COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Soldiers from the 100th Missile Defense Brigade (Ground-based Midcourse Defense), 117th Space Battalion, and 49th Missile Defense Battalion (GMD) completed a seven-week certification course and received their diplomas at the GMDTraining Exercise Center's GMD Operator Course graduation at the headquarters building here Aug. 27.
Of the 15 graduates, three soldiers achieved the highest honors in the class. The course is a difficult class that takes a lot of dedication. And unlike the usual 70 percent or higher required to pass other Army classes, this class, which trains Soldiers to protect the nation from ballistic missile attack, requires enrollees to achieve at least 90 percent to pass.
Graduating as distinguished graduates were Master Sgt. Daniel Cardoza, senior supply sergeant; Sgt. Kenneth Edgeworth, a mechanic with the 49th Missile Defense Battalion; and Maj. Brian Gary, training officer with the 117th Space Battalion.
Each of these Soldiers were awarded Army Achievement Medals for their work as students at GTEC by Col. Greg Bowen, commander of the 100th MDB.
These students earned a grade average of 99.5 or higher throughout the class.
"I am very proud of every Soldier who graduates from the GMD Operator Course. The course is very demanding, with high standards. It gives me a lot of confidence in our operational crews knowing the rigorous training they have completed prior to serving on crew," said Bowen.
The same sentiments were echoed by the guest speaker during the ceremony.
"Your dedication and professionalism has been exhibited these past seven weeks," said Timothy Yopek, acting deputy for readiness for the GMD program. "You are clearly being trained and proven proficient in a weapons system that is rivaled by none. You may think your role is minor, but I assure you, it is not."
Getting qualified to man the missile defense systems is essential to the mission of GMD. Having Soldiers who are qualified to work on crew as well as back at headquarters is vital to the strength of these units.
By graduating GTEC a Soldier receives a T3 additional skill identifier. This class is the first step that a Soldier takes in becoming trained on the GMD fire control system, the only system in the world that intercepts and destroys intercontinental ballistic missiles.
"Because our brigade exists to protect America against threat ICBMs, the more T3 Soldiers we have, the better we can accomplish our mission," said 1st Lt. Jeremiah Vandorsten, 100th MDB Headquarters and Headquarters Battery executive officer.
"This is a big hurdle to jump, and I'm sure it's a huge sigh of relief to be done with this intense portion of their training," added Vandorsten.
The graduates are:
Staff. Sgt. Clinton Bozenske
Sgt. 1st Class William Brandt
Master Sgt. Daniel Cardoza
Sgt. Kenneth Edgeworth
Maj. Brian Gary
Maj. David Layton
Spc. David McCollum
Maj. David McDill
Maj. David Orton
Staff. Sgt. Jared Rudd
Capt. John Seward
Lt. Col. Kelly Spillane
Capt. Robert Waddington
Staff Sgt. Shawn Wiseman
Staff Sgt. Biff Yelensky
Social Sharing