OKLAHOMA CITY – Leadership with the Oklahoma National Guard, the city of Weatherford and Southwestern Oklahoma State University sign new agreements, building on years of shared commitment.

Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, adjutant general for Oklahoma, signed a memorandum of agreement with SWOSU president, Dr. Diana Lovell, and a memorandum of understanding with Weatherford Mayor Mike Brown, laying the foundation for continued partnership.

The memorandum of agreement signed with Lovell outlines each party’s commitment to the continuation of the Guard Officer Leadership Development program, allowing commissioning opportunities for current-serving Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldiers and SWOSU students.

The SWOSU GOLD program was created on November 8, 2007 to develop future commissioned officers in the OKARNG geared to improve and develop the student’s sense of community. The program further develops the Army values in student-leaders and gives opportunities to apply those values in the local community.

In addition, the memorandum Mancino signed with Mayor Brown officially establishes a 50-person detachment located in Weatherford. This detachment marks one of the first moves for the OKARNG getting back into the communities.

The Oklahoma National Guard is composed of more than 8,000 citizen Soldiers and Airmen from across the state.

“The heart and blood of Oklahoma is the rural communities,” Mancino said. “We need to tap into that.”