Times Staff Report

PORTAGE | The majors call her a "miracle."

But Rebecca Riggle doesn't like to talk about that, or a childhood accident that briefly stole her normal adolescence.

She'd much rather talk about working with missiles.

After graduating from Portage High School, the 17-year-old will train to become a gunner's mate working with weapons on Navy ships. Her mouth curls to a smile when she talks about helping build artillery.

"I really wanted to see the world," Riggle said of her decision to enlist.

And when she's done seeing it, she'd like to teach about it. Riggle said she hopes to use her Navy training to become a U.S. history and geography teacher.

She already is honing those skills, helping instruct the high school's newest JROTC cadets.

"I really like teaching the freshmen."