An Interview With Brigadier General Oscar Hilman

[Return to Promotion Story]

Story by SGT Dan Purcell   -   Posted Sep, 2003

     Today is not about what Brigadier General Hilman has accomplished... its about the service he has yet to render" said Major General Timothy J. Lowenberg, the Adjutant General of the Washington National Guard.

     On August 22, 2003, in what some might call a low key ceremony, Colonel Oscar B. Hilman, Commander of the 81st Armor Brigade (Separate) was promoted to Brigadier General in the presence of family, friends and fellow Guardsmen.

     BG Hilman began his military career as an enlisted soldier and gradually worked his way up to Sergeant First Class.  In 1977 he earned a commission to 2nd Lieutenant from the Washington Army National Guard's Officer Candidate School, and again worked his way up through the ranks to his current promotion to Brigadier.

     Prior to the promotion ceremony BG Hilman managed to take time out to answer some questions for the Evergreen (an official publication of the Washington National Guard):

Evergreen:  What prompted you to join the Washington State National Guard?
BG Hilman:  I was stationed across the street (Fort Lewis) and was planning to go to UCLA when I met General McGee.  He asked me what my background was and I said finance and accounting and he said why dont you come work for meCome see me on Monday and youll have a job.  I joined the Guard because I come from a military family. My dad put in 32 years, and I wanted to continue to wear the uniform, use my GI Bill and continue my education, so I joined the Guard.

Evergreen:  Were there any factors that kept you in the Guard like certain leaders, subordinates or experiences?
BG Hilman:  MG Gregory Barlow was my commander.  He was a Lieutenant Colonel when I met him, and later became the 81st Brigade Commander.  I looked up to him because he had the warriors spirit and all the attributes of a great leader.  He was my role model.

Evergreen:  Having reached a pinnacle as a general officer is there any advice you would give to those who aspire to the same?
BG Hilman:  First, be yourself.  Secondly, stay humble, truly be a people person and take care of your soldiers.

Evergreen:  When you first became the commander of the 81st Brigade you had a vision as to where you wanted to take the brigade.  Now with your promotion do you have a new set of goals?
BG Hilman:  No, Ive always had one goal for the 81st Brigade and that is to ensure that the soldiers are MOS qualified and the officers attend their education programs because I fell that this brigade being enhanced must be ready.  I have spent over a year with this brigade and we have great soldiers and leaders.  Secondly, I want to manage the op-tempo because the young soldiers, when recruited, were informed of one weekend a month and two weeks a year but with NTC coming up I dont want put our soldiers in a compromising position with their spouses, families and employers.

Evergreen:  What do you want for the future?
BG Hilman:  I want the training at NTC to be successful and with no fatalities.  I also want to be ready for future missions and to fight the global war on terrorism.