While the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Leadership Training Course has moved from Joint Base Lewis-McChord to Ft. Knox, the training for the National Guard's Officer Candidate School (OCS) will still be conducted here. For many years, the OCS and ROTC programs were run concurrently since much of the training could be handled jointly.

Starting this year, the Guard's annual OCS training will be run by members of the 2nd Battalion, 205th Regiment (Regional Training Institute), which is commanded by Lt. Col. Yong J. Lee and stationed at Camp Murray. Interestingly enough, this year the program is also being assessed as part of the routine every three-year parameter followed by the Army, so the pressure to achieve accreditation is also present.

As a result, the staffing levels have increased from 77 citizen soldiers to almost 200 this year. Furthermore, in previous years, most of the operation was overseen and conducted by ROTC staff members. However, this year if a candidate goes to the medical clinic, a National Guard doctor or medic will see them. The National Guard will also be responsible for transportation, setting up and providing tents as well as running key training events like the Water Confidence Course, Rappel Tower or the Situational Training Exercise.

"Besides the increase in staffing, the increased logistical requirements have also been significant.  We are now providing our own radios, our own vehicles, tents, generators and more," said Battalion Operations Sergeant and Chief Instructor Master Sgt. Christine Viene, who added that despite the changes, the training's integrity will be maintained.

The OCS training will still occur on JBLM, however, to include Leschi Town, the Confidence Course and the Leadership Reaction Course. JBLM will also provide a variety support in the way of maintenance for the training areas and providing soldiers for opposing forces. Meals will also be provided by a JBLM dining facility.  

"There is a great deal of coordination required and their experience and knowledge have been invaluable," she stated. "All of the support from the soldiers and civilian employees of JBLM greatly enhance the quality, realism, and safety of the training that we're conducting."

One group of over 200 candidates will come thru the training, which will commence on July 18 and run through Aug. 1. The officer candidates hail from 21 states, which allows for them to not only learn best practices, but also build friendships that might not have come about otherwise.

While ROTC cadets are fulltime college students and poised to start their military careers, the National Guard officer candidates are older, often have previous military experience as enlisted soldiers and have fulltime civilian careers.  In fact, they have to be commissioned before their 42nd birthday, so ages can range between early 20s to early 40s.

"They have a bit more life experience than the average ROTC cadet and because of this depth of knowledge and life experience, we also expect more from our candidates," Viene said.

"We have some candidates that are in college part-time but most have already completed their college and are now working in their careers. We have working lawyers, nurses, and businessmen, as well as an IRS Tax Examiner, National Park Service Ranger and a high school principal in our current class," Viene added.

Since they have already completed all of their classroom preparation prior to OCS, the candidates will go on to be commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the Army National Guard upon completion of this summer course.

"The benefit is being able to see the candidates demonstrate their leadership skills in a difficult and complex environment," she concluded. "It's very rewarding to be part of this experience and guide them to the next level as they assume their role of leaders."