Words From LTC Hubbard. Welcome Back to the Spring Semester! After a good Holiday Break, the Boiler Battalion

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1 The Boiler Bayonet Purdue University Army ROTC February, 2012 Volume 1, Issue 1 Inside this issue: Words from LTC 1 Hubbard Cadet Highlights 2-5 Words From LTC Hubbard Spouses, Friends and Cadets, Welcome Back to the Spring Semester! After a good Holiday Break, the Boiler Battalion Strengthening The Basics Seeking A Different Take On Fitness 6 7 looked refreshed and ready for a busy semester. This semester we have conducted the JROTC Drill meet and will conduct the traditional events: German Proficiency Badge Qualification, Combined The Ranger Platoon 7 Field Training Exercise (Indiana/Ohio ROTC organizations), Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and the Annual Purdue JROTC Drill Meet Purdue Cadet Compete To Earn The GPB Remembering Sean Matti Contact Info / Puzzle 11 Spring Formal. Additionally, we will hold a multi-service pistol match in March and send teams to the Xavier University Best Ranger competition in April. The Cadets have already started the semester with vigor by obtaining an overall PT average of 241 while integrating the Health and Kinesiology Trainers into our platoon physical fitness sessions. Also, the Cadet Leadership has taken advantage of the warm weather to conduct outstanding leadership labs at Horticulture Park. The Corps of Cadets have incorporated many new systems into daily operations: c/ltc Lawson created the Green/Amber/Red alert process to keep Cadets informed of changes. c/maj Wilkinson continues to keep the Battalion on track with staff coordination and time management. c/maj Wisehart has incorporated tried and true training management processes into our training meetings. Company and Section Commander s have integrated the 8-Step Training Model to ensure our Cadets get well organized and meaningful training. Thank You, for a great start to a busy and rewarding semester! Boiler Up! LTC Hubbard and MSG Cook

2 Cadet Highlights The Boiler Bayonet Page 2 Name: Amanda Campbell Year: Freshman (MSI) Major: Pre-Athletic Training Position in Battalion: Cadet Private First Class Why did you join ROTC: Money for school, leadership experience, and family tradition. What kind of activities do you enjoy in ROTC: German Armed Proficiency Badge Challenge (GPB) and Pathfinders. What are some of your favorite parts or activities in ROTC: I definitely liked meeting new people with the same interests as me, and I really enjoy working out pretty much every day. What kind of activities do you do in your free time: I read, sleep, and study. I don't really have a whole lot of free time with my major. One thing you would tell someone interested in Army ROTC: Be prepared to work hard for what you want out of the program. Also, get used to getting up early and confusing your friends as to why on earth you would be up before the sun rises.

3 Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3 Name: Samuel Gawaluck Year: Sophomore (MSII) Major: Law and Society Position in Battalion: Squad Leader (Cadet Staff Sergeant) Why did you join ROTC: Adventure, camaraderie, and the desire to be a part of something bigger. What kind of activities do you enjoy in ROTC: GPB, Rifle and Pistol Club, Commander's Cup events. What are some of your favorite parts or activities in ROTC: Field Training Exercises (FTX) and knowing you are part of a brotherhood. What kind of activities do you do in your free time: Hang out with friends, play sports, go to sporting events. One thing you would tell someone interested in ROTC: It is a great experience. You will meet some of the most interesting people in your life in ROTC and most of those people will be lifelong friends. You may have best friends from High School and sometimes they might drift away, but the friends you make in ROTC will always be there for you not only in your daily life but also in your future career.

4 Cadet Highlights Name: Matt Miller The Boiler Bayonet Page 4 Year: Junior (MSIII) Major: Accounting Position in Battalion: Squad Leader (Cadet Staff Sergeant) When did you join the program? Fall 2009, as a freshman Are you on Scholarship? Yes, the Army is paying for me to come to a great college and earn a great degree. Has ROTC given you any specific awesome experiences? The Field Training Exercise (FTX) is always really fun. When I was a freshman we got to rappel and do several different obstacle courses. We do a lot of really cool things when were in the field. What are some of the different Clubs you ve participated in while in Army ROTC? I have participated in Rifle and Pistol and the Color guard while at Purdue. The Color guard gave me a leg up on different Drill and Ceremony Movements and the Rifle and Pistol teams gave me an opportunity to shoot once a week in the Armory. What s your favorite part about Army ROTC? I enjoy being able to connect with other Cadets in my class. I ve gained a lot of really good friends since being in the program. We all have something in common. ROTC has also given me a ton of leadership experience I would not have had if it weren t for ROTC. It puts you in front of a group and has you leading students, Cadets, and soldiers.

5 Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 5 Name: Clay Lawson Year: Senior (MSIV) Major: Agricultural Economics Position in Battalion: Battalion Commander (Cadet Lieutenant Colonel) When did you join the program? Fall 2008, my freshman year Are you on Scholarship? Yes, have been all 8 semesters. Has ROTC given you any specific awesome experiences? I have had many great experiences throughout my career at Purdue including GPB, Ranger Challenge, CTLT (Cadet Troop Leader Training), and LDAC (Leader Development and Assessment Course). My favorite, however, was Air Assault School. During the summer of 2010 I graduated from Air Assault School at West Point. Before Air Assault school started I got to spend the 4th of July at West Point. It was amazing. It really got me fired up for the next two weeks of tough training. During the first week I got to fly nap of the earth in a Chinook helicopter through the Hudson Valley and over West Point. Not too many people get to say that they have done that, it was pretty cool. What are some of the different Clubs you ve participated in while in Army ROTC? I've done Ranger Challenge and Rifle and Pistol all 4 years. This year I am the OIC (Officer In Charge) for both. I have helped with Ranger Club the past 2 years and have done Pathfinders on and off throughout my 4 years here. What s your favorite part about Army ROTC? I love the challenge. I get to push my limits and see what I am really capable of. I also am so grateful to have met and worked with so many of America's great young leaders. I would not trade my ROTC experience for anything.

6 The Boiler Bayonet STRENGTHENING THE BASICS Written by CDT Master Sergeant Lakoff Page 6 Cadet Command Sergeant Major Rosenbalm, pictured right, initiates the first lab of the semester. Battalion, Attention!, yelled Cadet Command Sergeant Major Rosenbalm. With a loud and thunderous Boiler Up! reply by the Purdue Army ROTC Cadets, the Boiler Battalion is brought back to life and looking as strong as ever. Cadets kicked off the semester during the first weekly leadership lab on Thursday January 12, 2012 at the Purdue Armory with a bang. Senior Cadets led classes reviewing customs and courtesies, drill and ceremony, and an award ceremony for those who achieved excellence in the previous semester. As there are many new faces to the Boiler Battalion, the first Army ROTC lab gave current and new cadets a chance to brush up and learn. Cadet Sergeant Patterson, right, receives an award from LTC Hubbard (left) for getting first place pistol match on the small bore precision pistol team in the Fall Semester shootout Cadets were issued new gear, including ACU s (Army Combat Uniform), IPFU s (Improved Physical Fitness Uniform), rucksack, helmet, and many necessary items for ROTC field training. At the same time, current Cadets received briefings on customs and courtesies, wear and care of the uniform, and general Army standards. While new Cadets were received new gear, the returning Cadets practiced drill and ceremony. Topics included marching in a formation and movements with a weapon. Practicing drill and ceremony gives the Cadets an opportunity to march as a single unit and sound off with different marching cadences. To close the lab, the Boiler Battalion ended with an award ceremony. Cadets were rewarded for exceeding the standards in PT (physical training), GPA, Ranger Challenge Team, and marksmanship. Some awards given included ribbons that are worn on the Class A dress uniform, while others were certificates. Overall, it was a great way to start the semester at the Purdue Armory and pump up the Cadets for the upcoming spring semester.

7 Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 7 Seeking A Different Take On Fitness Written by CDT Major Wisehart In no other profession is physical fitness more important than when serving in the United States military. When one s very livelihood rests on the ability react quickly and swiftly to a threat or endure the grueling days of combat, it is imperative that they display an intense level of overall fitness. The United States Military, and here at Purdue University Army ROTC, recognizes this need for increased physical readiness. In order to prepare our cadets for the rigors of their future careers we have enlisted that aid of the talented and knowledgeable staff of the Health and Kinesiology Department in the College of Health and Human Sciences. Students working on degrees to become Personal Trainers, Physical Therapists, or Dieticians participate in the clinical hours (HK311) and sacrifice their early mornings to help train the cadets in Army ROTC. These subject matter experts aid in the development of PT programs, coach cadets on form, and help motivate each individual. While the trainers gain the learning experience of training a large group of individuals, the cadets learn a new kind of physical training, and one they will utilize to better prepare their soldiers when they one day be- come commissioned officers. This new partnership is one that will continue to develop and improve the overall programs of both respective parties while promoting a new level of physical fitness. The Ranger Platoon Written by CDT Captain Grealish Hearing the phrase Rangers lead the way conveys an image of mental and physical toughness and military proficiency to anyone who hears it. A group of Purdue Army ROTC Cadets are conducting training this semester to see if they have what it takes to develop that same sort of toughness for the challenges they may have to face one day. A total of 11 Cadets are participating in extra physical training, class room and hands on instruction in order to develop the skills that any Army Ranger has. In to be selected for the Ranger Section a cadet must have an Army physical fitness test score of above 270, and a GPA greater than 2.5. Not only must a Cadet meet those standards, but they were also selected by their cadre because of the potential they showed in class. In addition to the Physical training provided by Purdue s own health and kinesiology department, the Ranger section has been conducting PT to include sandbag workouts, swimming workouts, and ruck marches. This training ensures that the Ranger Cadets always excel during a physical event. To develop their military skills Ranger section Cadet s participate in the mandatory lab on Thursday s, but then stay an additional two hours working on skills such as Operations Orders, and taking classes on the Current Operating Environment.

8 The Boiler Bayonet Page 8 Annual Purdue JROTC Drill Meet Written by CDT Sergeant Major Noble JROTC teams form on the Purdue Armory Drill Floor prior to the Awards Ceremony Military History has noted that armies from the beginning of time have participated in some form of Drill and Ceremony. As some may view Drill and Ceremony unnecessary, it has been a proven tool for Military Organizations all around the World to get its soldiers ready for battle. Movements used in modern day Drill and Ceremony have been those that imitate tactics and maneuvers used on the battlefield. If anything, Drill and Ceremony teaches discipline, which any present day soldier would say is an important aspect for which every soldier should entail. On February 4 th 2012, our very own Purdue University held host to the annual Junior ROTC Drill Meet, which brings teams from all across the Midwest to compete. The Drill Meet has been the largest fundraiser for Purdue s Army ROTC program for many years. It is a fun and exciting competition where High Schools with JROTC programs can come to compete and show off their teamwork and unity in their swift and interesting Drill movements. The Drill Meet serves as a way to advertise the Army ROTC program and also serve as a tool to get present Purdue Cadets involved. Teams from all across the Midwest are welcome to compete in the Drill Meet each year. This year, 18 teams competed for the prestige, including teams from Pennsylvania and Iowa. The winner this year, Marmion High school, won the most events and displayed discipline as they

9 Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 9 worked together as a team. Planning the Drill Meet requires patience and hard work from the Junior and Senior level Cadets. Challenges leading up to the Drill Meet include coordination with competing schools and putting together a solid timeline of events that will not overlap. Of course, just like any large event, problems occur spontaneously and almost instantly, but it is the job of the Cadets here at Purdue to stay calm and work through all the problems as a team, much like how they will be expected to act as future leaders of the United States Army. Overall, Drill and Ceremony has been a useful tool to a modern day American Soldier. Instilling discipline in a young High School Student is a characteristic that will eventually lead to success. Whether the High School students that competed in the Purdue JROTC Drill Meet will continue their military careers is beyond me, but I can assure you that the fundamentals learned from Drill and Ceremony will set them up for a successful career elsewhere. Purdue Cadets Compete To Earn the GPB Written by CDT Sergeant First Class Fuller Only a handful of awards can be worn both as a Cadet and after commissioning as an officer. Fifteen Purdue Army ROTC Cadets will compete for one such award, the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency, shortened to GPB for German Proficiency Badge. The three day competition, which begins on February 24, will see if Cadets have what it takes to meet the standards set forth by the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Events in the competition include: a five kilometer run, a 12 kilometer ruck march, a 200 meter swim, 9mm pistol qualification, a first-aid test, and various field and track events. A bronze, silver, or gold version of the award is earned based on performance in the events listed. The competition will be completed in various locations in southern Indiana. The track and field events will take place at Indiana University; the five kilometer run, the 12 kilometer ruck, and 9mm pistol qualification will take place at Camp Atterbury; and the 200 meter swim will be completed at a high school in Bloomington, Indiana. Cadets have been preparing for the competition since the beginning of the semester. Instead of the usual three days of PT a week, cadets seeking the award participate in five days of PT a week. The following Cadets will compete for the award from the 24th to the 26th of February: Biel, Thomas (MS I), Cambell, Amanda (MS I), Bracken, Stephen (MS II), Day, Douglas (MS II), Gawaluck, Samuel (MS II), Laughner, Josiah (MS II), Moore, Andrew (MS II), Scherer, Samuel (MS II), Wurtz, Jeffrey W (MS II), Fuller, Nathan (MS III), Jordan, Parker (MS III), Master, Alexander (MS III), Noble, Eric (MS III), Scanlon, Sam (MS III), and Risi, Thomas (MS IV).

10 The Boiler Bayonet Page 10 Remembering Sean Matti The Purdue Boilermaker statue, pictured right, donned Sean Matti s jersey Written by CDT 1ST Lieutenant Clettenberg The Purdue football team along with several Purdue students, faculty, family, and friends have been in a state of extreme mourning since the death of Sean Matti. Former running back Sean Matti, born Sept 18 th 1988, was considered a dream by Purdue football coach Danny Hope because of his attention to detail and his upmost devotion to the game. During his time in high school he earned distinguished awards such as all-state, all-metro, and allconference honors after totaling 150 tackles and 12 sacks as a senior. He was named Suburban East Conference Defensive Player of the Year and team Defensive Player of the Year as well. Sean Matti came to Purdue with the mentality to extend his legacy at his high school and never failed to deliver. After four seasons at Purdue, team captain Dan Dierking stated that he was a devastating hitter and a superb athlete as well as having a hardworking and relentless spirit that will be part of Boilermaker football for years to come. After the unfortunate events that took place in July of 2011, Purdue University football has been devoted to remembering the efforts of Sean Matti by displaying the number 22 on their jerseys. As a token of appreciation, the Purdue Army ROTC Cadets have dressed the Ross Stadium Boilermaker statue with Sean s jersey. In football seasons to come, Purdue students, faculty, staff, and family members will always remember the efforts of former Purdue running back Sean Matti.

11 Purdue University Army ROTC Contact Info Purdue Armory 812 3rd St. West Lafayette, IN Phone: (765) Fax: (765) Boiler Up! We re on the web! Check us out at Or on facebook at groups/