Wilburn graduates officer candidate training phase

Karen J. Wilburn graduated from Officer Candidate School Phase III training at North Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Wash., and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army National Guard. The two-week training is the final phase of a three-phase, 14-month training period. Wilburn received "basic soldiering" instruction in leadership, professional ethics, soldier team development, combined arms tactics, weapons defense, squad drill, intelligence, land navigation, maintenance, communications, staff and general military subjects, field training exercises and physical training and conditioning. She is the daughter of Richard E. and Marsha K. Owens of Jackson and is a 1997 graduate of Springfield Catholic High School.