The mission of the 1st Battalion, 235th Regiment Officer and Warrant Officer Candidate School is to provide trained and adaptive junior officers and warrant officers who are ready for leadership roles.
“In essence, our motto ‘Training Tomorrow’s Leaders’ is our mission – this is what the unit does now and at every training period,” said Lt. Col. Jason Inskeep, commander, 1st Battalion, 235th Regional Training Institute, during the opening ceremony for Officer Candidate School Phase I.
OCS Phase I is a consolidated effort among six states -- Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas -- to train the next generation of leaders at the Kansas Training Center in Salina, Kansas. To achieve success, the operations must have a significant supportive element. This year, the calling was answered by every major subordinate command in the Kansas Army National Guard.
“From Kansas, we have Soldiers representing the 35th Infantry Division, 69th Troop Command, 130th Field Artillery Brigade, 235th Regiment, and particularly the 635th Regional Support Group,” said Inskeep.
The OCS instruction consists of an introduction to leadership; recommending administrative and personnel actions; developing and counseling a subordinate; the role of the noncommissioned officer, officer or warrant officer; and map reading. Each candidate must pass three exams: leadership, a six-mile foot march, and a land navigation exam.
“This is critical so that units have competent and capable leaders to successfully lead their Soldiers and accomplish any mission they are given,” said Inskeep. “Simon Sinek says ‘The greatest contribution of a leader is to make other leaders,’ and I take this to heart as the commander of this battalion.”
“Leadership to me, in short, is when you inspire those around you to be better,” said Capt. Blake Hampton, an instructor from Nebraska. “Inspiring young officers to be better takes a particular philosophical approach. Teaching candidates leadership is not only teaching POI (Program of Instruction) and relating it to our current operational environment, but sharing life experiences and lessons learned, both in my successes and failures. Mistakes are lessons, and lessons will keep repeating themselves until learned.”
“Keep your head down, grind, and push forward, and you will be successful,” said Inskeep.