Illinois Army National Guard Officer Candidate School Graduation [Image 83 of 85]

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES

08.22.2021

Photo by Lt. Col. Bradford Leighton 

Joint Force Headquarters - Illinois National Guard Public Affairs

2nd Lt. Vincent Thomas of Dunlap returns the "first salute" from Sgt. 1st Class Jay Arnold, an Officer Candidate School cadre member. Thirty Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers graduated from the 129th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) Officer Candidate School on Aug. 22, fulfilling the leadership and military education requirements to be commissioned as U.S. Army officers. Of these Soldiers, 26 were commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the Illinois Army National Guard and U.S. Army. Four graduates of the program decided to “hip-pocket” their commissions and seek federal recognition as officers at a later date.
The Illinois National Guard’s Officer Candidate School transforms enlisted noncommissioned officers and qualified civilians into U.S. Army officers. The future leaders complete more than 661 hours of classroom and field instruction, must meet the commissioning standards of the U.S. Army and be examined, and approved by a federal recognition board. Two OCS classes graduated Aug. 22, Class 65-20 and Class 66-21. The ceremony was held at the Hoogland Center for the Arts in Springfield, Illinois.

• Date Taken: 08.22.2021
• Date Posted: 09.03.2021 20:48
• Photo ID: 6805169
• VIRIN: 210822-A-OH563-536
• Resolution: 3469x4311
• Size: 1.65 MB
• Location: SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, US