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Just in time for Christmas: Newest Officers in the Kentucky Guard

Dec. 28, 2011 | By kentuckyguard
Story by Capt. Stephen Martin, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs [caption id="" align="alignright" width="299" caption="Warrant Officers One Mark Cerrie and Andrew Waggoner graduate from Warrant Officer Candidate School at Fort Rucker, Ala Dec. 14. (photo submitted)"]Cerrie & Waggoner WOC graduation Dec. 14, 2011 FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- The Kentucky Guard recently welcomed into their ranks two new warrant officers, Mark Cerrie and Andrew Waggoner, who graduated from Fort Rucker's strenuous Warrant Officer Candidate School Dec. 14. Newly appointed Warrant Officer One Cerrie joined the military nearly 29 years ago in Jan of 1983 and has served in the New York, West Virginia and Indiana National Guard before finally landing in Kentucky. "I owe a debt of gratitude to Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bernie Caldwell for getting me started on this journey," said Cerrie. "He is a great mentor and a man you can count on." Caldwell is the training officer for the 138th Fires Brigade and serves as a Warrant Officer mentor for the unit. State Command Chief Warrant Officer Jim Simms attended the graduation ceremony at Fort Rucker. "In today's army, the role of a Warrant Officer is constantly evolving because we're asking more and more of our leaders," said Simms. "The demands that these two Soldiers will face require highly trained, highly motivated leaders and both Mark and Andrew, I know, are up for the challenge." [caption id="attachment_11885" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Warrant Officer 1 Mark Cerrie (middle) at Camp Victory with other members of the 69th Infantry. (photo submitted)"] Cerrie has quite a bit to offer his new position due to serving in multiple jobs in the military as a non-commissioned officer before becoming a warrant officer. He's picked up experience in Armor, Transportation, Infantry and the Engineer branches. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="300" caption="State Command Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jim Simms attends Warrant Officer 1 Mark Cerrie's graduation ceremony from Warrant Officer Candidate School at Fort Rucker, Ala Dec. 14. (photo submitted)"]CW5 Simms & WO1 Cerrie Cerrie is currently assigned as the mobility officer for the 138th Fires Brigade. Owning his own business, 'GI Joe Landscaping,' keeps Cerrie extremely busy. He was also recently hired on full-time for the Kentucky National Guard as the Traffic Coordinator in the Defensive Movement Office. Said Cerrie, "I'm excited to start on this path and look forward to making a lasting difference in this organization and in the people I get to serve with." Andrew Waggoner wore his Warrant Officer Candidate rank for nearly a "year" before getting the chance to attend WOC school. Tune in next week to read more on Waggoner...

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