Eric M. Bechard has graduated from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga., and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

During the 14 weeks of training, Bechard, a transportation officer, 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 and navigation, maintenance, communications, staff and general military subjects, and physical training and conditioning.

Bechard is the son of Roland Bechard of Charlotte and Suzanne Bechard of Perry.

He is a 1990 graduate of Shead High School in Eastport and received a bachelor’s degree in 1996 from the University of Maine, Orono.