Southeastern Oklahoma State University
03/12/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/12/2026 09:14
SE Guard Officer Leadership Development (GOLD) program launches with uncasing of guidon and debut of unit patch
SE Guard Officer Leadership Development (GOLD) program launches with uncasing of guidon and debut of unit patch
March 12, 2026
The Southeastern Oklahoma State University Guard Officer Leadership Development (GOLD) program officially launched Wednesday afternoon with a ceremony at Legacy Plaza including the uncasing of the unit guidon and application on members of the unit patch.
The ceremony opened with Oklahoma Army National Guard 2nd Battalion 189th Regiment Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Richelle Treece formally assigning unit authority to Capt. Eric Langley, the GOLD Program Officer in Charge with the uncasing and display of the guidon.
A military guidon flag
A guidon is a small, swallow-tailed flag carried by the unit to signify its designation and branch. It acts as a rallying point and symbol of unit pride, carried by a designated bearer during formations and ceremonies. The SE GOLD program's logo and guidon was designed in conjunction with the University Marketing office.
Following the uncasing of the guidon, the official unit shoulder sleeve insignia was unveiled and attached to the uniform of program members. This insignia signifies soldiers' official integration into the formation. They wear it with pride, knowing they are part of a team standing ready to accomplish any mission, anywhere, anytime.
A military patch on a uniform
The GOLD Program is a recently inaugurated leadership program available to Southeastern students and Oklahoma National Guard Soldiers attending SE, forming the next generation of National Guard leaders. Academic and leadership training is built into the curriculum of study at Southeastern, with Student-Soldiers completing an exclusive military science minor.
During classes, leadership labs, physical training and field training exercises Student-Soldiers will learn what it takes to lead others, motivate groups, and conduct missions as an Army Officer. Upon completion of the GOLD Program and Officer Candidate School, Student-Soldiers earn the rank of Second Lieutenant and become a commissioned officer in the Army National Guard.
"When we uncase the guidon of a unit or program, it signifies that the mission has officially begun. Today, we are not simply opening a program. We are beginning a partnership that will shape the future of soldiers, students, and the communities that we serve. On a personal note, when I look at this program, I think how remarkable it is because I know what education looked like for many of us who came before these soldiers," said Lt. Col. Treese.
"Education for many of us happened whenever and wherever we could make it work. My classes started in field offices during deployments, taking courses at night after a long day. And later, like many service members, I completed my degrees online while balancing military service, work, and my family. Even today while studying my doctoral degree, I still have never actually attended a traditional brick and mortar university campus as a student. That was simply how many of us pursued our education. We fit it within the margins of our service. That's why this program like this here is so exciting. Soldiers in the GOLD Program will not have to choose between service and education. And they won't have to squeeze it into the margin of their lives."
"You have seven GOLD Program members - six candidates, one lieutenant - here at Southeastern. And every single one of them have outstanding character. You can be proud of them," remarked Captain Langley. "They are morally competent soldiers who make good decisions and they inspire me. They may not believe that because I'm hard on them. I require a lot of them, but they answer the challenge. Not one of them has been on the verge of quitting when I put them through the pressure cooker. They responded and they respond well. I'm proud of them and you can be proud of them too.
"They've contributed to our society and our school as well. During the ice storm, one of our candidates volunteered to come out and scrape sidewalks so that students could get to and from class safely. They've helped with graduation ceremonies without getting paid. They volunteered that time to try to give back to our school. And I recently found out one of my soldiers assisted with a car accident and likely saved the lives of the people inside that car accident. These are soldiers that you can be proud of."
The ceremony officiant was Col. Phil Hemmert, Commander, 189th Regional Training Institute. Distinguished guests at the ceremony included State Command Sgt. Maj. John Hernandez, Sgt. Maj. Michael Hearon (Ret.), Col. Bobby Yandell (Ret.), Sgt. Maj. Chris Ritter, Sgt. Maj. Brad Holley, and commanders, first sergeants, and other members of the Oklahoma Army National Guard.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University published this content on March 12, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 12, 2026 at 15:14 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]