Warrant officer candidates conduct community service project in Blackstone - June 25, 2011

Warrant Officer Candidates from the Virginia and North Carolina Army National Guard conduct a community service project in Blackstone June 25, 2011, as part of their five-week Phase II coursework to earn their warrant officer commissions. Nine officer candidates from Class 11-001 spent the day refurbishing 40 drainage grates surrounding trees on the street in downtown Blackstone in coordination with Downtown Blackstone, Inc. The community service project is part of the official curriculum established by Fort Rucker for all warrant officer candidates with an emphasis on project development, logistical planning and interaction with community leaders. The warrant officer candidate course begins with a distance learning phase, followed by course work conducted at Fort Pickett over five drill weekends, and then the candidates conduct a two-week annual training at Camp Atterbury, Ind. The two-week annual training period begins July 14 and candidates are scheduled to graduate July 30. Newly commissioned warrant officers will be recognized in Virginia in October.