FORT MEADE, S.D. – Members of the Sturgis-based 881st Troop Command spent their two-week annual training supporting the Officer Candidate School program, managed by 1st Battalion, 196th Regiment (Regional Training Institute), located at Fort Meade.
The 881st worked behind the scenes May 30 - June 13 to ensure training ran smoothly for the 131 officer candidates in attendance.
Soldiers of the 881st conducted personnel, operational and logistical support for phase one OCS staff.
“This exercise is heavy in the operations and logistics fields,” said Maj. Dana Limbo, executive officer for the 881st. “It takes a lot of man-power to support every candidate in each test or lane, everything has to be set up before the officer candidates hit the lanes.”
In addition to providing administrative assistance, two personnel instructed classes such as map reading, land navigation and hand grenades.
“This is my first time instructing OCS,” said Capt. Sarah Jensen, supply officer for the 881st. “It is a lot of fun, developing relationships with the platoons and helping them to succeed.”
A great deal of time and energy is required to complete the tasks that take place outside the normal view of the OCS candidates, whose attention will be focused on training.
The 881st continued to fulfill their full-time obligations as a headquarters element while at annual training.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for us to not only manage phase one at one of the finest OCS programs in the nation, but also an opportunity to develop and challenge our staff,” said Lt. Col. Michael Snow, commander of the 881st. “We are managing current and future operations, while still managing [the 881st’s] subordinate units.”
Although the 881st worked behind the scenes, their work did not go unnoticed.
“As usual, the 881st did a fantastic job,” said Col. Timothy Moran, commander of the 196th Regional Training Institute, who operates the OCS program. “I appreciate their efforts.”
The 881st was not the only unit supporting OCS. The staff included Soldiers from 12 states and Guam.
“It benefits [the OCS program] greatly to bring a local South Dakota unit to support us,” said Moran. “We appreciate the work of the 881st because of their South Dakota work ethic, cohesive teamwork and rapport that has been built over the years.”