The Official Newsletter of the Buckeye Battalion Inside this Issue: A New Day Dawns on the Buckeye Battalion... Page 2 Cadet Battalion Commander s Remarks Alpha Co. Commander s Remarks Page 3 Alpha Co. Commander s Remarks Continued Cover Story Continued Cadets in Action Page 4 Cadets in Action Bravo Co. Commander s Remarks Page 5 Autumn Quarter in Pictures Page 6 Ranger Challenge Dining-In Next Quarter Page 7 Buckeye Community Action Cadet of the Month Winter Quarter Cadet Battalion Commander Next Quarter Pages 8-9 The Buckeye Battalion sprang from the starting blocks as Autumn Quarter began at The Ohio State University. For some it was the beginning of their college and Cadet careers, and for others it was one of the few remaining steps in attaining their college degree. Throughout the quarter, Cadets worked to excel both physically and academically. Physically, Cadets strived to attain Cadets of the Buckeye Battalion conduct Thursday morning Leadership Lab their highest PT score possible. Those that scored a 270 or above on the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) were: Tonya Armstrong, Adam Baldwin, Ian Beil, Tyler Bernens, Jacob Buchholz, Zachary Calamante, Willis Cheng, John Crisp, Ryan Devine, Matthew Kocher, Brandon Kurtz, Leslie Mcbride, Ryan Phillips, Ashley Brown, Todd Dawson, Walter Dolinski, Kevin Dorgan, Sean Fulford, Jessica Houston, Grant Hussey, Michael McQueary, Craig Morin, Kevin Obermeyer, Kurt Sardiga, Daniel Shell, Derek Whipkey, Matthew White, Lindsay Whitney, Lukas Blanton, Jay Dawson, David Derrick, Sean Dummit, Victoria Harris, Robert Hord, Joseph Langley, Larry Markins Jr., Megan Matthews, Continues on page 3...
Page 2 Comments from the Cadet Battalion Commander Welcome to the first edition of the 2009-2010 Buckeye Battalion Guidon. I would like to welcome back all of those returning Cadets of the Buckeye Battalion, and give a special welcome to all the Cadets joining us for the first time. The training that you will receive here at The Ohio State University will prepare you to become one of the premier officers in the greatest army on earth. In no other organization on campus will you find a group dedicated to developing you physically, mentally, and emotionally. The training you will receive this quarter, and throughout the rest of the year, will prepare you to commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. As in years past, Buckeye Battalion Cadets performed outstandingly this summer while participating in numerous U.S. Army programs, schools, and training. The training that these Cadets received undoubtedly challenged the limits of their physical and mental abilities. This summer, junior level Cadets attended and completed the Leadership Development Assessment Course (LDAC) at Fort Lewis, Washington. LDAC is the final step these Cadets must complete in order to be commissioned as an officer this coming spring. In addition, the Buckeye Battalion had Cadets attend Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia. Cadets from the battalion also attended specialized schools such as the Cultural Immersion Project, Nurse Summer Training Program, and the Cadet Troop Leader Training course. Congratulations to all of those Cadets who participated in and completed summer training! Many great events have already taken place this year. The weekly Leadership Labs on campus and the Fall FTX in Nelsonville, Ohio gave Cadets an opportunity to enhance their leadership skills and proficiency in Army technical skills. This training will prove invaluable to these Cadets as they prepare for LDAC. In addition to military training, Cadets were able to attend weekly Buckeye home football tailgates and participate in numerous color guards and flag details. If Autumn Quarter is any indication of Cadet Battalion Commander Zac Calamante pauses training on the Autumn FTX at Stone s Farm what is to follow, the rest of this year will surely be enjoyable and successful for every member of the Buckeye Battalion. BUCKEYES LEAD THE WAY! - C/LTC Zachary A. Calamante Alpha Company got off to a great start for the 2009-2010 academic year. After coming back from summer break, we jumped right into training. During the first three weeks of the quarter, the senior MSIV Cadets showed the MSIIIs what right looked like. The MSIIIs then took Remarks from Alpha Company Commander over leadership positions from squad leader to first sergeant, to include platoon leader. This is to prepare them for the rest of the year, as well as for the capstone of their ROTC career LDAC. During the two week leadership rotations, the MSIIIs prepared Cadets in their squad for upcoming training events. Training consists of three days of PT per week as well as one Leadership Lab every week. The MSIIIs instructed the MSIs and MSIIs in Leadership Labs and conducted rehearsals beforehand. Alpha Company Commander, Leslie McBride, at the annual FTX.
Page 3 All Cadets also worked hard in their Military Science classes in preparation for the Fall FTX. The MSIs focused on learning basic fundamental Soldier skills. The MSIIs worked on furthering the skills they have learned during their MSI year, while at the same time being introduced to fundamental leadership principles. The MSIIIs worked to perfect their skills in land navigation and soldiering as they developed their own leadership style. The Fall FTX took the Alpha Com- Continued Remarks from Alpha Company Commander pany Titans to Nelsonville, Ohio and West Campus for a weekend that tested all of their skills. On Saturday, Cadets braved the cold and rain to conduct both day and night land navigation courses. The MSIIIs conducted their second land navigation course of the day while the underclassman learned how to rappel and survive in a field environment. On Sunday, the MSIIIs negotiated the Leader s Reaction Course, which tested them on operating under pressure and making quick decisions. During this time, the underclassmen were learning individual movement techniques using paintball guns as an added training aid. At the end of the quarter, the company took a record APFT, which displayed the hard work and dedication to selfimprovement that is so necessary for future leaders in the U.S. Army. It has been a very productive quarter, and every member of Alpha Company has shown the drive and determination necessary to succeed and make the Buckeye Battalion proud. ALPHA COMPANY TITANS TITANS WILL YOU EVER QUIT? NO, WE WANT SOME MORE, WE WANT SOME MORE! -C/CPT McBride Continued from cover... Harold Shorter, Marie Boone, Zachary King, and Nicole Ternasky. Cadets pushed themselves to the limit during the Autumn Quarter, and many received academic scholarships. Cadets that received a Gold Scholarship worth $500: Scott Bierwirth, Jared Kuntz, Kaitlin McCleary, Kurt Sardiga, Austin Walker, Clayton Yates, and Jake Young. Cadets that received a Silver Scholarship worth $300: Jack Millman, Ryan Phillips, Nicole Ternasky, and Jarren Thomas. Cadets that received a Bronze Scholarship worth $200: Melinda Hackemoeller, Elizabeth Mikulka, Eugene Nash, and Daniel Shell. These Scholarship awarded Cadets worked extremely hard to maintain high academic and physical standards and many exceeded those expectations. Congratulations Buckeyes! BUCKEYES LEAD THE WAY!
Page 4 Cadets in Action Remarks from the Bravo Company Commander Bravo Company kicked off the quarter early by indoctrinating MSIs into the program. The day school started, so did we with PT and Lab. MSIIIs hit the ground running, assuming company, platoon, and squad leadership positions. In these positions the MSIIIs took charge of accountability, organizing, and executing all training for their fellow Cadets. We had PT three times a week, and the MSIIIs did extra PT to get into optimal shape. In preparation for the Fall FTX, all Cadets have been working hard in their respective Military Sciences classes. MSIs have been learning basic Soldier skills, MSIIs have been working hard and learning what it takes to be a leader in the Army, and MSIIIs have been honing their skills in map reading and land navigation. This year, the Fall FTX took Bravo Company to Stone s Farm, near Athens, for land navigation training. Braving the cold and wet conditions for almost nine hours, the MSIIIs practiced both a day and night course. The MSIs and MSIIs on the other hand, received the opportunity to execute individual movement techniques under the fire of Cadre with paintball guns, and force on force missions with paintball guns. Wrapping up the quarter, the company will be tested by the APFT, measuring each Cadet in pushups, sit-ups, and a two-mile run. In the end, this has been an extremely productive quarter, preparing each and every member of Bravo Company to one day become leaders in the U.S. Army. Bravo Company Commander, John Crisp, stands in front of his company before Lab THUNDER CATS!!! HOOOOO!!! -C/CPT Crisp
Page 5 Autumn Quarter In Pictures
Page 6 Ranger Challenge Throughout the day, the team completed other events and the Buckeyes did extremely well. In weapons training they placed 19th; the one rope bridge, 5th; the hand grenade assault course, 3rd; the obstacle course, 5th; orienteering, 9th; and the Commander s Challenge/terrain association, 6th. foot march was the Buckeye s best event, placing 1st for the 3rd time in three consecutive years. The team earned 3rd place overall and kept with tradition by, once again, placing in the top three for the 11th year in a row. Congratulations Buckeyes! The team ended the day with a ten kilometer foot march, carrying around 25 pound packs. The Below: The team gathers together the night before the competition Ranger Challenge Team and Cadre from left to right standing: Lt. Colonel Farrell J. Duncombe, Craig Morin, Jarren Thomas, Kurt Sardiga, Tyler Bernens, Matthew Kocher, Ian Beil, Harold Shorter, Scott Bierwirth, MSG Brad Bonnell, and Lt. James Hyman. Kneeling: Daniel Shell, and Clayton Yates The Buckeye Battalion s Ranger Challenge team competed against 47 other ROTC teams from within the 7th Brigade at Fort Knox in late October. Once the opening ceremony was completed, the team began the morning with an APFT and scored a 299.6 average out of 300. The team placed 7th for the APFT portion of the competition. The ten-man team consisted of Craig Morin, Jarren Thomas, Kurt Sardiga, Tyler Bernens, Matthew Kocher, Ian Beil, Harold Shorter, Scott Bierwirth, Daniel Shell, and Clayton Yates. Once the APFT was completed, the team moved on to basic rifle marksmanship, placing 20th. Cadre at the 10th Annual Dining-In Dining-In The 10th Annual Buckeye Battalion Dining-In was held at the Fawcett Center on The Ohio State campus, Friday, December 4th. All MSIII and MSIV Cadets attended along with the Battalion s Cadre. At the head table were; Battalion Commander, LTC Farrell J. Duncombe, Cadet Battalion Commander, Zach Calamante, Sgt. Major Childs, Cadet Sgt. Major Armstrong, and a guest of the Buckeye Battalion, BG (Ret.) M. Keith McNamara. Marvin Keith McNamara is the Director of Integrated Air and Missile Defense Business Development and Strategy for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) and was also the guest speaker for the event. Mr. McNamara graduated from The Ohio State University and commissioned through OSU s ROTC program. The Dining-In is a formal dinner function for members of a military organization or unit and was adopted by the U.S. military during World Wars I & II and is rich in history and tradition. During winter quarter, the Cadets will take part in a similar event, the 101st Annual Military
Page 7 Buckeye Community Action Committee: Leadership in Service Cadets of the Month Autumn Quarter 2009 saw an outstanding display of leadership and camaraderie as eight Cadets were honored as the Buckeye Battalion s Cadets of the Month for the months of October and November. These Cadets stood out amongst their peers. A Cadet is chosen from each class by the battalion leadership by looking at each Cadet s contribution to the program and how they conduct themselves. These Cadets have excelled in various areas including maintaining high GPAs and APFT scores, actively participating in ROTC and community activities, and demonstrating elite leadership skills and characteristics. October s Cadets of the Month: Greeting veterans as they return from their honor trip to Washington, D.C. The Buckeye Community Action Committee (BCAC) was founded as an Ohio State community organization this autumn. Cadet Lindsay Whitney was elected the first president of the organization. The primary goal of the BCAC is to provide a service learning opportunity to the Cadets of The Ohio State Army ROTC Buckeye Battalion. The BCAC is open to any student whether in or out of the ROTC programs and helps bridge the gap between ROTC and the community it serves. BCAC works with many other community organizations and has participated in events such as Operation Military Kids, tutoring, and Honor Flight Program which includes welcoming WWII Veterans home from their trip to Washington, D.C.. MSI: Nicholas Horoski MSII: Megan Matthews MSIII: Todd Dawson MSIV: Nicholas Boyd November s Cadets of the Month: MSI: Matthew Patrlja MSII: Jay Dawson MSIII: Craig Morin MSIV: Tess White Cadet C/LTC Kocher Winter Quarter Battalion Commander Congratulations Buckeye Battalion on a successful Autumn Quarter! I challenge you to continue improving yourselves, both physically and mentally, throughout winter break and next quarter. One of my favorite quotes by Leonardo DaVinci states, Iron rusts from disuse, stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigors of the body and mind. Be ready for an exciting Winter Quarter, and I look forward to seeing you all continue the legacy of the Buckeye Battalion. Buckeyes Lead The Way! -C/LTC Kocher Next Quarter Winter Quarter will hold new challenges for the Cadets as they learn the battle drills needed during squad tactical exercise lanes in the spring and, for the MS IIIs, at LDAC. There will also be an introduction to basic rifle marksmanship and a combat water survival test. In February the Cadets will be participating in the 101 th Annual Military
Page 8 Notes from LTC Farrell J. Duncombe Happy New Year Buckeye Battalion! 2009 was another outstanding year for our battalion. As in previous years, 2009 was a year marked with numerous accomplishments and accolades. The following highlights provide an illustration of activities and events for the year. None of these events or accomplishments would have been possible without the generous contributions of time and resources from the Parents, The OSU Army ROTC Alumni Association, Families and Friends of the Buckeye Battalion; Thank you! Congratulations to the newly commissioned officers during 2009. There were 30 officers commissioned at the Spring Commissioning Ceremony; moreover, the guest speaker was our distinguished Alum, BG Smith. Also, there were three officers commissioned this summer and one officer was commissioned this Autumn Quarter. We are all very proud of each of you, and we know that you all will make significant contributions to our Army and country. Army ROTC Enrollment: The Buckeye Battalion reached another enrollment high with 166 Cadets filling the ranks of the battalion; our freshman class boasts over (14) National Army ROTC Scholarship recipients. Additionally, the battalion achieved its highest contracting rate in over five years. Many thanks are extended to our ROO/SAO Team; CPT Marsh, the Cadre, Cadets and staff for sharing the Buckeye Battalion story with new Cadets and the community. Our Scarlet Team successfully competed in the Ranger Challenge competition, located at Fort Knox, Kentucky. This year s competition was different from previous competitions in that there were more scheduled events and more schools; competitors were from the Senior ROTC programs from the states of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee, totaling over 48 teams. The Scarlet Team (Matt Kocher, Kurt Sardiga, Ian Biel, Dan Shell, Tyler Bernens, Clay Yates, Craig Morin, Jarren Thomas, Scott Bierwirth, and Harold Shorter) placed 3rd, and won the coveted 10 kilometer Road March Streamer. Our strong finish showed the Buckeye Battalion s spirit of competition and commitment to excellence. Congratulations to All! A special thanks to Alums: LTC (R) Bonnell for the motivational remarks during the Ranger Challenge Dinner and LTC (R) Molnar and his wife Melissa for the tasty pizza, cookies, and soda! The Buckeye Nation is alive and well! Congratulations to all Cadre and Cadets (over 100 people attended) that attended our Branching Ceremony and Dining-In. The guest speaker for this momentous occasion was another proud Alum, BG (R) McNamara. Outstanding Work MSIVs! Thanks to the Buckeye Community Action Committee for their stellar efforts in providing services for the homeless, animal shelters, tutoring/mentorship for the high school students and supporting the Honor Flight Program. Congratulations to the newly formed Converse Guard for providing outstanding support in rendering honors to the Nation s Colors during special events and basketball games. Fifteen students successfully attended the Leaders Training Course, Ft Knox, Kentucky. We had a 100% graduation rate, with our Cadets exceeding Brigade and Cadet Command averages in every category; 87% achieved an excellent rating. Also, all 15 have contracted and are now Buckeye Cadets! Thirty Buckeye Cadets attended LDAC over the summer. We had 7% of our Cadets receiving a rating of excellent. Ten percent of the Buckeye Battalion Cadets were rated in the top 5% of their respective Regiments and 13 % received the RECONDO badge. Outstanding work MSIIIs!
Page 9 Congratulations to the 30 Cadets who received their branch assignments. Two Cadets were designated as Distinguished Military Graduates (DMG): Cadets Seth Staugler and Zachary Calamante. Class of 2010 Branch Assignments (*Branch Detailed) ( Distinguished Military Graduate) Adjutant General s Corp Tonya Armstrong, *Andrew Brown (Field Artillery), Maragret Hill Armor Adam Baldwin, Jacob Harvey, Aaron Siebenaller, John Thibault Military Intelligence * Seth Staugler (Armor) Transportation Corp John Crisp, Leslie McBride, Geoff Thomas Engineer Corps Daniel Bentley, Brian Bunting, Henry Corretjer, Lauren King Field Artillery Ryan Devine Finance Jenna Meyers Nurse Corp Zachary Calamante, Danielle Nihart Signal Corp *Matthew Kocher (Infantry), Michael Franklin, Tess White Ordnance Tyler Bernens, Robert Deppi Infantry Adam Fitzsimmons, Adam Henkaline, Chris Lautner Air Defense Artillery Jack Millman, Jared Kuntz, Gene Nash
Department of Military Science & Leadership Army ROTC at The Ohio State University 253 Converse Hall 2121 Tuttle Park Place Columbus, OH 43210-1169 Address Correction Requested Buckeyes Lead the Way!!!