The New York Army National Guard commissioned seven new officers August 13, 2023, at the Museum of American Armor in Old Bethpage, NY, following their successful completion of the New York and Connecticut National Guard Army Officer Candidate School.
Among them was Tyler Pratt, from Churchville, who received an officer’s commission as a second lieutenant in the Military Police branch and will go on to serve with the 105th Military Police Company in Buffalo. Pratt received his new rank insignia during the pinning ceremony from his wife, Leanna.
Pratt enlisted directly into the New York Army National Guard Officer Candidate Program in August 2021. He is a Police Officer with the Town of Gates Police Department. Second Lieutenant Pratt received his first salute from Spc. Michael Shipma.
Officer Candidate School is a three-phase training course that lasts approximately 15 months to prepare officer candidates for the challenges and opportunities to lead Soldiers in the New York Army National Guard.
Training began for this year’s class in the spring of 2022 held both at Camp Smith, New York and Camp Niantic, Connecticut. Skills included physical fitness training, land navigation, road marches, warrior tasks and the fundamentals of leadership.
Candidates then continued into an 11-month phase two of regular drill training to provide a foundation of Army leadership, military ethics, military justice, communication skills, military history and tactics.
The final phase encompassed a two-week training session where candidates were evaluated in their leadership skills while conducting tactics in a field environment.
The Officer Candidate School is administered by the New York Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 106th Regional Training Institute and Camp Smith, New York, in conjunction with the Connecticut Army National Guard.
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