Photo By Thomas Alvarez | Brig. Gen. Michael Garshak, adjutant general of Idaho and commanding general of the...... read more read more
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The Idaho Army National Guard welcomed six new second lieutenants into the organization during a commissioning ceremony for the 204th Regional Training Institute’s Officer Candidate School Class 62-18 on Gowen Field, Sept. 9.
Those officers were Ethan Bean, Joseph Dirilo, Jordan Geary, Christopher Knudson, Kyle Sampson and Katherine Smith. Two additional Soldiers graduated from the officer candidate school and are expected to commission next month, Nicholas Alletto and Todd Sigler, the class’s distinguished honor graduate.
“I am extremely proud of the eight outstanding officer candidates of graduating class 62-18,” said Lt. Col. Heidi Hecox, 2-204th MTB commander. “Their dedication, intelligence and perseverance throughout this program will lead them to great successes in the future.”
Prior to graduating officer candidate school, Soldiers conducted 15 to 18 months of vigorous leadership training designed to develop, evaluate and qualify each candidate as an officer in the Army National Guard.
“OCS was the most demanding, challenging and rewarding military course I have ever attended,” said Geary. “I am confident it has not only made me a better leader but also an all-around better person.”
Soldiers were required to demonstrate a continued ability to lead troops and make sound decisions while under high-stress situations. Training included basic Soldier skills such as land navigation and drill and ceremony, and small unit tactics such as executing operational orders using troop leading procedures.
In addition to multiple field leadership exercises, Soldiers completed numerous academic examinations, timed foot marches and routine physical fitness tests.
However, to many of the graduates the experience provided more than just leadership training. Rather, it gave them an appreciation for the importance of team-work and unity.
“This program taught us how to work together and preserver as a team under intense scrutiny,” said Smith. “One of the best lessons I learned throughout these last 18 months was that you cannot complete OCS alone. You have to trust those around you and work together to succeed.”
This mentality may assist the new officers as they go forward to serve within the organization as aviation, engineer, infantry, ordnance, signal and military intelligence officers. There they will be responsible for supporting commanders and leading Soldiers in positions such as platoon leader, aeromedical evacuation officer and liaison officer.
Their training will not stop with OCS. Once with their individual units, the officers will attend a basic officer leader course to learn specific branch duties and qualify as tactically proficient junior officers.
“I am very excited to embark on this new journey in my military career,” said Sigler. “The skills that I learned throughout the OCS program will be instrumental to my success as a leader of Soldiers in the Idaho Army National Guard.”
| Date Taken: | 09.12.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 09.12.2018 10:11 |
| Story ID: | 292381 |
| Location: | BOISE, ID, US |
| Web Views: | 556 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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