April 20, 2021 |Stephanie Patrick |SMUbubblelife.com

DALLAS – Local high school students making the decision to pursue careers in the U.S. Armed Forces might not experience much fanfare at the time they enlist.

But, the members of a local military-focused nonprofit are committed, not just to recognizing their choices, but also to providing vital support to new enlistees and their families.

Our Community Supports (OCS) DFW will honor future soldiers with two in-person ceremonies 6:30 p.m. Mon., May 3, in Fort Worth (Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center, 5201 C.A.�Roberson Blvd., Ft Worth) and 6:30 p.m. Thurs., May 6, in Dallas (Gilley’s Dallas, 1135 Botham�Jean, Dallas, formerly S. Lamar). The ceremonies, which will honor as many as 200 students�across DFW, will also be streamed virtually.

First of its kind in DFW

The OCS ceremonies will be a first for the organization and the community, coming in a year when military recruiting grew more challenging due to COVID-19 said Retired Army Col.�Richard Kaniss, Chairman of the OCS-DFW Board of Directors.

Kaniss points out that, unlike students headed into military academies, winning military scholarships or those involved in programs like ROTC, there are no other local recognition�ceremonies for new enlistees in the U.S. Armed Forces.

“Until 12 years ago when [OCS] began in New Jersey, no one, nationally, had ever done a thank-you event,” Kaniss said. OCS wanted to organize its first event in 2020 but was unable to�do so due to the global pandemic.

What it means to say ‘Thank you’

During local ceremonies, OCS DFW will thank new enlistees by presenting them a certificate and a challenge coin. Challenge coins, given to service members, often feature an emblem or�insignia, indicating they are members of a unit or served on a specific tour of duty. A part of�military culture for many years challenge coins are designed to boost morale, identify�allegiance and extend appreciation to service members.

The ceremonies will also feature community leaders, government officials, educators,

businessmen and veterans who believe in the organization’s mission.

“Within the Dallas-Fort Worth area, our organization of military-focused volunteers wants to honor and support those high school seniors who are graduating, giving them a proper ‘thank�you’ for their decision to join the Armed Services of the United States,” said Kaniss. “The�transition to military service is a big one for students and their families. We want to be a�resource for them, as they begin to navigate their new military careers.”

OCS DFW offers a range of sponsorship packages to organizations that would like to support its ceremonies and program. For more information on sponsorship or to register for live�ceremonies in DFW, visit ocsdfwtx.org.

ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY SALUTES (OCS)

Our Community Salutes (OCS) is a national, non-profit organization helping communities recognize, honor and support high school seniors who plan to enlist in the U.S. Armed Services�after graduation.

OCS was founded in 2009 by educator and former U.S. Army officer, Dr. Kenneth Hartman, to provide enlistees and their parents with guidance, information, resources and community�support from like-minded enlistees and parents as their son or daughter transitions into�military service.