Courtesy Photo | Soldiers, family members and guests participate in a military commissioning ceremony...... read more read more
By Spc. Andrew Oeffinger
AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Army National Guard welcomed 34 officers to the rank of second lieutenant during a ceremony held Aug. 13, in downtown Austin. These young officers endured 18 months of arduous training at Camp Swift, Texas, to receive their commission as members of the 54th class to complete Officer Candidate School for the state of Texas.
When asked about his motivation to enroll in the OCS program and tackle the challenges it entailed, the newly commissioned 2nd Lt. Richard Harvey, a member of the field artillery branch, explained, "my father and grandfather were both commissioned officers, and I wanted to carry on the tradition."
Harvey and his fellow class members conducted intense training including basic Army skills like land navigation and small unit leadership, forced road marches and multiple field training exercises lasting two weeks each.
These skills will be vital when these officers assume their first command assignment and become responsible for the well-being and professional development of the soldiers under their supervision.
Above all else, Col. Anthony Woods, regimental commander for the Texas Army National Guard OCS program, emphasized the welfare of the subordinate soldiers, the families of those soldiers and their own family life.
"Put yourself last, your family and service members first; and you will do very well," Woods remarked in his address to the graduates.
As his previously commissioned first lieutenant wife pinned on his rank, Officer Candidate Macharia Davis demonstrated the importance of family and joined her in the ranks of Army leaders.
As the members of Class 54 disperse among the ranks and start their career in the Army, the seeds to grow Class 55 have already been planted. In September 2011, the Texas National Guard will host a workshop at Camp Mabry in Austin to assist and recruit future candidates with the administrative portion of enrollment, as well as conducting an Army Physical Fitness Test. From there, qualified candidates will begin their journey down the 18 month long path to commission and become the next generation of leadership for the Texas Army National Guard. Further information on the OCS program can be found on the Texas National Guard website: www.txarng.com or call 512-782-5731.
| Date Taken: | 08.13.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 08.21.2011 17:22 |
| Story ID: | 75699 |
| Location: | AUSTIN, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 332 |
| Downloads: | 22 |
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