshal served as drivers.
Devil Pups Northern Nevada Liaison Officer Retired Marine Maj. George Class thanked everyone who made this encampment possible.
"Congratulations to the young people who put forth the effort, sweat and courage that made them this year's Devil Pups," Class said.
More than 48,000 young people have participated in the Devil Pups since the program was founded in 1954.
