Winter Semester Northern Michigan University Army ROTC

Transcription

1 Winter Semester 2011 Northern Michigan University Army ROTC

2 Volume 8 May 2011 Department of Military Science Northern Michigan University 101 Gries Hall Marquette, MI (phone) (fax) military@nmu.edu I n s i d e th i s i s s u e : Alumni Update 2 Presidential Visit, Lake Superior Leadership Academy 3 MS I Dome Rappel, Ironwood JROTC Inspection 4 Winter FTX, CFTX at Ft McCoy 5 Military Ball 2011, Run-A-Thon Fundraiser 6 George C. Marshall Awards, Detroit Awards, Cadet of the Semester Commissioning Ceremony 8 There s a reason they don t call it Spring Semester at NMU! German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge, New Department Secretary 9 GBR introduction SFC Wright Leaves the Wildcats, SFC Almeyda Joins the NMU Team 10 Senior Military Instructor s Notes, Commander s Notes 11 NMU Reunion, Alumni Update Card 12 NMU ROTC Alumni Update: The Class of 1985 The very essence of leadership is its purpose. And the purpose of leadership is to accomplish a task. That is what leadership does and what it does is more important than what it is or how it works. -Colonel Dandridge M. Malone These are the ideals of leadership that have been instilled in each NMU ROTC graduate who has been commissioned into the United States Army. Currently, the Army consists of Colonels and Lieutenant LTC Hawko with a Bengals Fan Colonels who where commissioned from NMU during the 1980s. The NMU ROTC class of 1985 was large, and they have since made an impressive impact on the Army. One graduate, LTC Thomas Howko, shared the story of his career since his start at NMU. LTC Howko is currently in Afghanistan as a mobilized USAR soldier. LTC Howko, never thought [he] would make it this far in [his] career, so [he is] happy how far [he] made it. For a total of almost 20 years, he worked as a fulltime guardsman in the MI Army National Guard as a Military Policeman. He is currently married and has four children (ages 22, 20, 15, and 12). He made it clear to express how his start at NMU and decision to join the ROTC program was critical to his military success. He enjoyed going through the officer side of the Army and would not have done it any other way. Although, he agrees the program was challenging at times and often seemed like it wouldn t be worth it, it was a very valuable experience. He expressed, It will guide you through the rest of your years in life, no matter what LTC Hawko in Aghanistan you decide to do with your career. By following the guidelines and ideals which are taught as the basics of leadership, progressing in your career is that much easier. Enjoy the time and utilize it to its fullest extent. LTC Howko will be retiring from the military when his current orders expire on May 1, At age 55, he is excited to start receiving his retirement benefits and begin a new part of his life. As shown by the class of 1985, and more specifically LTC Howko, success is what you put into it and the drive to stick with it. - Cadet Catie Gemme, MS III

3 Page 3 President Barack Obama Visits NMU Recently, President Barack Obama visited the city of Marquette and the campus of Northern Michigan University to hail the wireless internet initiatives that make Marquette a national example of technological ingenuity. His visit may have come as a surprise to those not familiar with Marquette s innovative Wimax system, but to the students of Northern and Marquette residents, it has become a standard of living rarely seen other places in the United States. Soon after learning that the President would be visiting Marquette, NMU ROTC s Professor of Military Science, LTC Kyle Rambo, received a call requesting the services of the Wildcat Battalion cadets to serve as security for President Obama s motorcade. Upon President Obama s arrival at KI Sawyer international airport, one of the first things he saw were the Wildcat Battalion Cadets, securing the roadways and intersections along highway 553 into Marquette s downtown area. Our cadets stood tall in the cold, proud to serve their role in respect to the office of the Commander in Chief. The President s visit consisted of visiting a few local businesses that are at the forefront of utilizing Marquette s vast technological capabilities, as well as addressing an invitation only audience at President Obama delivers his speech at NMU NMU s Vandament Arena. The Office of the President held the address for a select group of leaders from the University and community. Northern s ROTC cadets and cadre were placed on the top of the invitee list along with other veterans from the community. Those not involved in the security detail were grateful to be given the opportunity to hear their Commander in Chief speak in person. Furthermore, national recognition of Marquette s technological infrastructure may bring new business opportunities to the city, infuse the local economy, and encourage positive growth for the University. These opportunities will only bring positive change to NMU and the Wildcat Battalion. In the future perhaps we can look forward to more opportunities like this, as our Battalion continues to develop; and our community strengthens its prominence as a leader in technological innovation. - Cadet John Mercer, MS IV CDT Mercer gets a photo with the President Lake Superior Leadership Academy On February 3rd, the Lake Superior Leadership Academy (LSLA) met with the NMU ROTC for the fifth time for their leadership day. The LSLA is a community run program that is designed to bring together new and upcoming leaders from the area to address pertinent community needs, strengthen individual leadership abilities, and encourage participants to personally commit to assuming new leadership roles in the community. The day s activities began with the twenty participants of the LSLA meeting the Cadre of the NMU Wildcat Battalion and receiving an explanation of NMU ROTC by CPT Hormann. This was followed by a quick icebreaker with discussion and small group exercise on leadership conducted by LTC Rambo. MAJ Holman finished up the morning event with a discussion on Adaptive Situational Leadership. During the afternoon events the participants of the LSLA got the opportunity to put their newly learned leadership skills to the test and see how effective they could be as a team, in three separate Leadership Reaction Course (LRC) lanes. Participants also got the opportunity to learn about leadership from several of the Wildcat Battalions MSIV Cadets who directed the LRC after action reviews. LSLA members also had the opportunity to ask any questions they had LSLA participants negotiate LRC lanes. about NMU ROTC from the cadets. To finish off the day s activities, participants had the opportunity to take a stroll on the cat walk of Marquette s own Superior Dome. The event provided the NMU ROTC program an opportunity to reach out into the local community and build continuing, positive relationships. Additionally, the LSLA got a wonderful opportunity to learn about leadership from one of the Nation s top leadership programs, Army ROTC. - Cadet Philip Tarvainen, MS IV

4 Page 4 Rappel From 13 Stories? NOT ME! Rappelling is a common task in the world of ROTC Rappelling from the top of the largest wooden dome in the world is not. Traditionally, only selected MS IIIs and MS IVs at NMU have had this chance, but this year, the entire freshman class participated in the challenge. This is one MS I s story. CDT Mozingo is on belay for a fellow cadet. Not many cadets are fortunate enough to rappel from the Superior Dome their first year, but after some convincing and some new equipment, my class was given that opportunity. I was not that excited when Tuesday rolled around; I am terrified of heights and had zero desire to rappel. But I completed the practice rappel and got all harnessed up and ready to go, up the elevator and out onto the catwalk. I was shaking, my heart was racing as I envisioned myself getting to the top to only walk back down. Everyone else had made it down the rope with some faster than others. As they kept working through the line I kept getting more and more nervous while trying to hide. I was not about to free rappel thirteen stories. Some of the Cadets came back up for a second rappel and I just kept hiding behind them hoping we would run out of time. But then, like death and taxes, my turn inevitably came. I was terrified. I started crying and shaking, I did not want to go but after some serious convincing and reassuring, MSG Perdue somehow got me over the ledge and in the L position. 1, 2, 3 jump. And down I went. I spun the entire way down thanks to the new ropes, but I did make it down. And honestly, I would go again. - Cadet Ann Peters, MS I CDT Peters getting ready to rappel. CDT Ireland works his way down from the top. Ironwood JROTC Red Devil Battalion Motivating young people to become better citizens. That is the creed of the Ironwood High School JROTC. Each year the Red Devil Battalion conducts a battalion inspection in order to test the cadets on drill and ceremony, customs and courtesies, and basic class level knowledge. They also take the opportunity to share what they have accomplished in the community with both the NMU battalion and other visiting school officials. During the Battalion Inspection, each cadet s uniform was sharp and they were ready for any question we threw at them. Each company had a chance to demonstrate their knowledge of basic marching and drill that they have practiced non-stop in the weeks leading up to the inspection. At the end of the inspection, the visiting members of the Wildcat Battalion were able to brief the junior cadets about the benefits of NMU and an ROTC scholarship as well as visit with our incoming freshman cadets for next year. The junior cadets were eager to hear about our program and took advantage of the time we had for questions. The Ironwood Red Devil Battalion has continually earned the title of Honor Unit with Distinction, a title that takes hard work and extreme dedication to receive and maintain. At this inspection, they successfully showed us why they are deserving of that title and how they are living up to their creed. - Cadet Danni McCoy, MS IV

5 Page 5 Winter FTX at Harlow Lake An FTX can be a fun yet challenging experience. However, an FTX in twenty degree weather with three feet of snow to hike through, from one point to the next, could be called crazy. The cadets of Northern Michigan University did just that on March The cadets, from freshman to seniors, dealt with extreme cold and wetness to accomplish their tasks for the weekend. Though the conditions were harsh, the rapid reaction of senior cadets and cadre, all with years of cold weather training, were able to prevent serious injuries from happening. For the missions, MSIII cadets were assigned leadership positions such as Platoon Leader, Platoon Sergeant, and Squad leaders of a platoon sized element. Cadets learned quickly that it was imperative to work together to lead to a successful mission. All cadets participated in two lanes, facing missions that encompassed everything from ambushes to caring for injured civilians. After both platoons had completed training for the day, all the cadets assembled and began to dig deep into the snow to construct snow shelters Where they slept for the night. For many young cadets this was there first time ever sleeping in a constructed shelter in the snow. Though the cold weather was an added challenge, it made the Winter FTX an even bigger success because it pushed everyone out of their comfort zones, but we were all still able to accomplish our missions. - Cadet Jake Pfiester, MS III CDT Molteni pauses during a platoon mission. Cadets keep warm before turning in for the night. Cadets pull security while squad members cross a road. MSIII Class Put to the Test at FT. McCoy, WI During the first weekend in April, the MSIIIs from Northern, along with the rest of the MSIIIs from universities across the Upper Peninsula, Wisconsin, and parts of Illinois, were sent to Fort McCoy, WI to participate in training similar to the training they will encounter at the Leadership Assessment Course (LDAC). Most of the cadets have never worked with each other, except the very few that ended up being in the same squads as some of their classmates. It was meant to test the third year students ability to work with peers. Being able to interact with cadets from other schools allowed me to expand my knowledge and ability to work with people whom I don t know. It was challenging yet, something I would gladly do again, said CDT Gemme The MSIIIs participated in Day Land Navigation, Field Leadership Reaction Course, and Squad Tactical Exercises. They were evaluated in all areas to give them an idea of their skill levels before heading to LDAC this summer. Some MSIIIs were also evaluated in Garrison positions such as Company Commander, Sergeant Major, Platoon Leader, Platoon Sergeant, and Squad Leader. This is done in order to show them how to handle leading their peers inside of the fence since both skills will be assesses at LDAC. Northern Michigan s MSIIIs brought their A games to the CFTX. They showed the Cadre, the MSIVs, and the rest of the Midwest that they are ready to go to LDAC and be successful. Cadet Sackmann said, we were nervous heading down there but by the end we were all pretty confident in our abilities and readiness for LDAC. The MSIVs agreed that the MSIIIs are ready. Cadet Crockett expressed, as a class, they are ready for LDAC because they can coexist with MSIIIs from other schools successfully. Another MS IV, Cadet McCoy said, the MSIIIs showed their improvement and high level of readiness for LDAC, and I am very optimistic about how they will do this summer. - Cadet Morgan Steele, MS III

6 Page 6 Military Ball 2011 The Wildcat Battalion celebrated the arrival of Spring this year with an early Military Ball, hosted in the Explorer rooms in the University Center on campus March 25th. LTC Rambo presents a commemorative plaque to COL Houser and CSM Simmons On Your Mark... Get Set... Go! This year s guest speaker was the 3 rd Recruiting Brigade, Brigade Commander, COL Michael T. Hauser. COL Hauser was accompanied by the Brigade s Command Sergeant Major, CSM Allen K. Simmons. Earlier in the day, COL Hauser and CSM Simmons were briefed on the many accomplishments of the Wildcat Battalion by LTC Rambo and the MS IV class. After the briefing the MS IVs were able to ask COL Hauser and CSM Simmons any questions they had about entering in to the real Army. During the Ball, COL Hauser inspired all of the cadets with his words of wisdom on becoming an officer, focusing on the importance of every individual s Army story. His speech encouraged everyone to think of why they decided to join the Army and to remember those reasons throughout their career, no matter how long. The Wildcat cadets, cadre and guests danced the night away to music by Double Trouble DJs. It was a fun and relaxing night for all who attended. - Cadet Hannah Cerney, MS IV SFC Wright receives inscribed NCO sword. Cadets of the Wildcat Battalion set off to participate in the 4 th annual Run-A- Thon fundraiser on February 18, In this event, cadets are sponsored by family, friends, local businesses, or anyone who wants to donate to the cause. Sponsors can donate either a set amount, or pledge an amount per lap their sponsored Cadet completes. With running and raising money in mind, the cadets worked to raise $1,911.23, with a portion going to the NMU ROTC Ranger Fund and a portion being donated to the D. J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans. The combined number of laps cadets ran during the scheduled two hour run was 1903 laps, for a total of 543 miles. The top number of laps completed for male and female were CDT David Mallard and CDT Julia Champlin. - Cadet Meredith Steggerda, MS IV Cadets ran upwards of ten miles each for the fund raiser. The Jacobetti Center accepts the donation raised by the Wildcat Battalion

7 Page 7 Nation s Top Cadets Recognized The George C. Marshall Awards and Leadership Seminar takes place every April at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. The event was created by the George C. Marshall Foundation in 1976 with the purpose of honoring the top ROTC Cadet from each college-level unit. That recognition provides an opportunity for those Cadets to interact with our nation s top military and governmental leaders. Lexington, Virginia was chosen as the site for the event, for it was at the Virginia Military Institute that Marshall began his career of service. Cadet Jordan Brull, the current cadet Commander of the Wildcat Battalion, was this year s award winner and seminar attendee. His story follows: The Reward for Excellence - The Detroit Awards On the weekend of April 15, 2011, seven cadets from the Wildcat Battalion were recognized for their accomplishments of the preceding year. Traveling from Marquette to Detroit, they participated in a plethora of events, made possible by the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), as a part of the Greater Detroit Armed Forces Week. One of the highlights of the weekend was a luncheon with Major General Stein, Commander of TARDOC. A rare opportunity, he advised the group of cadets on the qualities that a young leader should aspire to and the competencies that elevate young men and women from functionality to excellence. Cadet of the Semester Named Having been chosen for the George C. Marshall Award was an extremely high honor for me. The competition for the award is tremendous, as many fine MSIVs were certainly deserving of the recognition as a top cadet in the nation. So prominent is VMI, that it is known as the West Point of the south. General George C. Marshall, the man who Winston Cadets listen to a guest speaker at the conference Friday evening Northern cadets rendezvoused with their peers from across the state at the Dearborn Inn for the presentation of awards for academic excellence, high overall achievement as cadets, and for their leadership positions in their respective battalions. All of the armed services were present in a display of future cooperation, watched over by many retired officers who have already taken the hard path of service. It is opportunities such as this that set the standard for our future leaders, that they may be truly great in their service to the nation. - Cadet David Mallard, MS II Churchill coined as the Architect of Victory in World War II, began his military career here as a cadet. I had the distinct pleasure to interact with many of the United States top military and civilian leaders. Each cadet also had the opportunity to attend a Virtual Staff Ride that covered the Battle of Roberts Ridge, Afghanistan, the Battle of Wanat, Afghanistan, or the Palm Sunday Ambush, Iraq. During the sessions each Cadet had the opportunity to hear from experts in their field, to think critically, and to ask questions. The George C. Marshall Awards and Leadership Seminar was the capstone of my time as a cadet in the Wildcat Battalion. I will truly treasure my experiences at the Seminar for years to come. - Cadet Jordan Brull, MS IV The 2011 NMU Detroit Awards Participants. Cadet of the semester for Winter of 2011 was CDT Benjamin Rodenburg, MSII. Competing for the cadet of the semester was CDT Houser, CDT Mallard, and CDT Molteni. The cadets were brought to a board and asked a series of questions and voted for by their fellow cadets, who should earn the title. A cadet of the semester embodies the following characteristics: well organized, disciplined, good helper, someone who is eager to learn, always on time, and sets a good example. CDT Rodenburg is 20 years old and is from Melrose, WI. He is majoring in Environmental Science and his ROTC activities include, ranger challenge, Run-a-thon, and the wildcat game ball run. CDT Rodenburg joined ROTC because he wanted to complete his college education while being a member of the army. He completed Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO prior to joining ROTC. He is currently an active Simultaneous Member Program (SMP) cadet and acts as a Platoon Leader with the 652 nd Engineer Company, Army Reserves, Marquette, MI. ROTC has helped cadet Rodenburg to maintain an outstanding GPA and stay in shape. The overall experience for him in ROTC has made him more confident and a better leader for his Soldiers. His favorite part of being in the program is feeling that he is part of a team and working with others. CDT Rodenburg wants to branch Engineer because that is his current Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) which he currently enjoys doing. In his free time he enjoys running, hanging out with friends, and spending time outdoors. - Cadet Jenna Bennett, MS IV

8 Page 8 Six New Second Lieutenants Commissioned 30 April 2011 On April 30, 2011 the NMU Wildcat Battalion commissioned six new lieutenants into the United States Army. The commissioning ceremony is a way to both recognize those cadets becoming new second lieutenants in the Army as well as their families. Around 70 people came to the ceremony which was held at the Whitman Commons on the NMU campus. President Wong and his wife continue to offer their support to the NMU Wildcat Battalion. Danni McCoy graduated with a Bachelor s Degree in Sociology and will be attending Officer Basic Course (OBC) at Ft. Sill, OK, where she will begin her career as an officer in the Air Defense Artillery branch. Jenna Bennett graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice where she will serve in the National Guard as a Military Police officer. She will attend OBC at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. 2LT Jenna Bennett s parents pin on John Mercer graduated with a Bachelor s in Criminal Justice. He branched Adjutant General Corps and will attend OBC at Ft. Jackson, SC. His follow on assignment will be at Ft. Carson, CO. Jordan Brull majored in History and will serve the military as an Infantry officer. He will attend OBC at Ft. Benning, GA. 2LT Jordan Brull recited his Oath of Office Vanessa Graziano graduated with a Bachelor s Degree in Nursing. She commissioned into the Army Nurse Corps and will attend OBC at Ft. Sam Houston, TX. Her first duty station will be Ft. Gordon, GA. 2LT Danni McCoy and her grandparents Hannah Cerney majored in Forensic Biochemistry and has been assigned to the Aviation branch where she will attend OBC at Ft. Rucker, AL. 2LT Vanessa Graziano and her mother 2LT Hannah Cerney with her family 2LT John Mercer s wife and son pin his bars These Cadets have spent many years working toward the goal of becoming officers and deserve all the recognition that they receive. Congratulations again to all of our new second lieutenants and best of luck! - Cadet William Sanders, MS III

9 Page 9 German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (GAFPB) In early May, six cadets; two second lieutenants; and one Marine Reservist headed north for Houghton, MI to attend the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge Competition. After many months on the range with Master Sergeant Espinosa, training with track coach Kevin Kean, and plenty of pool time, they were ready. They were joined in their quest by other teams from the Upper Peninsula, Wisconsin, and Illinois; teams totaling 85 challengers all chasing the glittering golden eagle badge of the German Army, sponsored by our NATO allies Liaison office in Ft. Leavenworth. The three day long event, under the watchful eye of German Sergeant Major Lueck, forced participants to complete in the following events: a 200 meter swim, 3k or 5k run, the high jump or long jump, the shot put or stone throw, a medical test, and a sprint. Then, they put some lead downrange with the Army s M9 Beretta, separating them into gold, silver, and bronze groups. After all of that, whoever was left had to carry at least 33 pounds on their backs (several stalwart cadets used more) and ruck-march either 7.5 miles for gold, 5.6 miles for silver, or 3.8 miles for bronze. When the dust had settled, Sergeant Major Lueck quipped, when we do this in the German Army, we spread it out over an entire year; you American s are one of the few who do this in one weekend! He then proudly presented the Northern Michigan University Wildcats: Jordan Brull, Benjamin Crockett, Reagan Drebenstedt, Catie Gemme, David Mallard, and Thomas Molteni with their GOLD medals, pinned Danni McCoy with her SILVER medal and congratulated them all for a job well done. - Cadet Ben Crockett, MS IV NMU Cadets receiving their badges from left to right: McCoy, Brull, Crockett, Drebenstedt, Gemme, Mallard, and Molteni. A New Face in the Department The ROTC department has a new face in the office. We would like to welcome our new secretary, Mrs. Tina Sehl-Menhennick, to the Wildcat Battalion. She is no stranger to Northern Michigan University though. She came here 20 years ago fresh out of high school. She achieved a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Communication from NMU. She has worked at Northern since She enjoys the wilderness area and the fact that there is always something new going on. Being a former resident of Prescott, MI, she is also a loyal Red Wings and Detroit Lions fan. Some of her hobbies include photography, pool, and mud drag racing. Her favorite part about being in this new department is the discipline and respect. So far she has felt very welcomed in her new home and is looking forward to getting to know the cadets better for the upcoming year. - Cadet Alex Sackmann, MS III Tina in her Railcar

10 Page 10 2nd Lieutenant Drebenstedt Becomes the New Goldbar Recruiter Since April 25th, 2LT Reagan Drebenstedt has been performing the duties of Goldbar Recruiter (GBR) for NMU. He graduated from Olivet Nazarene University located in Bourbonnais, IL in December of 2010 where he received his Bachelors of Science in Nursing as well as his commission into the Army Nursing Corps. After passing his Nursing Boards he moved from his hometown in Charlevoix, MI to fill the spot left vacant from the previous GBR 1LT Jessica Soborowitz. The emphasis of his recruiting efforts will pertain to nursing students, although he will be aiding the Juniors in preparing for camp this summer. Updating the NMU ROTC website and adding a youtube page to the Wildcat Battalion are a few of his recent tasks aimed at increasing the publicity as well as promoting the opportunities that NMU ROTC can offer college students. SFC Wright Leaves NMU for New Duty SFC Wright at a training lab This summer the Wildcats will say goodbye to one of their valued NCOs, SFC Joseph Wright. SFC Wright has been with the NMU battalion for three years. He will be leaving to join his new unit, 173rd Airborne Infantry Brigade, in Vincenza Italy this summer. While at Northern, he has held the position of MSII & MSIII instructor, training NCO, and Ranger Challenge team advisor. Perhaps more important than the official positions he has held is the way he works with cadets. The cadets of Northern have taken such a liking to his unorthodox communication style that they established a Facebook group in his honor. His time at Northern has allowed him the rare opportunity to shape future leaders and it is an opportunity he has taken advantage of. In order to honor his dedication to the NMU ROTC program and thank him for his exemplary performance as an NCO, SFC Wright was recently presented with the Army Commendation Medal by LTC Rambo. The effort that he has put into developing the ROTC program here at NMU is greatly appreciated and he will be greatly missed. Thank you SFC Wright, i migliori auguri (best wishes)! - Cadet Vanessa Graziano, MS IV SFC Almeyda Joins the Wildcats SFC Almeyda entered the Army on 23 August He attended One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, GA. SFC Almeyda s assignments include D Co, 1-30 IN, C Co 1-30 IN and HHC 3 rd BDE 3ID, Ft. Benning, GA; A Co 2-9 IN and 1-72 AR, Camp Casey, Republic of Korea; HHT 6-8 CAV and B Co 1-30 IN, Ft. Stewart, GA. SFC Almeyda has served in a number of positions including Infantry Team Leader, Squad Leader, Section Sergeant, Platoon Sergeant, Company Master Gunner, and Battalion Master Gunner. His military education include the U.S. Army Primary Leadership Development course, Basic Non-Commissioned Officer course, Advance Non-Commissioned Officer course, Airborne School, Equal Opportunity Leaders course and Bradley Master Gunner School. SFC Almeyda s awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (4 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (4 OLC), Good Conduct Medal, Non Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (3), National Defense Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon (2), NATO Kosovo Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Presidential Unit Citation, and the Meritorious Unit Citation.SFC Almeyda s major training exercises include The Joint Readiness Training Center (1 Rotation), The National Training Center (5 Rotations). Has Deployed to Egypt (Operation Bright Star), Kosovo (KFOR Bravo), and is a combat veteran with 3 tours in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. SFC Jose Almeyda

11 Page 11 Notes from the Senior Military Science Instructor Seniors, congratulations on your graduation and your commissioning. I m sure you all will do your branch proud. I wanted to speak to you about a few things that have only been privy to this nation s cadet battalion commanders at the George C. Marshall seminar. I call it, What to expect as an incoming lieutenant. This is not all inclusive. There are many things that I will not cover, but listening to your platoon sergeant and subordinate leadership will greatly enhance your performance as a platoon leader. Providing Purpose: You can take your Commanders Vision and use it to assist you in providing a purpose for your platoon. As an officer in a garrison environment, you will be in an indirect leadership role. Your role will be to give guidance, provide the time, and resources to allow your platoon to train effectively within the guidance set forth in your Commander s Vision. Based upon your commander s vision, you provide the purpose for platoon sergeant and subordinate leaders to train your soldiers. Commander s Notes Families and friends of NMU ROTC program, Providing Direction: The best way for you to learn about your Soldiers and them to learn about you is for you to show up for all training events. Train with them. Learn and perform their tasks. Share their sacrifice. You are a leader, but you are not in charge of individual Soldier or team training. That does not mean you cannot provide direction to your subordinate leaders. You are constantly performing step 8 of the 8-troop leading procedures, supervising and refining the plan. Providing Motivation: You will have a lot in common with your junior enlisted Soldiers. You will be approximately the same age, have the same lifestyles, and have the same culture. As a leader you will have a tendency to flock to those that you have a common frame of reference with. Separate yourself, but do not isolate yourself. Be sincere in your actions. Be at the right place, at the right time, in the right uniform with the right equipment. This motivates your subordinates more by observing your actions than listening to your words. Be the example they aspire to become. As you can see from this month s newsletter the cadets of NMU ROTC have been working diligently to prepare for future operations and a career as an Officer in the United States Army. These future operations include numerous summer training events and internships. Thirteen cadets will attend the Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis while two cadets will attend the Leaders Training Course at Fort Knox. In addition to two cadets attending Air Assault School and one attending Airborne School, we have cadets participating in unique training events such as the Cultural Understanding and Language Proficiency program in Guatemala. You can also find our cadets working with the Corps of Engineers in New York, conducting optical research at Fort Belvoir, or assisting patients in Army Medical Centers at Fort Hood and Landstuhl, Germany this summer. We even have one cadet attending the rigorous Combat Divers Qualification Course in Key West, Florida. As always, I expect each of these cadets will focus all their efforts and talents during training and return to share their vast knowledge and experience with the entire battalion. Give it your all and make us proud! Improving the Organization: Realize your platoons have been in place many years before you will arrive and they will continue to go on long after you leave. You do not have to start from scratch. Procedures and SOPs are already in place. Talk with your platoon sergeant, and your subordinate leaders. Get a feel from them how things were prior to your arrival, and what they feel needs to be improved. Improve the things that can be improved. The key here is to leave your platoon better than when you arrived. - MSG Daniel Perdue All of these cadets are trained and ready to take on the challenges of their summer training thanks in large part to our cadre team. Unfortunately for our team, SFC Wright and his family will soon depart for Italy. He will return to the operational Army to train and lead Soldiers of the 173 rd Airborne. Over the last three years SFC Wright has played a critical role in the development and success of all of our cadets. His countless contributions as a consummate trainer at NMU will certainly have a lasting impact on the Army for years to come. Thanks for a job well done, Airborne! Despite this loss, we have great news for the Department! We welcome SFC Almeyda, 2LT Drebenstedt and Tina to our cadre team. SFC Almeyda has an enormous amount of leadership experience in combat with the 3 rd Infantry Division. I encourage all cadets to glean as much knowledge as possible from him during his tenure. 2LT Drebenstedt is a recent graduate and an Army Nurse. Tina is our new Executive Assistant and long time NMU Wildcat. Welcome to the Wildcat Battalion! Our seniors recently joined the ranks of the steadfast Officers of the U.S. Army. Congratulations, you should be proud of your efforts and the legacy you leave behind. You are the future of the Army, the warrior leaders who will lead this nation s sons and daughters in support of freedom around the world. I know we weathered some hard times but you have just begun the good fight and will experience many more. How you respond to those challenges will establish you as a leader. Stay the course. Let us also not forget all of the former NMU cadets, now Army officers, serving in harm's way around the world. Please keep them in your prayers. We look forward to their continued success and safe return. May God bless each of you and may God bless America. LTC Kyle A. Rambo

12 Page 12 Military Science 1401Presque Isle Ave Marquette, MI NMU Reunion Attention all Alumni, Cadre, former Cadre, Cadets as part of the All University Reunion on June, 2011, the Army ROTC Wildcat Battalion will have a No-Host social on 25 June from 6-9pm. (this means you buy your own eats and beverages). The location will be determined by how many people say they are coming. If you are planning on attending the No-Host Social, please either call (906) or military@nmu.edu We hope to see you there! Alumni Updates Requested Name: Graduation Date (month/year): Spouse Name: Major/Degree: Address: Phone Number: City: State: Zip: Cell Phone: address: Employment Status: Employer: Please feel free to update/share anything else with us that is important to you: (along with any memories that you wish to share) Please mail above form to: NMU ROTC, 1401 Presque Isle Ave, Marquette, MI or send via to military@nmu.edu To DONATE to the NMU Wildcat Battalion please make check payable to NMU Ranger Fund and mail your check to NMU Ranger Fund, 1401 Presque Isle Ave, Marquette, MI or you may military@nmu.edu to inquire about specific projects that ROTC might be seeking donations for.