Palmetto Military Academy Association

Palmetto Military Academy Association

Newsletter

July 2001

Editor: 1LT Michelle Story

PMAA Board Members

MAJ Ronnie Finley, President

rfinley@carol.net

COL (R) Joel Cassidy, Vice President

1926 Niagra Drive, Camden, SC 29020

1LT Michelle Story, Secretary

storymr@hotmail.com

1LT Robert Shealy, Treasurer

Rob.Shealy@bankofamerica.com

COL (Ret) Harvey Shackelford, Dir. 1 yr.

hshackelford@mindspring.com

LTC (Ret) Lee Brinkley, Dir. 1 yr.

4611 Arcadia Road, Columbia, SC 29206

CPT Larry Saunders, Dir. 1 yr.

saundersL@mtc.mid.tec.sc.us

MAJ Christine Glover, Dir. 2 yrs.

cglover@compuzone.net

CPT Todd Helms, Dir. 2 yrs.

dtoddhelms@aol.com

CPT Edward E. Baker, Dir. 2 yrs.

Edward. Baker@sc.ngb.army.mil

COL Phil Grubbs, Imm. Past President

pgrubbs@svh.richland2.org

LTC Matthew Chandler, Ex Officio (BN CDR)

c/o MSG Mark Beasley

beasleyrm@sc-arng.ngb.army.mil

Terms begin in March

What are the Objectives of

PMAA?

To promote the leadership principles and objectives of the OCS program embodied in Palmetto Military Academy.
To support the objectives of the National Guard Association of South Carolina.
To promote Esprit de Corps among alumni and supporters of Palmetto Military Academy by providing a forum for fellowship through personal association each year at the National Guard Association of South Carolina annual meeting and at such other times as deemed appropriate.
To provide assistance for programs and projects of the Palmetto Military Academy.

The Latest and Greatest of PMA

The OCS Battalion conducted Phase I OCS from 2-16 Jun 01. 191 Officer Candidates (OCs) registered from throughout Region C. 178 OCs completed the phase.

Class 53: 29 of 30 candidates from South Carolina successfully completed Phase I. Three (3) of those candidates entered the Accelerated Program and are currently at the 196^th RTI, Ft. Meade, Maryland for Phase II. Phase II for them will be 30 Jun - 27 Jul 01. From there, they will go to Ft Lewis, Washington for Phase III, 28 Jul - 10 Aug 01.

The remaining 26 candidates will be joined by 2 OCs from a previous class to start Class 53 Phase II (IDT), beginning with the 20-21 July drill.

Class 52: The 17 remaining candidates of OCS will go to Ft. Benning 7-21 Jul 01 for Phase III. CPT Roll and SFC Johnson will accompany them. CPT Bob Downs, who served as Project Officer for Class 53 Phase I, is the Phase III Rotation Commander for the Battalion.

Graduation will be held at McCrady Training Site on 4 Aug 01.

July will be the last drill CPT Jeff Jones will be with us. He is transferring to the 151^st FA Bde. The current staffing of the OCS Battalion is:

BN CDR: LTC Matt Chandler

BN OPS SGT: MSG Mark Beasley

CO A (PMA) CDR: MAJ Erick Gaddis

Senior TAC: CPT Kate Roll

TAC Officer: CPT Chris Meetze

TAC Officer: CPT Andrew Johnson (starts in July)

TAC NCO: SFC Frank Haskell

TAC NCO: SFC Stephen Johnson (started in May)

Senior Instructor: CPT Ted Vick

Instructor: CPT Ray Graham, Jr

Instructor: CPT Jon Whitley

Admin SGT: SSG John Wilson

Membership update

As of 12 Jul 01, we have 120 lifetime members and 85 annual members. We want to thank all of you for your continued support of PMAA.

For all of you who have just received an invitation for membership, we will validate your membership through 2002.

From the President…

Major Finley

(What is Military Leadership…)

Army Field Manual FM 22-100 defines military leadership as the ability to influence others to accomplish the mission in an efficient and timely manner. The revered Chinese general Sun Tzu, who wrote The Art of War over 2,000 years ago, said a leader must be resourceful, able and wise.

While these things are indisputably true, leadership is far more than this.

Leadership is the continual pursuit of excellence in oneself, one's subordinates, one's peers and one's unit. Although it is admirable for anyone to strive for excellence, a leader must instill excellence in others.

To accomplish this lofty goal the leader must set the example in all things.

The leader must set the example in job performance. He must be technically and tactically proficient. He must not only be able to perform his job in a superior manner, he must be able to teach others as well. In performance, a leader must be the veritable model of efficiency.

Leadership also means setting the example in duty. A leader must be devoted to duty and selfless in service. His dedication should be inspirational to those around him, resulting in an increased commitment to the unit and the mission.

Leadership further demands that the leader set the example in moral and ethical behavior. Although the mission must remain paramount, it is counterproductive to set aside one's basic morality and humanity in its pursuit. As John Paul Jones once said, "I would lay down my life for America, but I cannot trifle with my honor."

Honor, honesty and integrity are the watchwords of the leader. Otherwise he loses both himself and the respect of those who would follow him.

Leadership is also taking care of soldiers. This is possibly the single most important task of a leader. The leader must see to it that his soldiers are effectively trained and competent in their jobs. He must ensure that they have the proper tools and equipment to perform their mission. But even more importantly, the leader must see to the individual morale and personal welfare of each of his troops.

So then, a leader must set the example in job proficiency, devotion to duty, and integrity. Furthermore, the leader must assure that his soldiers are cared for. But leadership is more than this, too.

Leadership is selfless service to one's unit and country.

Leadership is putting one's troops ahead of oneself.

Leadership is keeping one's personal affairs in meticulous order.

Leadership is stalwart professionalism in the face of adversity.

Leadership is all these things and a thousand more.

But ultimately, leadership is being eminently capable and the absolute embodiment of the four soldierly values: courage, candor, competence and commitment. Such a leader will so motivate and inspire his subordinates that they will not only follow him into the pits of hell and back they will be glad for the opportunity to take the trip.

And that is what leadership means.

PMA Hall of Fame

COL James Lockaby will be inducted into the PMA Hall of Fame on August 4.

Colonel Lockaby's Army career began when he enlisted in the South Carolina Army National Guard in August, 1971 as a Communications Center Specialist. He then attended Palmetto Military Academy, (Officer Candidate School) and accepted his commission as a 2LT in the Signal Corps in 1974, followed by Signal Officers Basic Course at Fort Gordon. He was then assigned to the 108th Signal Battalion where he served as Platoon Leader, Battalion S1, and Company XO. After completion of the Signal Officers Advanced Course, COL Lockaby commanded Company C, 151st Signal Battalion. He was next assigned to the 228th Signal Brigade where he served as S3 Staff Officer.

Colonel Lockaby then returned to active duty in the Active Guard & Reserve program in 1985, where he has had assignments as: Curriculum Development Officer and Senior Instructor, Camp Robinson, Arkansas; Signal Organizational Integrator at the Department of the Army, Pentagon Washington, DC; Force Integration Officer, Deputy Assistant Commandant-ARNG, and Chief of Operations Battle Command Battle Lab, Fort Gordon, Georgia; Deputy Director of Joint Operations DISC4, Pentagon, Washington, DC; Reserve Component Signal Advisor to Forces Command, Fort McPherson, Georgia and currently as the Deputy Assistant Commandant, Fort Gordon, Georgia.

How to get on the

If any of your classmates would like to join they may participate on an annual basis or a lifetime. Annual membership costs are $10. Lifetime membership is a one-time fee of $100. Contact any board members if you have questions about being a member.

Send your dues to 1LT Shealy, 201 Mariannas Court, Lexington, SC 29072

This newsletter can be accessed through the NGASC web site: www.ngasc.org.