Photo By Sgt. Lauren Twigg | The newly-commissioned second lieutenants presented this token of appreciation, a...... read more read more
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PHOENIX - Nine weary-eyed, but visibly excited soldiers from the Arizona Army National Guard’s Officer Candidate School were commissioned during a ceremony held at Papago Park Military Reservation, Sept. 8.
After 18 months of intense physical and mental training, soldiers from OCS Class 53 earned the rank of second lieutenant and will now take on leadership roles throughout the AZNG.
Following the chaplain’s invocation, the eager candidates sat anxiously awaiting their turn for family and friends to pin on their new rank.
Maj. Gen. Hugo E. Salazar, the now retired adjutant general for the AZNG, offered words of advice.
“Sometimes you have to just shut up and listen to your [noncommissioned officers],” Salazar said. “At the end of the day, they are the ones that run things and, if you are going against them, you are probably doing something wrong.”
That day was not only significant for the new officers but for Salazar as well. It would mark the end of a long career as an army soldier.
“One of the reasons why I picked tomorrow as my retirement date is 30 years ago is when I was commissioned from OCS as a second lieutenant,” said Salazar. “I wanted the last official military event for me to be here for an OCS commissioning, welcoming brand new lieutenants into the Arizona National Guard, and it is my honor to do that.”
Afterward, in following with tradition, the new officers had friends and family pin on their rank and have their first salute rendered by an NCO, whom they personally selected.
OCS is a mentally and physically demanding course that does not always work out for its recruits. The class began with 35 but ended with nine.
“The mental ability to continue to train month-to-month while planning training in between and learning to lead is the toughest part,” said 2nd Lt. Taylor Huddleston from Class 53. “But I never wanted to give up.”
Maj. Scott Hier, the OCS commander, has an instrumental part in continuing the tough tradition of the program.
When asked if he is too tough on the new recruits, coming from the infantry, he smiles and replies, “I’m not that soft.”
| Date Taken: | 09.08.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 09.26.2013 20:23 |
| Story ID: | 114340 |
| Location: | PHOENIX, AZ, US |
| Hometown: | SHIPROCK, NM, US |
| Hometown: | TEMPE, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 114 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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