Private Jonathon Smith of Chidester recently enlisted into the Arkansas Army National Guard and has earned education benefits valued at $49,844.

He will attend basic training followed by advanced individual training at Ft. Knox, Ky. as a cavalry scout. Upon returning to Arkansas, PVT Smith will serve with the Alpha Troop 1st Squadron 151st Cavalry in El Dorado.

He is the son of James Smith of Chidester and Sonja Powell of Hamburg and a student at Fairview High School.