South Whidbey High School alumnus Chandler Thompson began his service in the Marine Corps with a commissioning ceremony.

The 2009 Falcon graduate and recent University of Washington graduate was commissioned as a second lieutenant June 23 at Useless Bay Golf & Country Club.

Thompson, who graduated from Washington in June with a degree in sociology, completed Officer Candidate School the past two summers. He will report to The Basic School for officer’s training and field work for eight weeks in January. Upon completion of that program, Thompson will receive a duty station.

His parents, Melene and Jim Thompson, and brothers Evan and Shane, both class of 2011 South Whidbey  graduates, were there to witness the occasion.