2006 WVNG Annual Report PDF - West Virginia Army National Guard

West Virginia National Guard Annual Report 2006197 th Regiment (Regional Training Institute)The 197th Regiment, Regional Training Institute (RTI) located at Camp Dawson,Kingwood is a state-of-the-art training institution that continues to be a combat multiplier for theWest Virginia Army National Guard and the United States Army. The 197th Regiment is committedto providing challenging, realistic and quality training for today's Soldiers. The 197thRegiment's curriculum includes the following: NoncommissionedOfficer Education System (NCOES)Training, Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) Training,Officer Candidate School (OCS), CombatLifesaver Course, Company Level Pre CommandCourse, Total Army Instructor Training Course(TAITC) and Small Group Instructor (SGI) Training.The 197th Regiment is part of The Army SchoolSystem, subject to rigorous education and trainingaccreditation requirements. The Regiment'sNCOES programs are accredited by the U.S. ArmySergeant's Major Academy (USASMA). The 19Dand 19K MOS training program is accredited by the U.S. Army Armor Center and the Schoolfor Combat Arms. The OCS program is accredited by the U.S. Army Infantry School.In training year 2006, the 197th Regiment conducted 16 different training classes andtrained 351 Soldiers. Ninety-five percent (95%) or 334 of those students met graduationrequirements.The 197th Regiment graduated three officer candidates from the traditional OCS programand one officer candidate from the accelerated OCS program. Officer Candidate Carl E.Chidester II was the Class XLVII Distinguished Honor Graduate, recipient of the EricksonTrophy for distinguished leadership and academic ability, and recipient of the Physical FitnessAward for having the highest score on the Army physical fitness test. OC Brian L. Grose receivedthe Leadership Award. OC Adam M. Penfold received recognition as the Honor Graduateand also received the Academic Excellence Award.OC Penfold and OC Craig A. Lytton were branchedArmor and received their first duty assignment as CavalryPlatoon Leaders for the 150th Armored ReconnaissanceSquadron. OC Chidester and OC Grose werebranched Field Artillery and will serve the 201st FieldArtillery Battalion.With growth on the horizon for the 197th Regiment,the RTI is preparing for the addition of two Engineercompanies and a Military Police company to the organization.Beginning in training year 2007 the RTI will addMOS Training for Construction Equipment Operators(MOS 21E), Carpentry and Masonry Specialists (MOS 21W) and Military Police (MOS 31B).In addition to typical duties, members of the 197th Regiment answered the call to dutyduring one of the worst American disasters of all times. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina 10 ofthe 50 Soldiers assigned to the unit volunteered to deploy to the disaster- stricken areas ofLouisiana.62