Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith | (Left to Right) Second Lieutenants Matthew Criado, Craig Furey, Josiah Mastriano,...... read more read more
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FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Five Pa. Army National Guard (PAARNG) Soldiers were pinned the rank of second lieutenant during an Officer Candidate School (OCS) commissioning ceremony here Aug. 7, 2022.
The five officer candidates enlisted in the PAARNG with a 09S Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), a Commissioned Officer Candidate. When a new recruit enlists in the Army National Guard with the intent to go directly to OCS after their initial entry training, they receive the 09S MOS and hold it until they commission and branch into a specific officer branch specialty.
These Soldiers graduated from Detachment 1, 2nd Battalion, 166th Regiment Regional Training Institute’s OCS class 62T. The ceremony commemorated the achievements of the recent OCS graduates, and celebrates their commissioning into the PAARNG. Friends, family and Pa. National Guard senior leaders were in attendance.
Members of the ceremony’s official party included:
U.S. Army Retired Brig. Gen. Wilbur Wolf III, guest speaker
Lt. Col. Tommy Guthrie, 2nd Battalion, 166th Regiment Modular Training Battalion commander
Maj. Stephen Ferraro, Detachment 1, 2nd Battalion, 166th Regiment commander
Distinguished guests included:
Brig. Gen. Laura McHugh, deputy adjutant general – Army
Brig. Gen. John Pippy, land component commander of the Pa. National Guard
Col. Robert Jorgensen, 166th Regiment commander
U.S. Army Retired Col. Douglas Mastriano, Pa. Senator of District 33
Wolf provided remarks during the ceremony as the guest speaker, and emphasized the responsibility and standards that the officer candidates must hold themselves to after commissioning.
The commissioning ceremony is a pivotal point in the career of Army officers and is steeped in tradition. It is comprised of three parts including the oath of the commissioned officer, the pinning of the rank of second lieutenant, and the rendering of the officer’s first salute.
The candidates of class 62T included the following:
OC Matthew S. Criado was recognized for having the highest academic average achieved on all examinations, signifying his superior academic achievement amongst his peers. Criado had his oath of office administered by platoon training officer (PTO) Cpt. Donald Rarick, had his rank pinned on by Zach and Jacob Myers, and received his first salute from Sgt. 1st Class Wayne Monticue.
OC Craig S. Furey was recognized for having the highest average earned from all leadership evaluations, signifying his superb leadership abilities. Furey had his oath of office administered by PTO Cpt. Joshua Linamen, had his rank pinned on by Hannah, Kiersten, and Christine Furey, and received his first salute from U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Craig Furey Sr.
OC Josiah J. McClarren was recognized as the distinguished honor graduate, signifying that he had the highest total average of all evaluations and examinations in leadership, academics, physical fitness, and peer evaluations. McClarren was presented with the Erickson Trophy, which is a replica of the “Sons of Liberty” bowl originally designed by Paul Revere. It serves as a symbol of national freedom and National Guard history. McClarren had his oath of office administered by Cpt. Rarick, had his rank pinned on by Harry Sosie Jr. and Eldon McClarren, and received his first salute from Retired Staff Sgt. Ralph McClarren.
OC Josiah Mastriano had his oath of office administered by Retired Col. Douglas Mastriano, had his rank pinned on by Madison and Rebecca Mastriano, and received his first salute from instructor Sgt. 1st Class Casey Magargle.
OC Triston Zazado had his oath of office administered by Cpt. Linamen, has his rank pinned on by Craig Zazado, and received his first salute from Sgt. 1st Class Casey Magargle.
Congratulations to all of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s newest officers.
| Date Taken: | 08.07.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 08.08.2022 08:52 |
| Story ID: | 426725 |
| Location: | FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 701 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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Pennsylvania
Commissioning Ceremony
Officer candidate school
Fort Indiantown Gap
Army National Guard
Officer Candidate
