Hugh W. Griffin, son of Charles and Debi Griffin of Bainbridge, Ga., has graduated as the Distinguished Honor Graduate from Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Fort Benning, Ga., and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

Second Lt. Griffin earned the title of Distinguished Honor Graduate by having the highest overall score of the 157 candidates in his class. Candidates’ scores are based upon their leadership ability, performance on written exams and physical fitness tests.

During the 14 weeks of training, the officer candidate received “basic soldiering” instruction in leadership, professional ethics, soldier team development, combined arms tactics, weapons defense, combat water survival, squad drill, intelligence, field training exercises, day and night land navigation, confidence obstacle course, common core tasks, communications, staff and general military subjects and physical fitness tests that include three, four and five-mile runs and foot marches between 5 to 10 mile routes.

The candidate is tested on leadership skills and teamwork abilities required of a commissioned officer. Students learned to utilize acquired skills to function in “leader and follower” positions in squad and platoon sized elements and evaluated in various leadership garrison positions while in a stressful and demanding field environment.

Second Lt. Griffin is a graduate of Bainbridge High School and Troy University. He is currently stationed at Fort Benning, where he will be attending Infantry Officer Training and Ranger School.

He resides in Columbus, Ga., with his wife, Kristy, and son, Tyler. The family is awaiting the birth of a daughter, Anna, in April.