2nd Lt. Jordan Salzman of Loves Park, Illinois, 2nd Lt. Michael Raymond of St. Jacob, Illinois, and 2nd Lt. Nicholas Marsh of Boise, Idaho, were each awarded the Army Achievement Medal for having the highest overall leadership evaluation scores resulting in a three-way tie throughout the 129th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) Officer Candidate School. Twenty-two Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers and one U.S. Army Reserve Soldier graduated from the program Aug. 21 in a ceremony at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Springfield, Illinois. The Illinois Army National Guard's Officer Candidate School transforms enlisted non-commissioned officers and qualified civilians into U.S. Army officers. The future leaders complete more than 661 hours of classroom and field instruction, must meet the commissioning standards of the U.S. Army and be examined, and approved by a federal recognition board.