Military Graduation: Andrew Lawrence

Private Andrew Lawrence has graduated from from AIT Advanced Infantry Training in Fort Benning, Georgia.

After nine weeks of basic combat training, Lawrence learned teamwork, conquered the Victory Tower, a repelling confidence course and basic weapons management such as cleaning, handling and firing a weapon. His favorite courses were throwing hand grenades and working with the gas chamber.

Lawrence and his wife, Athena Crain, were married in September, he passed his GED in November, and their second son was born a few days after he left for basic training in December. He comes home for a few weeks before reporting to Fort Carson, Colorado where he will be assigned to the 4th Infantry Division, a mechanized Infantry Batalion.

Lawrence has two brothers-in-law serving in the military as well. They are Ben Crain with the Air Force stationed at Fort Richardson, Alaska, and Ian Tennison stationed with the Army at Fort Hood, Texas. His cousin, James Gordon, also is in the Army stationed in Korea.

Lawrence is the son of Zandi and Douglas Lawrence of Orland.