NATCHITOCHES – In continuing its tradition of honoring those who serve in the nation’s Armed Forces, Northwestern State University recognized the military service of Lieutenant Colonel Calvin Hoover Jr., US Army Retired, during its football game on October 25.
A proud NSU alumnus, LTC Hoover began his military career in 1998 as a Cavalry Scout in the Louisiana Army National Guard. He commissioned through NSU’s ROTC program in 2003 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from NSU and a Master of Arts in Management from Webster University.
His military education includes Aviation Officer Basic Course, Ranger School, Pathfinder, Airborne, Command and General Staff College (ILE), Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE-C) (High Risk), Joint/Multinational Security Cooperation Courses, Aviation Safety Course, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, PMP Course, Dunker / Helicopter Emergency Egress Devise System (HEEDS), Joint Fire Power Course, Maneuver Captain Career Course, Mountain Leader Orientation Course, Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Airspace Coordination Cell Course, Special Operations Military Assistance (MA) Course, Special Operations Air Integration Course (SOAIC), Special Operations Joint Task Force (SOJTF-A) Orientation Course, Joint Humanitarian Operations Course (JHOC), State Department’s Foreign Affairs Counter Threat (FACT) Course, and OSHA 511 Certification.
An abbreviated listing of LTC Hoover’s assignments include Cavalry Scout for Troop A, 1st Squadron, 108 Cavalry Regiment, Louisiana Army National Guard; Platoon Leader and Executive Officer for 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, Fort Drum, NY; Troop Commander for 4th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment and Brigade Aviation Officer for 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2ndInfantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA; Security Force Assistance Observer/Coach-Trainer, Fort Polk, LA; Brigade Aviation Officer for 173rd Airborne Brigade & Future Operations Plans Lead at U.S. Army Europe and Africa; Executive Officer for 1-353rd Aviation, 166th Aviation Brigade, Fort Hood, TX; Executive Officer for Special Operations Advisory Group, Afghanistan; and Security Assistance Training Management Organization Brigade Executive Officer & Regional Commander, US Army Central Command, Fort Bragg, NC.
LTC Hoover’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with Combat Device, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Combat Action Badge, Senior Aviator Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Airborne Badge, and Ranger Tab. He also holds the Order of Saint Michael (Bronze and Silver), German Proficiency Badge (Gold), Italian Jump Wings, and Gold and Silver Spurs.
LTC Hoover hails from the Melrose area. He was escorted on-field by NSU President James Genovese and LTC(R) Arthur Smalley, Northwestern Demon Regiment Chief of Staff. Joining LTC Hoover to cheer on the Demons were his wife, Christy (Armstrong), and their children, Jermaine, Marcel and Anaïs.