By Sgt. Cody Cooper, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Officer Candidate School Class 61-19 pose for a group photo with OCS cadre in the rotunda of the Capitol in Frankfort, Ky., Sept. 21, 2019. The newly commissioned officers will go on to fill the ranks and provide leadership for varied units across the Kentucky Army National Guard. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Cody Cooper).FRANKFORT, Ky. – Dozens of family members, friends and
fellow Guardsmen filled the Capitol for the annual commissioning ceremony Sept.
21.
In a long-standing tradition in the commonwealth, eight Soldiers
from Officer Candidate School Class 61-19 became commissioned officers in the
rotunda of the State Capitol building.
The ceremony commemorated the eight officers’ completion of
Officer Candidate School, which included of a five-mile run, multiple foot
marches, and a 3-day field training exercise, as well as many other strenuous
physical activities and academic challenges over the course of a year and a
half. Each class is instructed by cadre with the 2nd Battalion, 238th Modular
Training in Greenville, Kentucky.
Col. Frederick Bates, 2/238th commander, presided over the event, and Kentucky Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Stephen Hogan was present as the keynote speaker.
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“OCS has taught me a lot about leadership development,” said
2nd Lt. Nathan Thompson, a graduating candidate. “This program teaches us to
take ownership of our failures so that we can learn from our mistakes and grow
as leaders.”
The eight newly commissioned officers will go on to fill the
ranks and provide leadership for varied units across the Kentucky Army National
Guard.