La. National Guard graduates new class of officers

PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana National Guard’s 199th Leadership Regiment held a graduation ceremony to commission 28 new officers at Camp Beauregard Theatre in Pineville, Aug. 24.

 

The mission of Louisiana’s Officer Candidate School is to train, mentor and commission the future leaders of the Army National Guard.

 

The 199th Leadership Regiment has conducted an OCS program since July 1960. Since graduating the first class in August 1961, more than 1,602 second lieutenants have been commissioned as of August 2012.

 

Officer candidates may either attend a ‘traditional’ officer candidate school one weekend a month and two annual training sessions over a period of 18 months, or attend an 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. Danny Reed of Baton Rouge, La.

Accelerated: 2nd Lt. Aaron Hunt of Opelousas, La.

 

Academic Board Award (Academics)

Traditional: 2nd Lt. Dwayne Petroski of Lake Charles, La.

Accelerated: 2nd Lt. Nicholas O’Bryan of Denham Springs, La.

 

Leadership Award

Traditional: 2nd Lt. Dwayne Petroski

Accelerated: 2nd Lt. Nicholas O’Bryan

 

Erickson Award (Distinguished Graduate)

2nd Lt. Danny Reed

Adjutant General’s Award (Honor Graduate)

2nd Lt. Dwayne Petroski