RTI graduates Basic Leadership Course Class 008-26

SANTA FE, N.M. – Cadre of 1st Battalion, 515th Regiment (RTI), graduated 57 Soldiers from Basic Leader Course Class 008-26 at the Regional Training Institute here today.

The graduating class included Soldiers from Regular Army, Army Reserve and Army National Guard units across the country, including five members of the New Mexico Army National Guard.

The NMARNG Graduates and their units were as follows.

• Spc. Aszha Charlie, 642nd Support Maintenance Company
• Sgt. Gage Estes, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 200th Infantry
• Sgt. Jacob Goodwin, 642nd Maintenance Company
• Sgt. Gael Moreno, 919th Military Police Company
• Spc. Isaac Sanchez, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 111th Sustainment Brigade
• Sgt. Joshua Young was the Distinguished Honor Graduate with the highest academic average in the class. He also graduated on the Commandant’s List, which recognizes the top 20 percent of the class.
• Sgt. Jose Levario was the Honor Graduate with the second highest academic average and graduated on the Commandant’s List.
• Spc. Ethan Lewis won the Distinguished Leadership Award and graduated on the Commandant’s List.
• Sgt. Diego Smaniego took home the Professional Military Subject Essay Award and the Iron Soldier Award by scoring 499 out of a possible 500 on the Army Fitness Test and graduated on the Commandant’s List.

RTI Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Pacheco, the Commandant, presented his challenge coin to each of the award recipients.

Sgt. Jorge Olvera, Spc. Dmarkus Haynes, Spc. Mohamad Al Ali, Sgt. Brandon Richards, Sgt. Eleazar Garcia, Sgt. Akela Morrison, Spc. Ewan Clark and Sgt. Isaiah Pettiford rounded out the Commandant’s List.

Pacheco also coined Sgt. Devin Williams for serving as the Student First Sergeant. Williams led the class and audience in reciting the Creed of the Noncommissioned Officer near the end of the ceremony.

Staff Sgt. Andy Almaraz was named as the Instructor of the Cycle and received a coin from Pacheco.

The Learning Center 1 Samurais won Friday’s Commandant’s Cup. The Learning Center teams compete against each other to complete basic Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills in the fastest time. The winning Learning Center receives a customized identification tag bearing their team’s name to be displayed outside their classroom for future students to see.

Staff Sergeants Johnathon Bierma, Alberto Rivera and Teresa Sauceda are the facilitators for Learning Center 1. Bierma accepted the prize on behalf of the team.

Staff Sgt. Jonathan Mora led a detail of three students during a presentation of “The History of the Noncommissioned Officer” at the beginning of the ceremony.

Staff Sgt. Tylure Bazzy served as master of ceremonies.

Retired Sgt. 1st Class Orvie Baker Jr. provided the guest speech.

Baker enlisted for active duty as a Single Channel Radio Operator with the U.S. Army in 1988. After completing his initial training, he was assigned to 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 73rd Armor Regiment, at Fort Bragg, N.C. During his career, he went on to serve as a squad leader, platoon sergeant, recruiter, equal opportunity advisor, and finally as an instructor at the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) before retiring in 2008.

Baker’s service took him around the world, including deployments to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iraq. His awards and decorations include the Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the Gold Recruiter Badge with three sapphire stars.

He now serves as the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) coordinator for the 93rd Troop Command in Santa Fe. He delivered today’s speech in a pressed 1980’s Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) and polished jump boots.

“Study your art. Practice your art,” Baker told the graduates. “What is leadership? It’s an art.”

Lt. Col. Denise Vargas, commander of 1st Battalion, 515th Regiment, and 1st Sgt. Joseph Ortega, the RTI’s Deputy Commandant, joined Pacheco and Baker in the official party.