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Mission of OCS
Our Community Salutes (OCS) is a national, non-profit 501c3 organization helping communities honor and support high school seniors enlisting in the U.S. Armed Services after graduation.
OCS helps communities provide guidance, resources and community support to high school guidance counselors, service recruiters, enlistees and to their parents as their son or daughter transition into military service.
Origins of OCS
OCS was founded in 2009 by Dr. Kenneth Hartman, educator and former U.S. Army officer. Hartman was inspired to create OCS while serving on his county’s Public Schools Board of Education, where he noticed the growing disparity between the recognition provided to students who were going college following graduation compared to the students who were choosing to serve in the Armed Services.
In 2007, while serving on the Cherry Hill Public Schools Board of Education in southern New Jersey, Hartman realized the disproportionate amount of honors being provided to the students attending college after graduation and the lack of recognition for those who were choosing to serve in the military. Two years later, Hartman would found OCS and provide the first recognition ceremony with OCS of South Jersey for high school students choosing to serve their country after graduation.
In a 2016 interview with Robin Beres of the Richmond-Times Dispatch, Hartman explained why OCS is so important to the teachers and families and communities OCS supports. For Beres, Hartman “recounted the story of a young man named Jeremy Kane who graduated from Cherry Hill East High School in 2006. After high school, Kane joined the Marine Corps Reserves on Sept. 11, 2006. His unit deployed to Iraq in 2009. He was killed in action on Jan. 20, 2010. Hartman noted that while Kane’s high school put a tribute to the fallen Marine on the school marquee and the town’s funeral procession for the hero was miles long, the thanks came too late. The tribute should be given to those who volunteer to serve before they go in harm’s way.”
Founder Bio
Founder and President – Dr. Ken Hartman
Dr. Kenneth Hartman is an e-learning authority, former university professor, administrator, consultant at several leading universities, and the founder of Our Community Salutes.
Dr. Hartman served as president of Drexel University Online, and has served on several boards, including the Board of Education of the Cherry Hill Public Schools (NJ) and the Executive Board of the Online Learning Consortium. He is the author of numerous trade and scholarly publications related to educational technology, a presenter at industry conferences, a syndicated newspaper columnist, television talk show host, and was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army.
Dr. Hartman holds degrees from The State University of New York at Geneseo, a MA from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D from the University of Pennsylvania.
OCS by the Numbers
25
States
70
Communities
300+
Ceremonies
Since 2009, OCS enlistee recognition ceremonies have been held in 25 states by local communities in banquet halls, auditoriums, and sports arenas from New York to California, with tens of thousands of people attending in appreciation of the young men and women of OCS entering military service.
Since 2009, more than 70 OCS communities in 25 states and Puerto Rico have honored graduates who have committed to join all branches of the U.S. Armed Services.
OCS communities have performed hundreds of OCS Enlistment Recognition Ceremonies™ to honor and recognize high school graduates who chose to join the 1% of Americans who currently serve in uniform.
OCS estimates more than 30,000 graduating high school seniors have been honored in front of more than 100,000 attendees from the community who typically include: family, friends, veterans, business owners, members of military recruiting community, high school teachers, guidance counselors, local media, and state and federal government officials including governors, lieutenant governors, congressman and senators.
Notable Awards
OCS has received notable awards to include:
Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, U.S. Army
2019 Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award- US Dept of Defense
2018 New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Award for Public Service
2017 George Washington Medal (Freedoms Foundation)
2017 Humility and Honor Award (Bunker Labs)
2016 Outstanding Civilian Service, Association of the United States Army
OCS Communities
Since Our Community Salutes was founded in 2009 with our inaugural OCS South Jersey Community, more than 70 OCS enlistee recognition ceremonies have been held by local communities in banquet halls, auditoriums and sports arenas from New York to California, with tens of thousands of people attending or speaking at OCS ceremonies, a testimony to the appreciation of the young men and women of OCS entering military service.
Alabama
OCS of Montgomery
Arizona
OCS of Glendale
OCS of Tempe
California
OCS of Los Angeles
Connecticut
OCS of Bristol
OCS of Fairfield
OCS of Hamden
OCS of Southington
OCS of Waterford
OCS of West Haven
Delaware
OCS of Delaware
District of Columbia
OCS of District of Columbia
Florida
OCS of Broward County
OCS of Jacksonville
OCS of Miami
OCS of North Central
OCS of Palm Beach
Georgia
OCS of Atlanta
Hawaii
OCS of Honolulu
Indiana
OCS of Northwest IN
Louisiana
OCS of Baton Rouge
OCS of Lafayette
OCS of New Orleans
OCS of Shreveport
Maryland
OCS of Baltimore
Massachusetts
OCS of Boston
OCS of Eastern MA
Michigan
OCS of Detroit
OCS of Grosse Pointe
OCS of Southeast Michigan
Minnesota
OCS of Minnesota
Mississippi
OCS of Jackson
New Hampshire
OCS of Manchester
New Jersey
OCS of Burlington County
OCS of Gloucester County
OCS of North Jersey
OCS of South Jersey
New York
OCS of Brookhaven
OCS of Brooklyn
OCS of Broome County
OCS of Conkin
Ohio
OCS of Northeast
OCS of Tuscarawas County
Oregon
OCS of Portland
OCS of Vancouver-Clark County
Pennsylvania
OCS of Bucks County
OCS of Delaware County
OCS of Montgomery County
OCS of Chester County
OCS of Lancaster
OCS of Northwest PA
OCS of Philadelphia
OCS of Pittsburgh
OCS of Venango County
Puerto Rico
OCS of San Juan
South Carolina
OCS of Midlands South
Texas
OCS of Austin
OCS of Central Texas
OCS of Coastal Bend
OCS of Concho Valley
OCS of Dallas-Ft Worth
OCS of El Paso
OCS of Fort Bend County
OCS of Harris County
OCS of Manor
OCS of Rio Grande Valley
OCS of San Antonio
Virgin Island
St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix
Virginia
OCS of Charlottesville
OCS of Central VA
OCS of Fairfax County
OCS of Fredericksburg
OCS of Northern VA
OCS of Greater Richmond
Wisconsin
OCS of Wisconsin
*How the Mission is Accomplished
The organizing body of Our Community Salutes includes community leaders, government officials, educators, businessmen, and veterans who feel strongly in the importance of community support and recognition of the courageous and patriotic young adults who will serve in the U.S. Armed Services after graduation.
All local OCS recognition ceremonies are independently led, managed and financed by donations from supporting citizens and sponsorships by organizations within their respective community.Current and former OCS communities include the following:
OCS Ceremonies in the News
Our Community Salutes providing recognition and support of high school students, their parents, and their communities.
Colin Powell Award
The Colin Powell Award, named after General Colin Powell, U.S. Army (Ret.), is a public service award that is presented to high school counselors in recognition of providing guidance, counseling and mentoring for students as they assess their accomplishments, talents, and interests as they move forward in their lives.
The award is provided to one guidance counselor in each local organization, and represents all counselors within the school’s program whose service, compassion, and commitment serve as an example for all of us. Since 2009, more than 53 awards have been provided in various OCS communities. For a list of award recipients, visit the awards section under About OCS.
Quotes: What People Are Saying
“I am proud of the people in this room here today that are stepping forward, willing to serve this country, willing to wear the uniform…you will represent the heritage, the history, the dedication and the skill that are the armed forces today.”
— Ray Mabus
Former Secretary of the Navy
“These young men and woman are going to defend our country and take their place alongside some of the great heroes that have served before them, and they are to be thanked for that.”
— Ander Crenshaw
Former U.S. Representative (R-FL)
“At a time when many of their peers are pursuing vocational or college degrees, these young men and women have instead chosen to dedicate themselves to military service. It is thanks to their sacrifices that the United States of America remains a beacon of hope and freedom in a fractious world.”
— Robert E. Andrews
Former U.S. Representative (NJ)
Learn More >>
Images and Video Clips
Images and videos on the OCS website may be used with proper attribution to OCS that includes the “ourcommiunitysalutes.org” url or as a link back to the OCS website.
Founder and President of Our Community Salutes, Dr. Ken Hartman, discusses the origins, purpose and the impact of OCS.
How OCS Began
Founder Ken Hartman on how the idea for Our Community Salutes came about, and why the impact of OCS has been so meaningful for students, parents, and their community.
Students Talk About What OCS Means to Them
Watch recent military enlistees express their gratitude to Veterans.
Presented by Our Community Salutes as a part of our America Salutes 2020 event.