COLUMBUS, Ga. – Anthony W. Patrick has graduated from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga., and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

During the 14 weeks of training, the officer candidate received “basic soldiering” instruction in leadership, professional ethics, soldier team development, combined arms tactics, weapons defense, combat water survival, squad drill, intelligence, field training exercises, day and night land navigation, confidence obstacle course, common core tasks, communications, staff and general military subjects, and physical fitness tests which include three, four and five-mile runs, and foot marches between 5-10 mile routes.

The candidate is tested on leadership skills and team work abilities required of a commissioned officer.

Students learned to utilize acquired skills to function in “leader and follower” positions in squad and platoon sized elements, and evaluated in various leadership garrison positions while in a stressful and demanding field environment.

Patrick has served in the military for 14 years.

He is the son of Al Patrick of Clearlake and Kathy Patrick of Cambria.

The lieutenant graduated in 1992 from Lower Lake High School and received an associate degree in 2006 from Columbia College, Mo.

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