By Sgt. 1st Class Scott D. Longstreet, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office
PINEVILLE – Families, friends and fellow service members filled the Post Theater at Camp Beauregard in Pineville, Louisiana, to watch nine officer candidates become commissioned officers during a graduation ceremony for Officer Candidate School Class 66T on August 22, 2026.
The candidates participated in the Louisiana Army National Guard’s traditional Officer Candidate School program, which began in June 2025 and consisted of 15 months of training conducted in three phases. Phase I was conducted at Fort McClellan, Alabama, Phase II at Camp Beauregard and Phase III at Fort McClellan, Ala.
The 199th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) hosted the graduation ceremony. Maj. Gen. Michael Greer, Louisiana National Guard assistant adjutant general, served as the presiding officer.
The ceremony began with the Louisiana Youth Challenge Program color guard presenting the national and state colors, followed by remarks from Greer.
“To Class 66T, congratulations on reaching this defining milestone. This is a day you and your loved ones will remember for the rest of your lives,” Greer said. “To the families and friends, thank you. It is your unwavering love and support that brought these new lieutenants to this momentous stage. Every officer’s journey begins with a gold bar as a second lieutenant. Your time as a lieutenant will be the crucible to your development as an officer. Honor your commitment, stick with it.”
Following Greer’s remarks, the members of Class 66T presented him with a gift as a token of their appreciation for attending the ceremony.
The presentation of class awards followed.
Army Air Assault School certificates were presented to the top three officer candidates who earned the opportunity to attend Air Assault School at Fort Johnson, Louisiana. The recipients were Senior Officer Candidates Sebastian Cruz, Jonathan Hamilton and Addie Pearson.
The National Guard Association of Louisiana Award was presented to Senior Officer Candidate Addie Pearson. The award recognizes the candidate who achieved the highest physical training scores during the OCS program.
Senior Officer Candidate Jonathan Hamilton received the Academic Award, which recognizes graduates with the highest academic average based on examination scores.
The Leadership Award was presented to Senior Officer Candidate Sebastian Cruz. The award recognizes the graduate who demonstrated the highest level of leadership ability, as determined by the OCS chain of command.
Cruz also received the Erickson Award, presented to the second highest-ranking graduate who demonstrated excellence in leadership, academics and physical training. He also received the Army Achievement Medal for his exemplary performance during OCS.
The final class award, the Adjutant General’s Award, was presented to Hamilton. The award recognizes the candidate with the highest combined score in leadership, academics and physical training. Hamilton also received the Army Commendation Medal for his outstanding performance during OCS.
Senior Officer Candidate Marlon Francis, the designated officer candidate for Class 66T, delivered the class address.
“We came into this program from different backgrounds, different units, different careers and different walks of life,” Francis said. “But somewhere along the way, we stopped being a group of individuals and became a team. We learned to depend on one another. We learned that leadership is not about being the loudest person in the room. Sometimes leadership is listening, sometimes it is stepping forward, and still other times it is stepping back to let others lead.”
Francis concluded his remarks by thanking the OCS cadre and instructors, family members and loved ones, and his fellow graduates.
Following the class address and a short video presentation, the nine graduates received their diplomas.
Four graduates will join the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team: Xavier Barrett, 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment; Maria Black, 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment; Sebastian Cruz, 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment; and Nicholas Lout, 769th Brigade Engineer Battalion.
Three graduates will join the 225th Engineer Brigade: William Bartle, 205th Engineer Battalion; Marlon Francis, 527th Engineer Battalion; and Connor Robicheaux, 205th Engineer Battalion.
Addie Pearson will join the 61st Troop Command, while Jonathan Hamilton will join the 415th Military Intelligence Battalion, 139th Regional Support Group.
Maj. Chad R. Scallan, OCS Academy commander, administered the Oath of Office following the presentation of diplomas.
The ceremony concluded with family members pinning gold bars onto the shoulders of the newly commissioned second lieutenants, followed by the benediction and singing of the Army Song.
Louisiana is one of seven states in the Southern Region of the One Army School System. The other states are Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee.