BLAZER BATTALION NEWSLETER U N I V E R S I T Y O F A L A B A M A A T B I R M I N G H A M A R M Y R O T C Volume 1, Issue 1 15 SEPTEMBER 2014 A Letter from the Professor of Military Science On behalf of the entire Blazer Team, Ex Igne Resurgam Et Ducere! The ensuing pages provide a glimpse of the amazing accomplishments of your Cadets over the past several months. Needless to say, they continue to impress us each and every sisting of over $422,190.71. Finally, Cadets performed tremendously in their Professional Development Schools, most notably 3 new Airborne and Air Assault school graduates, and 1 WHINSEC. graduate These accomplishments are in line with the Battalions new of the Blazer Battalion and UAB. With respect to the Cadre, we have assembled a talented, diverse, and experienced team of professionals dedicated to producing trained, adaptable leaders of character committed to service to this great Inside this issue: AUBUST EVENTS: ZERO DAY AUBUST EVENTS: MOVE IN DAY AUGUST EVENTS: STU- DENT LIFE DAY 2 3 4 SUMMER TRAINING 5 day. Of note, we had 13 Cadets graduate from the Leader vision. Developed by the cadre and staff of the Blazer Battal- nation. We are extremely grateful to welcome LTC Aus- CONTRACTED CADETS 6 Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) at Fort Knox, ion that accomplishment is, The UAB ROTC Cadet Battal- tin as our new Professor of Military Science. LTC Austin is CONTRACTED CADETS 7 Kentucky, forming a talented and impressive MSIV class. ion and Cadre Team commission confident leaders of un- a combat veteran, most recently serving as the CJ5 and OUT REACH EVENTS 8 Moreover, we sent Cadets to 5 wavering character who are G5 in Afghanistan with the foreign countries, to include morally and ethically sound. 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Albania, Romania, Thailand, Our Cadets and Staff are fit Division, Fort Campbell, KY, Urkraine, and Burkine Faso. and disciplined both physically and we are blessed to have University of Alabama- and mentally, and are flexible him as part of our Birmingham continues to enough to identify and ad- Command Team. strike to ensure our cadets are dress complex problems The remainder of ready to meet the demands of through unified land opera- our staff is virtu- serving with active duty, na- tions. Blazer Cadets are con- ally unchanged, tional guard, and reserve summate professionals, who providing the units. To that end, we also had are confident and trained in necessary conti- 5 Cadets conduct CTLT training the Army s basic fundamentals nuity and experi- this summer with units in Eglin and values, who continually ence to build up- AFB, Ft. Bliss, Ft. Lee, Ft. seek to develop themselves on last year s suc- Huachuca, and Ft. Wainwright. and the greater community at cesses. While financial incentives remain a paramount part of our program, 44 cadets are currently receiving benefits con- large through integrated outreach programs and personal example. Our organization represents the proud lineage BLAZERS! - LTC Arieyeh J. Austin and MSG Gregory Scott
AUGUST EVENTS: BLAZER BATTALION NEWSLETER ZERO DAY BRIEF LTC Austin CPT Tanner RANGER CHALLENGE RAIDER PLT COLOR GAURD MSG Scott C/CMDR Hamilton C/CSGTM Nykanen CDT Hobbs CDT Tuberville Page 2
BLAZER BATTALION NEWSLETER UAB S MOVE IN DAY RAN SMOOTHLY THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF YOUR BLAZER BATTLION. On move in day, not only was it successful, but LTC Austin was able to do the honors and swear in a fellow UAB blazer. Page 3
STUDENT LIFE DAY Mr. Garcia and CDT Cosby speaking with a possible new recruit. CDT Lowery, CDT White, CDT Von Canon FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS, CONTACT THE ARMY ROTC DEPARTMENT, JASON GARCIA: (205) 934-7215 OR EMAIL: ROO@UAB.EDU UAB s Student Life Day was a great start to recruitment this Fall 2014 semester. CDT Myricks Page 4
Summer 2014 Training Events CDT Carlson, Thomas 5 Jump Chump This summer I was very excited to get to attend The Army Airborne School in Fort Benning, Georgia. Not only would I be getting the chance to jump out of airplanes, but I would also get the chance to interact with hundreds of soldiers every day for a month. I made great friends with other cadets from other schools and military colleges like West Point, and also made great friends that were enlisted. Many of the en- listed were preparing for or having already been through RASP (Ranger As- sessment and Selection Program). Week 1: Sure it was hot and humid, but that s part of it. The training was the most physically demand- ing during this week. Early Mornings with a lot of running and a lot of hitting the ground while practic- ing our PLFs (Parachute Landing Falls). Once this week was finished we were all confident in our ability to do what was re- quired. 34 Foot Tower complete. Week 2: Added more swinging apparatuses to our training. Learning how to operate the parachute slips and fix possible problems while jumping. We were then put in the frying pan for two days, which is a sand pit that encircles the 250 Foot Towers. Once com- pleted we were ready to jump. Jump Week: Our Company was very lucky to have great weather and we completed 5 jumps in 3 days. 3 Hollywood Jumps and 2 Combat Equipment Jumps. Up in the morning around 0200 but you would have never known how tired you were be- cause of the adrenaline pumping. We jumped out of a C-130 Aircraft with the T-10D and the T-11 Parachutes over Fryar Drop Zone. Graduation: Our class began with 346 soldiers and finished with 271. My father was there to pin my wings and enjoy the ceremony. Family, Friends, and Airborne AIRBORNE IS NOT ONLY TRAINING, IT IS A PROUD TRADITION. UAB Blazer Battalion Army Airborne School 4 June - 27 June 2014 Class 25-14 Fort Benning, Georgia graduates from years past were there. Airborne is not only training, it is a proud tradition. I am grateful for the opportunity and proud to have earned my wings. Page 5
Newly Contracted Cadets Randau, Christian Alexander Cullman, AL MSIII PT Score: 271 Major: Criminal Justice I joined ROTC, because I don t want to be a follower. I went through BCT to gain the skills needed to be a good soldier, but now I am ready to learn how to become a great leader. Franklin, Kyle Lamar Anniston, AL PT Score: 266 Major: Nursing I joined ROTC, because I am a part of a military family and wanted to keep the tradition going. Myricks, Micah Birmingham, AL MS II PT Score: 254 Major: Management; concentration: Production Operations Management Minor: Information Systems I was coming out of high school and was really unsure if I really wanted to go to college, I wanted to join the Army just like my Dad. I planned to enlist and do my 4 years and then go to college. My parents DID NOT like that idea. They gave me an ultimatum, which was do one full year of college, and then if you want to enlist, go right ahead. I did a little research and found out about ROTC and signed up. I loved ROTC, but I wanted more so I still enlisted as an 11B in the National Guard with the intent of becoming an SMP cadet. Page 6
Newly Contracted Cadets Name: Adams, Tanya Joycelyn I decided to join Army ROTC because of a few different reasons. I have Hometown: Alexander City, always had an interest in AL the Army because my dad was in the Army and would MS III tell stories about the experiences he had while PT Score: 276 serving. Also, although the armed services are Major: Kinesiology be good soldiers too. More than that, I joined Army ROTC because it gives me a sense of pride to be a part of something bigger than myself. I enjoy the camaraderie, the disciplined lifestyle, and living up to the Army values. I am very proud to predominately male, I want be in the Army ROTC to show that women can program. Green, Joseph Hometown: Pinson, AL MSIII PT Score: 260 Major: Political Science After 10 years in the Army, seven years as an NCO, I felt the call to pursue the next level of leadership as a US Army Officer. My decision was heavily influenced by the great examples of leadership provided by the many NCOs and Officers with whom I have served with. NEWLY CONTRACTED CADETS : Randu Nathan Myricks Hatfield Franklin Kinsey Adams Smith Green Page 7
September Outreach Events UAB ARMY ROTC Ongoing Community Service Pathway Help serve homeless women and children. Volunteer with Pathway every Monday. Meet at the recreation center to carpool to Pathway. Uniform: Green Battalion t-shirt. Take a battle buddy. Submit a picture and let us know how you enjoyed your experiences. DATE/ TIME: 08 SEP 17 NOV NLT 1245 LOCATION: REC. ADDRESS Pathway: 409 Richmond Arrington Jr. Blvd Birmingham, AL 35203 Contact: Hannah Davis Coordinator of Ongoing Service hholcomb@uab.edu OCTOBER Many outreach events are coming soon in October, as Breast Cancer Awareness month begins, we will be partnering with the VA. A SPECIAL THANKS! Thank you, to everyone who submitted articles, they will be published throughout the semester. Continue to submit articles and pictures, as well as participate in our community service events. -CDT Jeter, CDT Bennett, & CDT Randall Contact for submissions: Sarah Bennett sarahbe@uab.edu Ashley Jeter aajeter@uab.edu Larrian Randall larrian@uab.edu Page 8