Manhattan resident Richard Perkins Selected as Army Guard Warrant Officer Candidate

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Army National Guard Brig. Gen. presents Staff Sgt. Richard Perkins with his Warrant Officer Candidate certificate during an awards ceremony at New York National Guard Headquarters on Sept. 24.

LATHAM, NY (10/10/2014)(readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Richard Perkins, a Manhattan resident, has been selected to participate in the Army National Guard's Warrant Officer Candidate program.

Perkins, a veteran of the Afghan War, joined the New York Army National Guard in 2005, serving with Battery B, 1st Battalion 258th Field Artillery. He currently serves as a section chief for a gun section.

Army warrant officers are technical experts who posses special skills and expertise they range from intelligence specialists, to administrative experts, to artillery fire support technicians to helicopter pilots. They receive their name because they receive a "warrant" appointing them to their positions and not the commission that traditional officers receive.

Warrant Officers fall between the non-commissioned officer corps (sergeants) and the commissioned officers (lieutenants to generals) in the Army chain of command.

Along with serving in Afghanistan, Perkins participated in the National Guard response to Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

His awards include the Army Commendation Medal and the New York State Commendation Medal.

After completing Warrant Officer Candidate School he will serve as a field artillery target acquisition specialist.