About this Unit
The Officer Candidate School (OCS) Rhode Island is a pivotal training unit located at Camp Varnum, Narragansett, Rhode Island. Established in 1957, OCS Rhode Island has been responsible for commissioning officers for the Rhode Island Army National Guard and other state National Guard units. The program provides rigorous leadership and military training to qualified enlisted personnel and civilians, preparing them for service as second lieutenants. Over the decades, OCS Rhode Island has upheld a reputation for excellence, producing capable leaders who have served with distinction both domestically and abroad.
Historical Facts
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Oldest OCS Program: The Rhode Island Army National Guard Officer Candidate School (OCS), based at Camp Varnum, is the oldest continuously operating OCS program in the National Guard, tracing its roots back to 1957.
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Camp Varnum History: OCS Rhode Island is conducted at Camp Varnum, a former coastal artillery installation built in 1942 during World War II to protect Narragansett Bay.
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National Guard Bureau Model: The Rhode Island OCS program was used as a model for establishing other state and regional OCS programs across the nation.
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Graduates Serve Nationwide: Although run by the Rhode Island National Guard, graduates have come from, and gone on to serve in, Army National Guard units across the United States.
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Unique Regimental System: The OCS Battalion is part of the 243rd Regiment (Regional Training Institute), one of the first regiments in the National Guard to be organized specifically for officer training.
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Women Candidates: Rhode Island OCS was among the first National Guard OCS programs to accept female officer candidates after the integration of women into the National Guard in the 1970s.
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Annual "March to the Sea": A traditional culminating event for each OCS class is a grueling "March to the Sea," a long-distance road march from Camp Fogarty to Camp Varnum, testing leadership and endurance.
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Historic Awards: The program maintains a tradition of awarding the Erickson Trophy to the top graduate, named after a distinguished former Adjutant General of Rhode Island.
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Alumni in High Positions: Many OCS Rhode Island graduates have gone on to serve as generals, state Adjutants General, and in significant leadership roles in both military and civilian sectors.
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Community Involvement: OCS candidates frequently volunteer in local Rhode Island communities, participating in Memorial Day ceremonies, parades, and veterans’ outreach events as part of their leadership development.
