Havens completes leader course

U.S. Army National Guard Spec. Thomas M. Havens has completed the Warrior Leader Course at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo. The course is part of the Army’s Noncommissioned Officer Education System. Havens is currently deployed to Kosovo from a U.S.-based National Guard or Reserve unit supporting the NATO-led peacekeeping and security mission as a member of the Kosovo Forces.
The 30-day course is designed to provide soldiers who can visualize, describe and execute squad-level operations in varied operational environments and battlefields. Soldiers with the rank of specialist or corporal learn to be noncommissioned officers focused on leading, training, caring, maintaining and warrior skills. They are prepared for promotion to sergeant to serve as leaders of teams, crews and squads. The intensive, rigorous course emphasizes leadership and includes training management, map reading, land navigation, drill and ceremony, warfighting and a field training exercise.
Havens, a field artillery specialist with three years of military service, is assigned to the 2175th Military Police Company, inHannibal.
He is the son of Shelly R. Jones of Bowling Green. His wife, Kimberly, is the daughter of Robert Austin and Tracy Austin, both of Troy.
Havens is a 2005 graduate of Bowling Green High School.