VNG celebrates commissioning of 10 new OCS graduates

The Virginia National Guard welcomed 10 new lieutenants to its ranks Sept. 17, 2023, during a commissioning ceremony for the graduates of Officer Candidate School Class 65, as well as Class 66A and 66B, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. Friends and family members gathered at the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute to celebrate the new lieutenants and the Troutville-based 29th Division Band provided musical accompaniment during the ceremony. 

Lt. Col. Christian Perronie, battalion commander of 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute’s 3rd Battalion, which includes the VNG’s OCS, provided opening remarks for the ceremony. She described OCS as “an extremely rigorous and mentally challenging program,” and called attention to the key training events the candidates conquered during their OCS experience, including multiple written exams, road marches, weapons training and various academics. 

“I am not going to tell you that the road gets easier from here, but I am going to say that you pave your own way,” Perronie said. “I challenge you to take on your new assignments and really be the best that you can be.” 

Col. Kurt K. Kobernik served as the guest speaker for the event, and provided the candidates with five points of advice.

“You are expected to be a leader at all times regardless of who is there to watch you. You must remain disciplined and enforce discipline within your peer group and your subordinates. Next, you are expected to lead by example. Everyone around you is watching, whether you know it or not,” Kobernik said. “The third thing is to build trust. Trust is fundamental to everything you will do as a leader, […] and the fourth thing is to demonstrate personal courage. As an officer you will make mistakes - own those mistakes! Good leaders must admit when they are wrong and work to fix their mistakes. Lastly, everything you do must promote and foster unity of effort.” 

Perronie administered the oath of office to the candidates and then, one by one, they came forward to be recognized and pinned with their new second lieutenant rank, starting with those candidates who distinguished themselves by exceeding course standards. 

The graduating class of the Virginia National Guard’s Officer Candidate School Class 65 is as follows:

• 2nd Lt. Brandon A. Jennings will branch adjutant general corps and will serve in the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. As the distinguished honor graduate for his class, he received the coveted Erickson Trophy, which is a replica of the “Sons of Liberty” Bowl designed and executed by Paul Revere. For his OCS success, he also received an Army Commendation Medal. He was pinned by his partner and children and his first salute was administered by his father, retired U.S. Army Master Sgt. Eric Jennings. 
• 2nd Lt. Matthew Dorr will branch military intelligence and will serve in the Fredericksburg-based 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th IBCT. He was awarded the Col. James B. Moore III Award in recognition for his improved leadership over the duration of OCS. Dorr serves as a foreign service officer for the U.S. Department of State in Tanzania and was unable to be present for the commissioning ceremony. 
• 2nd Lt. Simon R. Farrow will branch engineer and will serve in the 229th BEB. He earned the highest academic average on the nine exam modules given during OCS and was awarded the Commandant’s Award for Academic Excellence. He was pinned by his father. 
• 2nd Lt. Hunter B. Griffis will branch ordnance and will serve in the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment. Griffis earned the highest average on leadership evaluations during OCS and was awarded the Capt. Harry Q. Rose Leadership Excellence Award. He was pinned by his wife, their child and his father and his first salute was administered by his father-in-law, retired U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Joe Flores. 
• 2nd  Lt. Jorge Villavicencio will branch engineer and will serve in the 229th BEB. He was pinned by two of his brothers and his first salute was administered by his other brother, retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Chase Villavicencio. 

The graduating class of the Virginia National Guard’s Officer Candidate School Class 65A is as follows:

• 2nd Lt. Matthew Hansen will branch military intelligence and will serve in the 229th BEB. His mentor, retired U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Peter McGrath pinned him, while his mentor retired U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Don Eldridge administered his first salute. 
• 2nd Lt. Ulises Pastran will branch ordnance and will serve in the Winchester-based Hotel Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He was pinned by his wife and his first salute was administered by Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Kolb, a member of the OCS cadre team. 
• 2nd Lt. Tyler Youtzy will branch engineer and will serve in the Fort Barfoot-based 157th Engineer Platoon, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group. He was pinned by his mother and his first salute was given by his friend, Sgt. Nickolas Gilbert. 

The graduating class of the Virginia National Guard’s Officer Candidate School Class 65B is as follows:

• 2nd Lt. Andon Rangelov will branch artillery and will serve in the Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th IBCT. He was pinned by his wife and his first salute was administered by his former squad leader, Staff Sgt. Jake Locas. 
• 2nd Lt. Charles Ware will branch military intelligence and will serve in the 229th BEB. He was pinned by his wife and son and his first salute was administer by Kolb.