La. Guard graduates new class of officers

PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana National Guard’s 199th Leadership Regiment held a graduation ceremony to commission 33 new officers at Tioga High School in Ball, Aug. 27.
Louisiana’s officer candidate school is designed to commission the future leaders of the Army National Guard.

On August 3, the 199th Leadership Regiment was awarded the highest accreditation level possible by the Training and Doctrine Command. This honor exemplifies the school’s achievement of exceeding the standards of strong doctrine, organization, training, material, leadership and education, personnel and facilities. The 199th Leadership Regiment has conducted an OCS program since July 1960.

Since graduating the first class in August 1961, 1,523 second lieutenants have been commissioned as of March 2011. Officer candidates may either attend the ‘traditional’ officer candidate school one weekend a month and two annual training sessions over a period of 18 months, or attend the full-time 8-week ‘accelerated’ course.

Several awards were presented to both the traditional and accelerated classes including:

National Guard Association of Louisiana Award (Physical Fitness)
Traditional: 2nd Lt. Michael Buenaventura
Accelerated: 2nd Lt. Tolliver Washington

Academic Board Award (Academics)
Traditional: 2nd Lt. James Willet
Accelerated: 2nd Lt. Joel Heifner

Leadership Award
Traditional: 2nd Lt. Philip Bourgere
Accelerated: 2nd Lt. Damon Tourere

Association of the United States Army Award (Leadership)
Traditional: 2nd Lt. Danielle Mayer

Erickson Award (Distinguished Graduate)
2nd Lt. James Willet

Adjutant General’s Award (Honor Graduate) by Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Landreneau
2nd Lt. Daniel Aiken

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