Photo By Master Sgt. Theanne Tangen | U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Julieanne Morse, of Spearfish, .D., gets her bars pinned on by her...... read more read more
MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL PARK, S.D. – Fifteen South Dakota Army National Guard Soldiers took the Oath of Office and commissioned as second lieutenants during a ceremony Saturday, Aug. 16, at Mount Rushmore National Park.
The second lieutenants recently completed Officer Candidate School through the SDNG 196th Regiment, Regional Training Institute, at Fort Meade, the first step in their officer training and development.
The guest speaker for the ceremony Maj. Gen. Tim Reisch, adjutant general of the SDNG, explained to audience members what it means to commission as an officer.
“Receiving a commission as a second lieutenant puts an officer on a distinct career path that can lead to the very top of our organization,” said Reisch. “These 15 Soldiers were initially selected and approved for the OCS program based on the potential others saw in them. Their successful completion of this course is absolute proof of their potential.”
In order to commission as officers these Soldiers endured a culmination of three intense phases of training, which has prepared these officer candidates for the next step in their military career, said Lt. Col. Deb Bartunek, 1st Battalion, 196th RTI commander.
The intense training consisted of basic military tasks including physical training, drill and ceremony and troop leading procedures. During the training, the Soldiers were placed in high-stress environments and challenged to make leadership decisions.
“Nobody is born a leader… leaders are developed,” said Bartunek. “We give the officer candidates the tenets of leadership, take them through the tactical portion and give them the skills to go on to become the future leaders of our organization.”
The second lieutenants will now be assigned to units across the state and will attend Basic Officer Leaders Course where they will continue to train in leadership, tactics and branch specific capabilities.
Several presentations were made throughout the ceremony to include: The Battalion Leadership Award was presented to the 881st Troop Command, of Sturgis, and the 152nd Combat Support Sustainment Brigade, of Pierre, for the greatest number of students graduating from Officer Candidate School.
Second Lt. Mark Bubac received the Endeavor Award for demonstrating the highest degree of consistent advancement, perseverance and devotion to duty during the training year.
Second Lt. Jacob Moore earned the Academic Excellence Award by attaining the highest academic rating for the school year. Moore also earned the Leadership Excellence Award for attaining the highest leadership evaluations during the training year.
Second Lt. Julieanne Morse earned the Army Physical Fitness Award for scoring the highest on the Army Physical Fitness Test.
Second Lt. Patrick Moran earned the Erickson Trophy, awarded to the OCS graduate with the highest combined overall standing in leadership evaluations, academics, physical fitness and peer evaluations. It is given by the authority of the Department of the Army and the Air Force, National Guard Bureau, and is named in memory of the Chief of the National Guard Bureau at the time the award was initiated, Maj. Gen. Edgar Erickson.
The following is the list of graduating officer candidates:
Name Home Town Unit of Assignment
2nd Lt. LeAnn Hansen-Conn Aberdeen Company A, 139th Brigade Support Battalion
2nd Lt. Eric Brockhoft Brookings 152nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion
2nd Lt. Michael Ordal Colton 115th Brigade Signal Company
2nd Lt. Jacob Vissia Harrisburg 153rd Engineer Battalion
2nd Lt. Darin Lewno Hartford 155th Engineer Company
2nd Lt. Trevor Reisch Howard 842 Engineer Company
2nd Lt. Ivor Swanson Rapid City 200th Engineer Company
2nd Lt. Mark Bubac Rapid City 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
2nd Lt. David Herrick Rapid City 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
2nd Lt. Jacob Moore Rapid City 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
2nd Lt. Russell Reed Rapid City Company C, 1/189th Aviation Regiment
2nd Lt. Patrick Moran Rapid City 155th Engineer Company
2nd Lt. Harley Lynch Sioux Falls 115th Brigade Signal Company
2nd Lt. Alejandro Reyes Sioux Falls 200th Engineer Company
2nd Lt. Julieanne Morse Spearfish 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
| Date Taken: | 08.19.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.16.2014 11:43 |
| Story ID: | 142284 |
| Location: | MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL PARK, SD, US |
| Web Views: | 109 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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