SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois National Guard’s 129th Regiment’s Regional Training Institute (RTI) Officer Candidate School (OCS) commissioned 28 second lieutenants at the Old State Capitol building in Springfield, Illinois, Sunday, Aug. 25.
“What a fitting place to mark such a momentous occasion in your careers,” said Brig. Gen. Michael Glisson of Festus, Missouri, Director of the Joint Staff, Illinois National Guard. “You are the future leaders of the Illinois National Guard, remember what you’ve learned here and carry those lessons with you throughout your careers.”
Class 63 – 18 is the 63rd class to graduate from the 129th’s officer candidate program, which transforms enlisted noncommissioned officers and qualified civilians into Army officers. The OCS program is academic focused and requires candidates to hold a four-year degree. Upon completion of the 18-month school, candidates receive their commissions and are assigned leadership positions in units across Illinois.
“I’m honored to have been able to serve with my fellow classmates,” said newly-commissioned 2nd Lt. Jared Phares of Springfield, Illinois, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade. “We worked together to supported each other to achieve our commissioning goals.”
Phares earned the Erickson Trophy, an award given to the Distinguished Honor Graduate of each OCS class. The criteria included physical fitness, grades in coursework and leadership ability. Phares also took home the Outstanding Leadership Award.
Phares credited his classmates for his success. Having fought through broken bones, fractures, and a brush with cancer that ultimately turned out to be benign, Phares said he used those hurdles to fuel himself and help his classmates.
“I couldn’t have been in the running for these awards without the help and support of my classmates and peers, said Phares. “After all of my personal roadblocks, I wanted my peers to succeed, so I made their success my motivation.”
Glisson administered the Oath of Office and the Oath of Federal Recognition. The pinning ceremony followed, where the Soldier’s friends and family pinned the second lieutenant gold bar rank on their shoulders. Once pinned, each lieutenant rendered their first salute to a person of their choosing. The Army Song and benediction closed out the graduation.
Phares said that the long road to commissioning was a team effort.
“My classmates and I were a team, we came together as a class to achieve our goals,” said Phares. “If you choose this path, don’t quit. You chose this journey for a reason, finish what you started, you may regret it if you don’t.”
Twenty-seven other candidates were commissioned to second lieutenant:
Diana Bartolo of Chicago, assigned to the 333rd Military Police Co.; Marcus Bellone of Byron, Illinois, assigned to Co. D, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment; Michael Bennett of Chicago, assigned to the Illinois Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalions; Nicholas Crowell of East St. Louis, Illinois, assigned to Co. H, 634th Brigade Support Battalion; Brett Devlin of Chicago, who will hip-pocket his commission; Joseph Dickinson of Granite City, Illinois, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Co. 123rd Engineer Battalion; Angela Dyson of Chicago, who is awaiting her next assignment; Luke Faivre of Normal, Illinois, assigned to the 176th Cyber Protection Team; Joseph Franzese of Wayne, Illinois, assigned to C Battery, 2nd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment; Megan Hansen of Westmont, Illinois, assigned to Co. F, 634th Brigade Support Battalion; Amanda Herr of Chicago, assigned to the 1244th Transportation Company; Matthew Hice of Bloomington, Illinois, assigned to B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment; Peter Kalenik of Chicago, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Co., 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment; David Keafer of Marionette Park, Illinois, assigned to Headquarters, Headquarters and Service Battery, 2nd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment; Marketa March of Alton, Illinois, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment; Dylan Mooney of Elgin, Illinois, assigned to 2nd Battalion, 123rd Engineer Regiment Forward Support Company; John Mulrow of Wheaton, Illinois, assigned to the 661st Engineer Company; Travis Noparstak of Barrington, Illinois, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion 178th Infantry Regiment; Andrew Ooley of Valparaiso, Indiana, assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment; Robert Piper of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment; Gleb Raml of Chicago, assigned to the 433rd Signal Company; David Rose of Algonquin, Illinois, assigned to B Troop, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment; Matthew Smith of Georgetown, Illinois, assigned to the 3637th Maintenance Company; Craig Swart of Homewood, Illinois, who is awaiting his next assignment; Nicholas Thompson of Sycamore, Illinois, assigned to Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment; Stephen Westlake of Mount Prospect, Illinois, assigned to Company D, 634th Brigade Support Battalion; and Christopher Zolner of Monee, Illinois, assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment.