Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 W. Va. engineer officer earns dual tab recognition By Capt. Holli Nelson
                West Virginia National Guard
 CHARLESTON, W. Va. – It's no surprise when first seeing U.S. Army Capt. Richard Payne that he is the 'go-getter' type. He exudes confidence through his demeanor and is physically ready to meet and challenge. He also happens to sport two tabs on his left shoulder - a Sapper tab, and newly added Ranger tab, which he earned June 20, 2019, at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Payne, an engineer officer who grew up in Clarksburg, West Virginia, is a five-year member of the West Virginia Army National Guard (WVARNG) who has served with both the 119th Sapper Company and 1092nd Engineer Battalion as he has made his way through the ranks. After graduating from West Virginia University with his degree in business management in 2012, he later felt a calling to join the military and earned his commission into the WVARNG through federal officer candidate school in 2015. From that point on, Payne has been setting and achieving rigorous goals as a leader in the WVARNG. Soon after finishing basic officer leader course to become an engineer, then 2nd Lt. Payne was in route to the Sapper Leader Course at Ft. Leonardwood, Missouri. Sapper school is a 28-day course designed to train joint-service leaders in small unit tactics, leadership skills, and the tactics required to perform as part of a combined arms team. It is often considered one of the most challenging courses the U.S. Army has to offer, outside of Ranger school and Special Forces qualification. Payne described the course as being baptized by fire. "When I went into Sapper school, I didn't have a huge grasp of the Army as a whole," Payne recalled. "You somewhat hold on once you get there. There is always the saying that if you aren't the smartest guy in the room, you need to be the strongest and the toughest. So when I went, I felt like I was that guy. I would carry anything that needed to be carried or do anything I could for anybody, and I just did my best to write down and take any notes I could to try and keep up." After completing Sapper school and earning his tab, Payne continued to set goals and carried a mindset with him for performing his duties each day. "I always try to keep that mindset that you should always be prepared to go and do anything at any time that falls in your job set," he said. "So for me, mentally and physically, I try to keep myself at that readiness level at all times." After working for a few years as a traditional Guardsman, Payne decided to test his limits once more and started training for U.S. Army Ranger School. As there aren't many Soldiers who are dual tabbed with both a Sapper and Ranger tab, Payne wanted to prove to himself and others that he could compete at any level with any Solider, regardless of whether they were an active component, National Guard or Reserve. "The [National] Guard is just as well equipped to fight at any point in time as any of our active duty counterparts," he said. "And I know that I could compete against any active duty counterpart at any point in time." Earlier this year, he set off to attempt Ranger School and on June 20, he accomplished his goal, graduating the school as one of 84 who completed the course out of 411 who tried. He now joins the ranks of a small fraction of Soldiers who have both completed Sapper and Ranger school. Payne described each school as different but equally challenging in their own way, saying that in his mind, the school you attend first seems to be the hardest. "Ranger [School] is longer, so it takes more out of your body by just how it wears you down," he explained. "But for me, every day in Sapper school was hard." While each school was challenging in and of itself, Payne stated that by staying focused on the real reason a Soldier is seeking to accomplish their goal, whether it be Sapper or Ranger school, they can truly overcome anything they're willing to focus their mind on. With two significant accomplishments under his belt in his short time in service, Payne gives credit to his mentors, which include Maj. Chris Parker and Maj. Bryan Pauley, who work with him full-time in on the West Virginia National Guard's Army Interagency Training and Education Center search and extraction team. "Maj. Parker was the second commander that I worked under and he was extremely influential in my career as far as guiding me, not only as an officer but as a person as a whole," he said. "He talked to me about developing as a leader, and he put the desire in me to want to try to push the limits a little more." Payne also has new goals in mind for the future, including hopes of a command where he can directly influence Soldiers in the engineering field and a long-term career in the WVARNG. "I think you should always push to gain as much knowledge as you can, especially if you're in a leadership position where you are going to have to lead soldiers and make life and death decisions for them," he said. "You should never be complacent in your knowledge so that when the opportunity presents its self where you can push to be more proficient in your field, you should always do that." Up next for this Soldier is the hope of completing Airborne School and continuing to set an example for his Soldiers and those around him.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course
 By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith,
  38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise
 By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry,
  Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska
 By 156th Wing
  More
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course Guard News • 2 hours ago
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 9 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 10 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (196)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil