Reconfigured as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System in 2011, it remains in Hiawatha, KS today and has been employed as one of the most lethal weapons systems on the battlefield in the War on Terrorism. In 1989, COL Foster launched a grass roots campaign to bring the Multiple Launch Rocket System to Kansas. Fry Award for Air Company Grade Officer of the Year. Tice Award for Army Company Grade Officer of the Year and the Major General Edward R. He commissioned the Junior Officer of the Year awards that are still presented at the National Guard Association of Kansas annual conference as the Major General Ralph T. COL Foster was appointed as the first Junior Officers Chairman in 1982. In 1980, he engaged the National Guard Association of Kansas with the concept of establishing the Junior Officer’s committee that was adopted at the state and national levels. He was an inductee into the Kansas Army National Guard Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame and Ancient Order of St. He holds a Master of Science in Systems Management from the University of Southern California.ĭuring his career, COL Foster’s awards included the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, and the Kansas National Guard Service Medal with two sunflower devices. In August 1997, he returned to HQ STARC as Special Assistant to the Adjutant General (Military) and was promoted to Colonel in March 1999.ĬOL Foster was a graduate of the Field Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses and the Command and General Staff College. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in October of that year. He returned to the field in October 1989 as the Executive Officer, 2 nd Battalion, 130 th Field Artillery and served in that capacity until August 1994 when he assumed command of the battalion. He later served as the Administrative Officer of the 174 th Supply and Services Battalion in Coffeyville and as the Information Management Officer for the Kansas Army National Guard. In 1984-1985, while serving as the Administrative Officer of the 169 th Support Battalion, he supervised the relocation of the battalion headquarters from Kansas City to Olathe. He later served as the training officer of the 2 nd Battalion, 130 th Field Artillery in Hiawatha, KS. In January 1980, Captain Foster began his full-time National Guard career as the Active Guard and Reserve S-1 of the 1 st Battalion, 161 st Field Artillery in Dodge City. He served in all of the Field Artillery Battery positions in Battery B and Battery A, commanding Battery B from August 1978 through September 1979. He was assigned to Battery B, 2 nd Battalion, 130 th Field Artillery in Horton, KS as a forward observer. He attended the Kansas Army National Guard Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in June 1972. In February 1970, he enlisted in the Kansas National Guard assigned to HHC, 69 th Infantry Brigade in Topeka, KS. He served as a teacher in the Seaman School District #345, Topeka, and the Perry-Lecompton School District #343. COL Foster received a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Kansas State Teachers College at Emporia in 1967 prior to entering the Kansas National Guard. He graduated in 1963 from Reserve Rural High School in Reserve, KS. Foster was born November, 6, 1945 to Ernest A. Foster was selected for induction into the Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame for exceptional service to Kansas Army National Guard Field Artillery, exceptional service to the communities in which he has lived, and for outstanding leadership in the Kansas Army National Guard.

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