TWO CASCADE COUGARS/NATIONAL GUARD RECRUITS GET PROMOTED IN FRONT OF LOVED ONES!!
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On October 22nd I had the honor of promoting two Cascade High School 2020 graduates from the rank of private E1 to private E2, private Zachary Sandau and Private Brandon White. The ceremony took place on the Cascade High School Football field in front of friends, family, teachers, coaches and former teammates. Both private White and Sandau earned the right be promoted prior to Basic Combat Training by completing the Oregon Army National Guards’s Stripes for Skills program. The program calls for each recruit to complete a number of several Soldiers tasks which include: passing Army Physical Fitness Test, drill & ceremony, rank memorization, land navigation, memorizing the three Army General Orders, and more.
It is often customary during military promotions to have family and/or friends pin the new rank on the service member. For today’s promotion ceremony private Sandau chose to have his mother Deanna Sandau and grandfather Daniel Sandau a former National Guard member pin him. Private White had his brother Justin Sandau and former head football coach Brandon Bennett do the honor. Each rank completed is a major step forward and rite of passage for our military members, I know this day will be a memorable for years to come.
Both privates Sandau and White will be shipping to Basic Combat Training at Ft. Jackson South Carolina, Sandau leaves on the 26th of October and White Leaves on the 2nd of November. Once the complete Basic Training they will move on to their respective Military Occupational (MOS) training which is call Advanced Individual Training or AIT for short. Private Sandau will stay at Ft. Jackson for his AIT where he will be attend (36B) Financial Management Technician training. Private White will head to Ft. Huachuca, Arizona for his AIT to attend (35F) Intelligence Analyst training. Upon completion of training they will return to Oregon where they will maintain their learned skills on a one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer basis. This part-time service will all both to take advantage of the 100% state tuition assistance program allowing them to attend any Oregon public college or university tuition free! Private Sandau will be reporting to Joint Forces Headquarters located in Salem, Oregon while private While will be reporting to HHC 141 BSB located in Portland, Oregon.
I am very proud of both these recruits, they worked hard to get promoted early and the leadership skills they developed on the field with Cascade Track and Football will help them to become outstanding Soldiers in the future. It is an honor to help these young men find a path to success that allows them to service their country and community, Oregon Army National Guard, We Live Here, We Serve Here!!