Army National Guard 2nd Lt. Christopher S. Wilkes has graduated from the Infantry Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga.

The four-month course is designed to instruct new lieutenants in leadership, tactical skills, and combat-related skills and tasks which concentrate on practical battlefield training. The students learned by performing and demonstrating proficiency in practical, external evaluation, and field tactical exercises. Graduates qualify as both mechanized and light infantry platoon leaders.

Wilkes is the son of Gerald J. Wilkes of Carlisle, Pa., and Kathleen J. Wilkes of Sharpsburg, Ga.