Va. Guard OCS commissions 17 new officers - Aug. 22, 2015

Seventeen officer candidates enrolled in the Virginia National Guard’s Officer Candidate School receive their commissions and graduate from OCS Aug. 22, 2015, at Fort Pickett’s 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute in front of family, friends and Virginia Army National Guard senior leaders. Brig. Gen. Walter L. Mercer, Virginia National Guard Assistant Adjutant General - Army, served as the guest speaker for the event and presenting the graduating candidates with their diplomas. Following receipt of their diplomas, family members pinned lieutenant bars on the new officers and they received their first salutes. Among the new officers, one was the first female to branch Field Artillery in the Virginia Army National Guard and another graduated from the U.S. Army’s challenging Air Assault Course the day before receiving her commission.