Seven Southeast Show-Me Gold program members commissioned as National Guard second lieutenants

The Missouri National Guard commissioned seven new second lieutenants, from Southeast Missouri State University's Show-Me Gold program on Saturday, Sept. 10.

Zach Woehr was awarded the Rock PT Award for the highest score in physical training as well.

Levi Murphy, Tylor Floyd, Woehr, Josh Martin, Jacob Krueger, Brian Bickmeyer and Logan Young completed Officer Candidate School on July 29 in Fort Meade, South Dakota.

The eight-week OCS program consisted of three phases that allowed each candidate to demonstrate their physical, mental and leadership strength that qualifies them to become second lieutenants. Candidates participated in physical training tests, land navigation exercises and lead mock missions and completed a leadership evaluation.

"I've been to a number of schools, but this was the most mentally challenging school I've been to," Floyd said. "You're completely set up to fail, but at the same time, they want the soldiers and leaders who won't quit even if they fail."

Floyd joined the National Guard in 2013 after serving four years as an active duty infantryman in the United States Army. He joined the National Guard in order to attend school and is an exercise science major at Southeast.

"I joined the Army when I was 18 years old," Floyd said. "I had always wanted to join. My dad was in, my brother is in the Air Force, we had a good friend die in Iraq when I was young, so after all that, I just decided that was what I wanted to do. [I joined the National Guard] because I wanted to go to school. That was my goal when my contract was up. I wanted to go to school and stay somewhat in. I can use the benefits from the Army and National Guard."

As a second lieutenant, Floyd will be an infantry platoon officer in charge of leading a platoon of fellow infantrymen. Besides learning new physical and leadership skills, Floyd said OCS taught him not to give up.

"The first week I was there, I thought that I might not be cut out for it," Floyd said. "But I looked deep and just convinced myself not to give up even if they kicked me out."

Floyd said he plans to stay a member of the National Guard for life and hopes to continue to improve lower-level leadership and his own leadership abilities.

While at OCS, the Southeast Show-Me Gold members rarely saw one another. Floyd said he and Murphy were a floor apart and didn't see each other until the end of the program.

Murphy joined the Show-Me Gold program in 2014 and has been training for OCS ever since. Murphy was one of the National Guard soldiers activated to Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014 after Missouri Governor Jay Nixon issued a state of emergency in the city after the shooting of Michael Brown. Murphy said he joined the National Guard to serve his country.

"I always wanted to serve my country," Murphy said. "I was in kindergarten or first grade when 9/11 happened, and I remembered it and wanted to serve. That's why I do what I do."

Murphy was not accepted into the Army ROTC but heard about the Gold Program and decided to join the National Guard.

"I saw an opportunity to become an officer and I took it," Murphy said.

As a second lieutenant, Murphy will be a transportation officer planning convoys and supply routes. He originally enlisted as an infantryman, but branched out to transportation and will spend next summer furthering his education in transportation.

Murphy said the Show-Me Gold Program prepared him to be an officer.

"The Gold Program prepares you for OCS," Murphy said. "You don't need to do it, you don't have to do it, it's not required to become an officer, but it helps."

Murphy said he wants to stay in the National Guard long enough to eventually become a general.

Southeast's Show-Me Gold program was the most represented program in the state of Missouri. Candidates from Missouri Southern University in Joplin, Missouri, also were commissioned.