FORT MEADE, S.D. — Officer candidates from around the country have converged at Fort Meade to undergo training and development that will help shape them into the future leaders of the Army National Guard.
More than 150 candidates from 24 states, including the U.S. territory of Guam, are currently attending this year's program hosted by the 1st Battalion (Officer Candidate School), 196th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) from May 29 through July 25.
The course is one of the nation's three consolidated Officer Candidate School Programs (phase I through III) conducted at Fort Meade and various training locations throughout the Northern Black Hills. The program is the first step in the Army's basic officer development program and follows a crawl, walk, run approach to leadership training, resulting in producing Soldiers who are eligible to receive a commission as an Army second lieutenant.
The eight-week program builds on basic Soldier-skills and transitions to the development of leadership tasks and skills that are evaluated by a professionally trained and accredited cadre. The training is extremely physical, mentally challenging and emotionally demanding on the Soldiers who are pursing the opportunity to be the frontline leaders of the Army National Guard.
The officer candidates who have successfully completed the first two weeks of training (Phase I) will attend the Mount Rushmore Lighting Ceremony from 7:30 to 10 p.m. on Friday, June 12, at the monument.
Media are encouraged to attend the ceremony and visit with the officer candidates, the cadre and staff during the ceremony.
The significance of the event is the transition from phase I to phase II programs of instruction for the officer candidates.