DEVILS LAKE About 45 soldiers in the North Dakota Army National Guard took the first step to becoming officers this past weekend. Eagle Flight offered a way to explore the next level of leadership in the Guard without making any commitments.
Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, adjutant general for the N.D. National Guard, and Brig. Gen. William Seekins, land component commander, addressed the interested Guardsmen, as did other officers familiar with the commissioning routes and branch specialties.
"We seek leaders of character and this program is a great way to introduce our Guardsmen to the requirements and aspects of becoming a commissioned officer in the North Dakota Army National Guard," said Sprynczynatyk. "Commissioned officers, together with our professional noncommissioned officer corps, form the leadership teams vital to the continued success of our organization."
ROTC, the State Officer Candidate School program, Warrant Officer Candidate School and direct commission were covered. Each program takes a different route to becoming an officer. Once commissioned, officers have the opportunity for follow-on training in a number of branches, which also were discussed. Soldiers learned more about becoming officers in career fields such as aviation, quartermaster, ordnance, military intelligence, transportation, engineer, military police, signal, air defense, field artillery and chaplain.