Satcher graduates from officers candidate school

Joanna Lauren Satcher, 22, of Laurel graduated from Marine Corps Officer Candidates School (OCS) on Friday, Aug. 15 at Quantico, Va.

She is the daughter of John N. Satcher of Laurel and Charlotte R. Satcher of Oxford and currently resides in Knoxville, Tenn., where she is a graduating senior with a major in political science at the University of Tennessee.

Satcher was enrolled in the Platoon Leader’s Class at OCS, which consists of two separate summers of six-week training sessions with the first summer being PLC Juniors and the second, PLC Seniors.

Overall the training consists of evaluating candidates in physical fitness, academics, and leadership ability. The mission of OCS is to “train, evaluate, and screen officer candidates to ensure they possess the moral, intellectual, and physical qualities for commissioning, and the leadership potential to serve successfully as company grade officers in the Operating Forces.”

Satcher is a Lance Corporal of Marines and currently drills as a Select Reservist within the 4th MLG, 4th Medical Battalion, Alpha Surgical Company located in Knoxville, Tenn.

“So far I love everything that I have experienced within the Marine Corps – from the physical fitness aspect, to the comradeship amongst fellow Marines, to the training as a whole. I can only admit that I am ready for more and, God willing, I plan on learning all I can and doing all I can in order to become the best officer I am capable of being to serve my country.”

Satcher will have met all requirements for her commissioning with her recent graduation from OCS along with her graduation from the University of Tennessee in May 2009. When she graduates in May, she will hold a commissioning ceremony to be conducted by her Officer Selection Officers Captain Jonas Buring and Master Sergeant Gregory Crew, who will pin her as a Second Lieutenant of Marines.

From there she plans on attending law school, followed by six months of The Basic School (TBS), in order to become a United States Marine Corps officer attorney within the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG).

Sgt. John W. Wildman

Marine Corps Sgt. John W. Wildman, a 1999 graduate of West Jones High School, along with fellow Marines and sailors of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, Marine Corps Base, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, recently completed a seven-month deployment to Al Anbar province, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terror.

The “Island Warriors” performed security operations in the regions of Karma and Zaidon as well as conducting partnered operations with Iraqi Security Forces.

As part of the operations, the Marines lived with and taught the Iraqi Police and Provincial Security Forces on professionalism in preparation to become an independent force.

Additionally, the battalion conducted more than $10 million in civil military projects from repairing schools and clinics, to paving roads and rebuilding bridges.