Photo By Capt. Rick Scoggins | North Carolina National Guard newly promoted 2nd Lt. Matthew Eure, who branched as a...... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Nineteen soldiers of the North Carolina National Guard’s 139th Regiment’s Officer Candidate School, Class 55 and 23 were promoted to the rank of second lieutenant at a graduation ceremony held in their honor at the John F. Kennedy Special Forces Warfare Center and School here, Aug. 24, 2013.
The graduates marched in to the auditorium as supporting family members smiled, applauded, and cheered for their sons or daughter who began a new chapter in their military lives as commissioned officers.
The citizen-soldiers sat in unity and rose in formation, made a right face, and filtered one by one onto the stage to accept what they had worked so diligently for over this year-long strenuous journey, their certificate of completion from the OCS.
“I’m so proud of him,” said Joanne Eure, mother of her son, newly promoted 2nd Lt. Matthew Eure, who branched as a Transportation Officer and will serve with the 113th Sustainment Brigade in Greensboro, N.C.
Brig. Gen. Kenneth A. Beard, NCNG Assistant Adjutant General for Sustainment, a 32-year veteran with a wartime deployment, generously gave out welcoming but firm handshakes to the graduates along with their diplomas, and a heart-felt welcome into the Officer Corp.
Beard also led the graduates in reciting the Officer’s Prayer. Graduates of Class 55 proudly popped their chests’ out and sounded off with excitement and intensity as Beard quoted the prayer.
“Responsibilities you receive today are indefinite,” said Beard during his speech at the ceremony. “The most important is taking care of Americas’ sons and daughters.”
Soldiers endured an arduous training regimen that was broken up into three phases.
Phase I consisted of applied map reading, day and night land navigation, field leadership, army training management and a five mile foot march.
Phase II consisted of a field leadership exercise, seven and ten mile foot marches, a three mile formation run and classroom studies such as operations, leadership, military justice, military intelligence, supply activities, military heritage and history, tactics and call for fire.
Phase III, the final phase, ensured the soldiers learned troop leading procedures, experience the challenges of a leadership reaction course which was the final field exercise, infantry squad tactics and combat water survival training.
“It was rough but well worth it, and I learned a lot,” said 2nd Lt. Ryan Shortell, Class 55 president, who branched as a Field Artillery Officer and will serve with the 30th Armored Brigade Combat team in Clinton, N.C.
Second Lt. Shannon D. Orndorff, was named the distinguished graduate, and received numerous honors and awards, presented by Beard and the new commandant of the NCNG 139th Regiment, Col. Randy Powell.
Orndorff, also received a coin of excellence for displaying tremendous effort, character and hard work during his training. Orndorff branched as a military intelligence officer and will also serve in the 30th ABCT in Clinton, N.C.
Finally, Col. Vernon H. Simpson, current 30th ABCT Commander, was presented with the OCS Hall of Fame award and inducted in the Hall of Fame.
Beard and Powell presented the award to Simpson. For Simpson and Powell, this award was very sentimental as both men have a prior working relationship when Simpson served as Chief Deputy of the 30th ABCT and Powell served as the brigade’s Commander.
“Words can’t express how it feels to receive an award like this from a close friend for many years,” said Col. Simpson. “It’s an honor.”
The new lieutenants will continue their training at their Basic Officer Leader Courses (BOLC) at various U.S. Army facilities in the near future.
BOLC gives further instruction in small unit tactics, leadership and the officer’s area of expertise. Upon completion, the leaders will be assigned to units across the state to train and prepare soldiers for future missions.
“It is an absolute elation and feels great” said six year veteran and newly promoted 2nd Lt. Chad Boger, who branched as a Chemical Officer will later serve in the 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Charlotte, N.C.
| Date Taken: | 08.27.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 08.27.2013 10:20 |
| Story ID: | 112658 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 312 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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