FRANKFORT, Ky. –
After 12 months of Officer Candidate School (OCS), Class 67-25 celebrated their graduation at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort on April 12, 2025. The ceremony recognized not only the hard work and perseverance of its candidates but also the top performers.
Throughout the program, the candidates were tested physically, mentally, and academically through a rigorous curriculum that included eight exams, a 48-hour field-training exercise, and multiple leadership evaluations.
“These graduates have been trained, tested, and evaluated,” said Lt. Col. John Barger, commander of the 238th Regiment Training Institute. “They have demonstrated the characteristics necessary to become commissioned officers.”
Maj. Gen. Haldane B. Lamberton, Kentucky's adjutant general, addressed the graduating class's family and friends, acknowledging the fortitude and encouragement that are formed through community.
“To the family members, it’s with the support of our spouses, parents, siblings, and children that we are able to do this,” said Lamberton. “We couldn’t do it without our family members because it really is a total family experience.”
During the ceremony, two candidates were recognized not only for their performance during OCS, but also for their extraordinary stories of overcoming challenges throughout the program.
2nd Lt. Ricardo Martinez was honored for his family’s resilient journey from Mexico to the United States to pursue the American dream. His father, Jose Martinez, once a factory worker with a fifth-grade education, earned a degree in manufacturing engineering while working tirelessly to provide food on the table and opportunities for Ricardo and the rest of his family.
The perseverance of 2nd Lt. Luis Aju was also highlighted. He began his journey to become an officer in 2019 but suffered life-threatening injuries in an unprovoked assault, requiring multiple surgeries and years of rehabilitation. Despite receiving two Army separation letters and facing significant setbacks, Aju never gave up. In 2023, he was cleared to return and successfully completed the OCS program with Class 67-25.
“He scored near the top of the class in every assessment,” said Maj. Jack Rachau, the 2/238th battalion commander. “Both physically and mentally, he is ready.”
As Class 67-25 moves on to their respective units and branches, and as the next OCS class begins, the ceremony served as a powerful reminder of the grit, discipline, and sacrifice required to earn the gold bar, the rank of second lieutenant, and become a future leader of the Kentucky Army National Guard.