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Volume 23, No. 2 AprWestern Region Cadet Command Fort Lewis, Washington
TRAIN TO LEAD! WE COMMISSION!
By Jeremy OBryan
Western Region Public Affairs
FORT LEWIS, Wash. Four noncommissioned
officers from across Western Region competed here
in an NCO of the Year Competition March 7-9. The
Soldiers endured many hours of skill evaluation and
testing to reveal the best of the best from among the
hundreds of Warriors in the Region.
The dust has cleared, and the top selectee, 14th
Brigade Soldier Sgt. 1st Class Erick Macher, a military
science instructor at the University of California-
Davis, will represent Western Region at the CadetCommand and subsequent NCOY competitions.
Noncommissioned officers bring experience,
wisdom, and a warrior perspective to the job of
training Americas young people to become Army
officers, said Command Sergeant Major Victor
Mercado, Western Region command sergeant
major.
Recognizing the contributions individual Soldiers
make by finding the best, Mercado explained, shows
that the highest standards will be rewarded.
When Soldiers like Sergeant 1st Class Macher
maintain and enforce high standards, cadets and
other Soldiers follow, Mercado said.
Noncommissioned officers in ROTC battalions
who all have served and fought under Army officers not only bring valuable insight to the training
environment, but also help show cadets what the
officer-enlisted relationship should look like. They
help cadets understand the very Soldiers they may
Photo by Jerem
Sergeant 1st Class Erick Macher shows his ID tags at Fort Lewis March 7 as part of the U.S. Army Cade
mands Western Region NCO of the Year Competition. Macher, military science instructor at the UniveCalifornia Davis, finished ahead of three other NCOs to claim NCO of the Year for Western Region and
sent the region at subsequent NCO of the Year competitions.
Region chooses NCO as best of bes
one day lead into battle.
Also selected to compete in this competition were
Sergeants 1st Class Shad Lewis, 10th Brigade, from
Southern Illinois University, who finished 2nd in the
points standings; Glenn Darr, 13th Brigade, fromPacific Lutheran University; and David Todd, 8th
Brigade, from Tulane University.
These NCOs were selected to attend this
competition by their brigade commanders and
sergeants major because of their exceptional duty
performance and motivation to compete, Mercado
said. They are all winners in my book.
The competition consisted of a weigh-in, Army
physical fitness test, weapons qualification,
night land navigation, a written essay, a writt
and appearance in front of a board of senior
who grilled the contestants. In the mix of th
event organizers placed a mystery task: resto an improvised explosive device.
The events and tasks presented to us w
same kinds of tasks every warrior should kn
to do, said Macher, a 13-year veteran. T
is to stay practiced and situationally aware
successful responses come naturally.
The Cadet Command NCOY board will be
Western Region Apr. 4-7.
Photo by Jeremy OBryan
Sergeants 1st Class Erick Macher, David Todd and
Glenn Darr finish up at the small arms range during
the Regions NCO of the Year competition in March.
Macher, who will now compete at Cadet Command
level, was selected from among four NCOs: Todd, Darrand Sgt. 1st Class Shad Lewis. The Cadet Command
competition will be held at Fort Lewis April 4-7.
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By Col. Steven Corbett
Commander, Western Region
This spring, Cadet Command will turn 20 years old. How
can that be, one may ask, if ROTC was formally established
way back in 1916? The Reserve Officers Training Corps hasbeen restructured and reorganized along with the rest of our
Army several times in our history, but it was not until May 2,
1986, that we were formally organized as a separate command
under the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command.
Our first Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Robert Wagner,
was in fact my predecessor several times removed as the
ROTC Region Commander here
at Fort Lewis. It was Wagners
drive, determination and sheer
force of will that established Cadet
Command, and his efforts behind
the scenes remain with us today.
The Western Region itself has
undergone many changes. ROTC
Regions were established under
brigadier generals in 1973 in order
to ensure standardization and
command and control over the ROTC programs in geographic
areas of responsibility. Our Western Region, formerly the 4th
ROTC Region, has been based at Fort Lewis for over thirty
years, and we have had our own share of change. When I was
an Assistant Professor of Military Science as a captain, there
were 64 senior ROTC Programs in the 4th Region. When
the 3rd ROTC Region was inactivated in 1992, we assumed
responsibility for the ROTC Programs in Texas, Kansas,
Oklahoma and Arkansas.
With the Cadet Command reorganization of 2003, our area
of responsibility now stretches from the Panhandle of Florida
to Guam and American Samoa, with 140 senior programs
and over 800 JROTC Detachments.
This extension of responsibility has been coupled with adramatic shrinkage in the size of the Region Headquarters.
The Region has been commanded by a colonel since
1994, and the number of people who work in the Region
Headquarters is less than half the number that it was when
we only had 64 schools in the Region. Some of these folks
have been working here for nearly two decades. As the Cadet
Command headquarters for Warrior Forge, that means that
we have civilian employees who have gone without the
opportunity for a summer vacation for 14, 17 and up to 18
years in a row. These are truly the iron men and women who
make the Region run and Warrior Forge to occur. To them,
our on-campus cadre, and to our cadets, I wish a Happy
Birthday.
2 April 2006Goldbar Leader
Col. Steven R. Corbett
Commander
Western Region, U.S Army Cadet Command
This Army-funded newspaper is an authorized publication for the members of the U.S. Army and the Reserve Offi cers Training Corps
Contents of the Goldbar Leaderand Warrior Leadernewspapers are not necessarily the offi cial views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Gover
or the Department of the Army. The editorial content of this publication is the property of the U.S. Army Cadet Command Western Re
Public Affairs Offi ce, and is printed under exclusive w ritten contract in accordance with Army Regulation 360-1. Printed circulation is a
9,000. Submission of stories and photos by Western Region headquarters, ROTC, and JR OTC organizations is encouraged. The editor
serves the right to edit all submitted material based on space limitations and command policy. Submissions, letters, and inquiries shou
addressed to: HQ Western Region, U.S. Army Cadet Command, ATTN: ATOW-ZP (PAO), Box 339500, Fort Lewis, WA, 98433-9500. Addit
contact via phone, fax, and e-mail is acceptable. Voice: (253) 967-7473; Fax: (253) 967-9581; E-mail: [email protected].
Public Affairs Offi cer Bob Rosenburgh
Editor, Deputy PAO Jeremy OBryan
Volume 23, No. 2 April 2006W es te r n Re gi on C ad et C om ma nd F or t Le w is , Wa sh in gt on
By Sergeant Major Shawn Goins
13th Brigade
Since the first day you entered the Army
you probably always had someone to go to
when you didnt know how to do something.
You asked your first squad leader what to do
when you made your first PCS move. You
asked your peers what paperwork you were
supposed to fill out the Monday after you got
married. You listened in when other Soldiers
talked about their experiences at different
schools or duty assignments.
But what happens when your
peers or supervisors havent
done what you are about to do
retire? This is the first time
there isnt a fellow Soldier
available you can call on and
ask questions. In the remote
locations of ROTC battalions it
may be even more difficult tofind someone that has recently
retired or at least remembers
what they did when they retired.
The Army has set up some great programs
and someone with the right information is
just an email away, but an email only goes
so far. As I hit the 45 day mark until I start
my permissive TDY and transition leave, I
would like to share some odds and ends with
you:
Did you know the government will move
your belonging for up to 4 years after you
retire? You have to have a good reason (the
service member is finishing school, medical
reasons, etc.) and you must request it inwriting each year.
You can take your permissive TDY in
one 20-day span or take it four-day intervals,
i.e. Monday thru Thursday, work day Friday
and then again Monday thru Thursda
Friday, and so on. With this option it c
up to five weeks to use your allowed
of Permissive TDY. Either way yo
have a separate DA Form 31 for each
Just keep in mind that this is neither
nor an entitlement, and must be fully j
by the soldier. The initial Permissiv
can be up to 10 days, and up to 10 ad
days may be requested, totaling a ma
of 20 days.
No matter how you slice it, V
Group Life Insurance is
competitive to the civil
insurance market.
Depending on your s
SBP may not be right fo
have young children, so
it is a no-brainer. I g
government $120 per m
when I die my wife or c
get 55 percent of my paySo here is the math. I pa
per month for five years
of $7,200. I die, my wife draws about
dollars a month so my wife just ma
the $7,200 dollars in less than seven m
In my opinion it is worth the piece of
If you plan on continuing your ed
you should enroll in the $600 bu- up p
for the GI Bill. It buys an additional
month for 36 months a total of $5,40
There is plenty of money in the
Retirement budget. Use it and go to a p
talk face- to-face with the different a
involved with retirement, it will clear
of questions.I would not change anything I eve
the Army; the last 20 years will alway
highlight of my life. But there is life a
Army, and I intend to enjoy it.
Cadet Command turns 20
Whats going on in your battalion? Get the word out!
The Goldbar Leader goes out to more than 150 colleges and
universities and 800 high schools.
Do the math. Thats nearly 1,000 ROTC programs nearly
20,000 potential readers with whom to share your units
accomplishments ...
Call us today at (253) 967-7
or send e-mail to
SGM Goins shares retirement tip
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By Command Sergeant Major Victor Mercado
Command Sergeant Major, Western Region
What a great time I had attending the Western
Region Drill Competition
at Texas A&M. Big
kudos to Sgt. Maj.Stephen Lamb and his
crew for organizing this
awesome event. Many
of the JROTC instructors
that attended the event
said the competition has
gotten better through the
years.
Col. Steven Corbett, Western Region
Commander, and I observed many of the
competitions and talked to many teams.
We were impressed with the way these junior
cadets handle the pressure. Win or lose, they felt a
sense of pride and a sense of goal accomplishment.
In every team I saw discipline, dedication,
commitment, respect to one another, and teamwork.This is a reflection of the outstanding leadership
and dedication of their JROTC instructors. Some of
instructors paid their own way to the competition.
In my opinion, unselfish acts like these are what
make a JROTC program successful.
Over 50 teams attended the competition in the
Armed and Unarmed Divisions. Division events
included inspection, regulation, color guard,
exhibition, and academic exam.
April 2006 Goldbar Leader
In my 25-plus years in the military, I hav
witnessed Drill and Ceremony conducted in
professional manner, and never by high sch
from across the cultural spectrum. The
organizers did an excellent job in keeping eve
on schedule and the Drill Sergeants really
atmosphere and tone from start to finish.
The last event of the competitions was th
ceremony. Lt. Gen. John Van Alstyne, Col.
and I awarded trophies and coins to the 1st
5th Place in all the events. We were very
about how the grading took place and t
JROTC instructors let the cadets compete
any pressure.
Col. Corbett and I are confident Westernis going to outperform the other services
Nationals at Dayton. This weekend was real
to me that we are doing an outstanding job
our youth.
To really appreciate what these kids demo
to us, you have to be there to feel and wit
If next year you have the opportunity and th
come out a support this event, and most impo
support the kids.
Region drill competition impressMore than 50 JROTC teams
turn out at Texas A&M
to strut their drill
By Lt. Col. Jeff Cunningham
New Mexico Military Institute
ROSWELL, N.M. The New Mexico Military
Institute is one of only five Military Junior Colleges in
the United States offering the Early Commissioning
Program, in which a cadet may be commissioned as
a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve at the
end of four semesters, instead of the more traditional
four years at another university.
About 130 cadets participate in the two-year ECP
here. Some of these cadets have already served on
combat tours in Iraq or Afghanistan. Upon earning
their baccalaureate degree, these lieutenants may
serve on active duty, Reserve duty or in the National
Guard.
Although a cadet may be commissioned as alieutenant, they may not serve on active duty until
they obtain their baccalaureate degree. Newly
commissioned lieutenants are expected to join a
Reserve or National Guard unit, where they drill
monthly and sharpen their military and leadership
skills. These ECP lieutenants are monitored in their
progress by the unit commander and the Professor
of Military Science at the college or university they
transfer to from NMMI.
The most senior ROTC cadets who completed their
advanced training this past summer and entered their
final year of instruction, performed better than cadets
in the past several years with a 96 percent graduation
rate and twice the number of cadets achieving the
highest rating of Excellent. New cadets enteringthe program and beginning at the Institute this past
fall had the highest graduation rate from training at
the Leaders Training Course at Fort Knox, Ky., on
record for the school. These beginning cadets also
earned more than twice the number of high cadet
awards as the four other Military Junior Colleges
combined.
The ROTC program also receives outstanding
support from the New Mexico Army National
Guard through training opportunities, equipment,
and transportation from the local Roswell battalion,
other units statewide, and through the state chain of
command. The 200th Air Defense Artillery Battalion,
New Mexico National Guard, has deployed soldiers
on Homeland Defense missions in the MilitaryDistrict of Washington and to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Some military
colleges offer early
commissioning
Need News?Surf to www.army.mil
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jerky and baby wipes are great
a Soldier happy, said Perry J
Marketing Director for the Ro
Blood Center, but donating b
the single best thing that fam
friends can do to keep a Soldie
Jefferies added that drives is onbest over the past four years.
also the first successful drive in
an Army ROTC department w
state of Texas. The teamwork
SHSU Bearkat Battalion and t
VFW Post was exceptional.
assisted the Robertson Blood
by unloading and loading equ
escorting donors during the dr
donating blood. More than 40
the 106 donated were from
Battalion cadets and cadre.
Dallas cadet crowned que
DALLAS Cadet Bridgette
was crowned queen Feb. 25 ou
candidates at the David W. Car
Schools Annual 21st JROTC B
Military Ball. Bennett a
Ronald McNair
Elementary and
D.A. Hulcy
Middle Schools
in Dallas. She
is currently the
candidate for
S a l u t a t o r i a n
of the 2006
g r a d u a t i n gclass of almost 400 students
of Bridgettes achievements
Battalion Commander of th
JROTC Battalion, cast mem
Dallas Independent School D
television show School Zone
Project Turn Around intern, N
Honor Society member, Who
4 April 2006Goldbar Leader
REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. Cadet An-drew Adcock, University of Alabama,
receives the Bronze Star on behalf of his
grandfather, Sergeant Harold Adcock,
from Maj. Gen. James Pillsbury, Com-
mander of Redstone Arsenal. Andrewsgrandfather, was awarded the Bronze
Star posthumously, for his exceptional
bravery while serving in the Norden Sol-
omon Campaign, Pacific Theater Opera-
tions, World War II, 1944-1945. Sergeant
Adcock was not only part of the Ala-bama National Guard, but served with
the 31st Infantry Division throughout
World War II. He was also the recipient
of the Purple Heart, the Combat Infan-
trymans Badge, and the Pacific TheaterVictory Liberation medal.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas CadeValdivieso, a Roadrunner Batta
ology major at San Antonio Co
given the oath of enlistment byMichael Podojil, Professor of
Science at University of Texa
Antonio. Valdivieso has been a
the first-ever scholarship that p
funding for one year at San ACollege and two years at the UT
See Newsbriefs,
Around the Region
NewsbriefsStanford cadet makes
Sports IllustratedA-List
STANFORD, Calif. Army ROTC
Cadet and college Rugby stand-out
Olivia Anglade was named to Sports
Illustrateds A-List, athletes described
by the magazine as the coolest, the
hottest, the most-of-the-moment, the
cream of the crop. Anglade is an
engineering major set to graduate and
commission in June, after which she
will begin her masters in engineering
at Stanford. She began playing Rugby
as a freshman and was the named her
teams most valuable player her junior
year in their championship gameagainst Penn State.
Los Lunas HS shares
annual Christmas cheer
LOS LUNAS, N.M. Presents,
tinsel, Christmas trees, and family
gatherings are things most children
look forward to each December.
Some children dont have the luxury
of the ideal family-oriented holiday.
Every year JROTC cadets here throw
a Christmas party for the children of
inmates at the local minimum security
center. This year, Cadet Christopher
Fleischer headed the party. Accordingto Cadet Kari Anderson, the party
served its intended purpose. I learned
how much of an impact one day can
make on a childs life, Anderson
said. The goal of the party is to give
the children an opportunity to enjoy
a cheerful Christmastime. Fleischer
and a team of helpers organized and
provided a variety of games, food and
entertainment for children of varying
ages. Cadets spent time playing with
the children from board games to
basketball. It was fun to be able to
reach out and bring joy to a little childs
life, said Cadet Nicole Archuleta.
Legion of Valor Bronze Cross
awarded to Omaha cadet
OMAHA. Neb. Cadet Brent Kraay,
Omaha North HS, was presented the
Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for
Achievement. Kraay is one of 13 students
nationwide to receive the award, which
is based on leadership ability, academic
achievement, JROTC participation, and
community and school activities.
Alabama JROTC cadets aim high
VINCENT, Ala. Twenty Vincent
HS senior soared high over the green
hills of Alabama Feb. 24 to participate
in aerial refueling of six Alabama
National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcons
stationed at Dannly Field. The cadets
flew with the 117th Aerial Refueling
Wing out of Birmingham Air National
Guard Base. After a short orientation
briefing, cadets boarded a KC-135R
and flew directly over Vincent and
Harpersville, Ala., to a rendezvous withthe F-16s. Within 30 minutes of take-
off, six F-16s appeared off the wingtips
of the refueler. Cadets were allowed to
view the refueling mission from the
boom operators pod at the rear of the
large four engine tanker plane. During
the planes take-off and landing, cadets
were allowed to sit directly behind the
pilots and experience the sights and
sounds of the cockpit.
Nurse previews Army career
for Michigan students
KALAMAZOO, Mich. Capt.
Jodelle Schroeder, Army Nurse Corps,spoke by invitation recently to Student
Nurse Association members at Western
Michigan University. The SNA is a
student-run organization that works to
develop WMU nursing students. The
associations president, Cadet Melonie
Peebles, a nursing cadet in ROTC,
arranged for Schroeder to speak to
her fellow nursing students, hoping
the experience would generate some
interest in the Army. I wanted to have
Captain Schroeder speak to the SNA
in order to educate them about Army
nursing as a profession to offer the
students information about being an
Army nurse. Peebles said numerous
students expressed an increased interest
and respect for Army Nursing.
Hawkeye cadets sustain
tradition to celebrate success
IOWA CITY, Iowa The University
of Iowa Mighty Hawkeye Battalion
hosted more than 230 guests for a
Military Ball Feb. 18 to celebrate the
vision of the future success of the
cadets. The event also brought together
alumni, parents and distinguished
guests. Two prestigious awards were
handed out that evening to two MSIVs for their relentless pursuit of
excellence. Cadet Jared Josephsen
received the Gen. George C. Marshall
Award and Cadet Francis De Rosa
received the Hanson Award in honor
of distinguished alum, the late Lt. Col.
Lynn Hanson. The Lyle Hanson family
presented the $1,000 award in memory
of their brother.
Cadets and vets team up to
draw blood for a good cause
HUNTSVILLE, Texas The Sam
Houston State University Army ROTCBearkat Battalion and the and The Melvin
White VFW Post 5871 hosted a blood
drive Feb. 21-22 to support Soldiers
serving in Iraq. The nine Robertson
Blood Center personnel from Darnell
Army Community Hospital drove
from Fort Hood, Texas, and collected
106 units of blood that were shipped
to Iraq to arrive within 5-10 days from
the time of donation. Cookies, beef
Benne
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April 2006 Goldbar Leader
ALLEN PARK, Mich. A local language
institute provided training support for
the University Of Michigan recently
during a training exercise to help cadreteach cultural sensitivity and problem
solving skills. The training included cul-
tural sensitivity training in Iraqi Arabic
customs and live scenarios where
Iraqi-American role-players from the
institute acted out real-life situationsand provided an opportunity for future
U.S. Army offi cers to solve problems
that they might encounter in Iraq. The
World Trade Center Detroit/Windsor
Translation Services and Languages In-stitute provides these services to help
the U.S. Army reshape its future offi cerpreparedness for overseas missions
and in dealing with foreign cultures.
These role-playing scenarios included
simulated meetings between the U.S.Army Offi cer candidates and religious
and tribal leaders. The scenarios were
conducted in Arabic, with interpreters
from the WTCDW providing language
translation and interpretation for thebenefit of a realistic scenario.
From Newsbriefs, Page 4
NATCHITOCHES, La. A new unit from
Northwestern State Universitys ROTC
joined the 26-mile race across the des-ert of White Sands, N.M., March 26, com-
memorating the Bataan Death March.
Crossing the finish line above are Ca-
dets William Messick, Jason Andreoni,
Nathan Tillotson, Justin Moss and Jona-
than Arnold. In the background is Capt.Greg Hickerson, a full-time NSU students
who also participated in the march. Ac-
cording to Cadet Justin Moss, offi cer in
charge of the teams, the cadets trained
for almost two months to prepare forthe 26-mile course, which tackles some
rough terrain. We have been training
about six days a week 8 to 12 hours
per week for the event, said Moss.
Our workouts consist of six-mile roadmarches with a 35-pound rucksack for
the heavy team, and nine miles without
a pack for the light team.
MU Alpha Theta Calculus Club, and
a member at Rightway Missionary
Baptist Church, Congressional
nomination by Congresswoman Eddie
Bernice Johnson to attend West Point
Military Academy. Bennett said she
plans to have a career in Engineering.
8th Brigade announces
drill winners
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. The
8th Brigade Alabama State Army
JROTC Drill, Color Guard and
Academic Championships were
held here Jan. 21. Lanett HS was the
overall champion, taking first place
in Color Guard (Facsimile), Drill
Team (Demilitarized), Drill Team
(Facsimile), and Drill Team (Unarmed)
and Academic Challenge. Carver HS of
Birmingham was the State Champion
Color Guard (Demilitarized) and
Woodlawn HS of Birmingham wonthe State Championship (Unarmed
Color Guards).
MI offi cer returns to
Arizona under ORAP
TUSCON, Ariz. Second Lt.
James Ventre, a University of Arizona
graduate, returned to his former
battalion in January under a program
that puts new officers back on campus
for 10 days to share their experiences
with cadets without being charged
leave. The Officer Returning Alumni
Program is designed to help future
officers understand what its like to
experience the commissioning process
and subsequent training. After two
days I had briefed the senior cadets
and participated with them in morningPT, Ventre said. I also helped
the Recruiting Operations Officer
by talking to students interested in
ROTC. Ventre, formerly an enlisted
infantry Soldier for six years, was a
Green-to-Gold cadet who graduated
with a bachelors degree in business
management.
UA cadets earn
German proficiency badge
TUSCON, Ariz. University of
Arizona cadets recently competed for
the German Armed Forces Proficiency
Badge. The event takes place here
annually in March. The GAFPB is
awarded to cadets who demonstrate
superior cardiovascular, mental
and physical endurance; technical
knowledge; and marksmanship. The
competition consists of several different
events, and the cadets are awarded a
gold, silver, or bronze medal to wear
on their uniforms upon completion
of the competition. The events
include track and field, swimming,
9mm pistol marksmanship, a test to
measure knowledge of first aid, and a
18.7-mile ruck march. All contracted
Army cadets are required to competein all events, but earning the badge is
difficult. I didnt do too well on the
track and field events, said Cadet Dan
Ricketts, because I have bad form and
coordination, but the ruck march is
100 percent mental. Ricketts finished
first in the 18.7 mile march this year
in 3 hours and 40 minutes, followed
closely by the first place female, Holly
Koehmstedt. Once a cadet earns the
German Armed Forces Proficiency
Badge, it is recognized by the Army
as a certified foreign badge. The badge
is allowed to be worn on all dress
uniforms, even after cadets becomecommissioned officers in the Army.
Cadets help with
emergency evacuations
OREGON CITY, Ore. Heavy
rains have contributed to flooding
and mudslides that have plagued the
Oregon City area, but JROTC cadets
helped ensure some residents remained
safe after their apartment building
was required to be evacuated. More
than 55 cadets in all moved residents
and distributed flyers reporting up-
to-date details of the danger. Several
residents were relocated and otherswere transported to an American Red
Cross facility.
Mountain Rangers team up with
McDonalds to welcome troops
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.
Members of the Mountain Ranger
Battalion at the University of Colorado
Colorado Springs joined forces with
Hungry Heroes, a local organization
of civilian volunteers and McDonald
franchise owners, to welcome home
troops from Iraq. The cadets and
volunteers Feb. 17 and 19 met members
of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regimentat the Colorado Springs Jet Center with
cheers and free food.
UAF cadet named
Soldier of the Year
FAIRBANKS, Alaska Cadet
Stephanie Weimer, an MS I biology
student at the University of Alaska
Fairbanks, is also a private first class
selected as the Alaska National
Soldier of the Year. A medical sp
with the 207th Infantry Group
Richardson in Anchorage, Weim
also the only female selected
Nanook Battalions Ranger Ch
team.
Alabama JROTC lend reali
to emergency trainingWILSON, Ark. The O
Emergency Management of Mis
County, Ark., conducted a si
disaster to exercise emergency r
procedures in the Northeast A
region on March 17. Under th
of Rivercrest High School J
twenty-eight Rivercrest student
as victims for emergency resp
including police, fire, medical
and hazardous materials r
teams. The simulated disaster
train derailment involving ha
chemicals which occurred in
small time. Students were psymptoms ranging from
injuries to chemical burns. The
performances received accolad
both local and state officials f
support and enthusiasm. S
participating in the exercise we
Andrew, Jessica Blackman,
Bolden, Natalie Cissell, Sa
Clay, Meagan Conley, Emily
Samantha Facon, Draethan
Zach Frans, Christina Gaston,
Gillmore, Sarah Gryner, Paige
Brandon Lucius, Brandi
Brittany Martin, Joanna Montg
Candy Nichols, Jason PeytonRalph, Jonathan Reid, K
Robinson, Elizabeth, Meghan
Sylvia Ware, Jasmine Willia
Rhonda Wilson.
Cadets commissioned at
All-American Bowl
SAN ANTONIO, Texas
ROTC was part of the pr
festivities Jan. 7 at this yea
American Bowl, a nationally t
all-star game in which the be
school senior football player
across the country play. Bac
an array of cadets, two 12th cadets from University of Texa
Antonio were sworn in by Gen.
Cody, Vice Chief of Staff of th
Second Lts. Christopher
and Shannon Christian gradu
December. Nearly 800 Junior
cadets received special invita
attend the game and more th
senior Cadets and cadre atten
game to show support for ROT
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6 April 2006Goldbar Leader
By Cadet Alec Kinczewski
Tulane University
NEW ORLEANS Hurricane
Katrina, a storm packing 100-mile
per hour-plus winds and a wall of
water more than 30-feet high, hit New
Orleans Aug. 29, causing tremendous
damage and forcing millions of people
to evacuate and find safety.
The Orleans Battalion, along with
Tulane University and other partnership
schools were hard hit. The cadets
enrolled in schools across the nation
to continue their education and ROTC
experience. They found themselves in
locations from Boston to Berkeley, at37 different schools. Once the semester
was over, all but three returned to
New Orleans in January. Those who
returned found a city very different
from when they left, but were ready
to continue their education to become
warrior leaders.
The Commander of Cadet
Command, Maj. Gen. W. Montague
Winfield, visited the battalion March 23
along with 8th Brigade Commander,
Col. Eli Ballard, and Command Sgt.
Maj. Major Washington to review
the state of the battalion and hand out
accolades. Winfield said the cadets
are all heroes for returning to New
Orleans.
Just before the storm hit last
summer, the city was evacuated. Cadet
Katherine Ireland, an MS III nursing
student at Holy Cross, relocated with
her family to Natchitoches, La., and
attended Northwestern State University
of Louisiana. When she returned to
New Orleans, Ireland found several
feet of water had entered her home and
burst the pipes. She is currently livingwith friends due to the difficulty finding
habitable apartments.
Cadet Jean Aponte, MS III, was
with his Louisiana National Guard unit
and stayed in New Orleans during the
hurricane and participated in recovery
efforts. He was at the Superdome, where
victims of the storm were sheltered.
It was unlivable, Aponte said. It
was also a learning experience, and
overall I came out of the hurricane very
fortunate in comparison to others.
The cadre didnt escape unscathed
either. Every cadre members home
received some degree of damage, withseveral losing everything. Sergeant
1st Class David Todd evacuated to
Natchitoches during Katrina, which
severely damaged his home in New
Orleans. The home he was renting in
Natchitoches was hit by a tree during
Hurricane Rita.
Despite the losses, the battalion is
continuing with its business. Tulane
University, as well as the other
universities in New Orleans, reopened
in January. Much was lost in the wrath
of Katrina and Rita, and for many, the
struggle to rebuild is only beginning.
Orleans Battalion cadets are taking
part in numerous community service
programs, ranging from gutting homes
to teaching at local schools, to help in
the rebuilding effort.
While Tulane ROTC and the rest
of New Orleans took a major hit
during Hurricane Katrina, the Orleans
Battalion still maintains the second
highest commissioning rate in the 8th
Brigade.
Cadet Jean Aponte
Tulane University
Its difficult to put on paper the
experience of being in New Orleans
throughout Hurricane Katrina.
The questions Im asked most are
How was it in the Superdome?
and Was it as bad as the media
was making it out to be?
For the first few days the
Superdome was like an island,
in the sense that we really didnt
know what was going on outside.
The first day after the storm I
remember going outside and beingtaken aback by the sight of all the
water surrounding me and seeing
SUVs submerged completely under
water as far as I could see.
The best word to describe
the atmosphere inside the dome
was tense. The conditions were
unlivable, the smell of 20,000
people using the same bathrooms
with no running water is
indescribable. The people were
restless and no one, aside from the
highest ranking officials, had any
idea of what was going to happen.
You slept when you had a
moment and never for more
three hours.
It seemed that for the
few nights every time w
down at the end of the day
were awakened moments lat
respond to a situation, inclu
the night that one of our Sol
was shot in the leg with his
weapon by one of the evac
The night that sticks out most i
mind is when we were awak
and told to pack our gear an
prepared to leave immed
because the generator was gto be submerged under water
all the lights inside and outsi
the dome were going to go o
It was a learning experience
overall I came out of the hurri
very fortunate in compariso
many others.
I have to say I never once s
reporter walking the corrido
the Superdome, only a camera
on one occasion. Id honestly
to say the media didnt real
justice to the experience insid
Superdome.
How bad was it really?Soldier-cadet operates on the ground in Ne
Orleans; gets first-hand view of Superdom
Orleans Battalion regroups, begins again
Maj. Gen. W. Montague Winfield, Commander, Cadet Command, hands out coins
to the cadets who have returned to the Orleans Battalion in New Orleans.
8/3/2019 Goldbar Leader April 2006
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April 2006 Goldbar Leader
By Col. Steve Corbett
Commander, Western Region
The secret of success at Warrior Forge 2006 is
the exact same as it was when I attended Camp
Adventure (what an awful, un-hooah name ...)
As I was getting ready to go to Camp, way
back in 1979, Sgt. 1st Class Gerald Sutter, my MS
III instructor, called us all into his office and handed
each of us a sealed manila envelope. He told us not
to open it until we got to Fort Lewis, and to share
the information with no one else. But inside the
envelope, he slyly winked, was the Top Secret Key
to Success at Camp. What was it, we wondered.
Eight digit grids to the land nav points? Instructions
for small, hand-held nuclear devices to use on the
OpFor? Schematics of the FLRC? Upon arriving at
Fort Lewis, and ripping open the envelope in the
privacy of a porta-john, I found a Peanuts cartoon,
with a picture of Charlie Browns nemesis, Lucy.
Lucy had one of those voice clouds coming out of
her mouth, and she was saying, If you cant be right,be wrong with confidence and authority.
That was it, the Top Secret Key to Success. Sutter
was, and remains, absolutely right. Both then and
now. We dont expect cadets to know everything. We
dont expect them to be John Wayne, Audie Murphy
and Lara Croft all rolled into one. We expect them to
try as hard as they can, assess situations, formulate
and articulate their plan, and lead their fellow cadets
as best they can.
Bring a phone card and tell everyone you
know your address. Letters help the time go
faster.
Grab some extra trash bags when you can.
They work great as rain gear and you will be
popular since you will have a grabage bag
for all the trash. Without one you have to
carry it around with you in your rucksack.
Always take fruit from the cafeteria. It
works great for snacks at night or in thefield. Believe me you will get hungry for
something anything other than MREs.
Always tell family and friends to send
food that you can share with your platoon
members, who will love you for it
Rachael Walters, Notre Dame
Have a mosquito net for your face,
and make sure you bring bug spray. Also,
make sure you always have your cold gear
available. I sent mine back at the halfway
point between Squad STX and Patrolling
and regretted it because the next couple of
nights and mornings were freezing cold.
Sean Pearl, Notre Dame
Bring 100 mph Tape: Most people in
your squad will not have this very important
tool, which will make the fact that you have
Warrior Forge 2006 draws nea(these cadets are notrunning to be first in line
How NOT to succeed at Warrior Forge:
1. Dont have the Dominos Guy deliver pizza to
your barracks during Peer Ratings. All that youll
get is pepperoni stained cadets that still rank you
dead last.
2. Dont be too inspired by SGM Fortunatos
Recondo Rocks that he has cadets put into their
pockets before they go down the Slide For Life his
original idea was cement-filled 55 gallon drums.
3. Dont stop to check your GPS at every corner of
the two-mile run course. We know its complicated,
and well eventually find those four cadets who are
still out there from 2002.
4. Do not use your cell phone to call in to the Land
Nav TOC to tell us youre lost.
5. Chanting You Cant Smoke a Rock at the Gas
Chamber only gets you multiple return trips inside.
5a. There really arent extra points for the
Longest Loogie Produced at the Gas Chamber.
6. Reporting in to Warrior Forge with golf clubs,
squash rackets and your mountain bike only gets
unpleasant attention.
7. The bear who lives on the Land Nav Course
is the rightful owner; dont argue with her about
eminent domain.8. You stick out when you put on a big foam rubber
nose with your camouflage at Patrol STX.
9. Remember that the porta-johns are only three
feet wide, which is why we make you wear four feet
of TA-50.
10. Remember when you come in on the Victory
March from Patrol STX if you use a jodie that
ends with, I wish I could do it all again you
might get to.
TIPS FROM THE TOP
E
X
P
E
R
T
A
D
V
I
C
E
it that much more important. You will need this for
labeling and TA-50 preparation.
As important as the tape is the black permanent
marker. Again, most will not have one and to share it
will bring instant credibility.
Wire Hangers: These will come in very handy for
hanging up clothes and making space in your small
wall locker.
Laura Lane, Purdue
Be prepared for that last thing you think youll need
to be prepared for. Find the best thing to do under those
circumstances and do it, leaving the complaining out
of it.
If you are going to make a decision, ma
you have a good reason to make it and
it after youve made it. Any decision i
than no decision and not following throug
decision is the same as not making one. Y
more effective if you choose to have you
run up a hill screaming than if you have th
to do it, then change your mind half way t
TACs see that as a leadership weakness.
Mike Willard, Notr
I wish that I had brought snivel gear, a
liner, and more minutes on my calling car
your tent stakes and poles to use when se
your hooch. Keep the sides of the hooc
because if its not youll wake up in a pud
I did. And tie a firm knot to close the hol
your head normally goes.
Jason Hall, Seattle Un
Prepare both physically and mentally. B
to smoke the PT test for the physical an
the OPORD process for the mental. Be p
to build a team out of a group of strangers
D. Wayne Purucker, Notr
8/3/2019 Goldbar Leader April 2006
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8 April 2006Goldbar Leader
TRAIN TO LEAD! WE COMMISSION!
Texas teamworkSAN ANTONIO, Texas -- The female color guard of Robert G. Cole High Schools Cougar Battpresented the colors for the Texas Independence Day celebration held at The Alamo, San A
nio, Texas, on March 2. Left to right: Cadets Jennifer Gibson, Caitlin Gresenz, Calylla Gritz
Ginger Thompson.
Field Report
University of Alaska Fairbanks
BIG LAKE, Alaska The last
two miles seemed like 10, said an
exhausted Joshua Hull, a University
of Alaska Fairbanks cadet. He was
one of five Nanook Battalion members
who braved the cold to participate in
the Little Susitna 50k Feb 18.
The 31.1-mile race follows dog sled
trails across frozen swamps and lowridges from Big Lake to a turn-around
point along the Little Susitna River in
south-central Alaska. The race is an
off-shoot to the Iditasport, a multi-
sport cross country race which has
been a staple for serious winter athletes
for years.
Its a real gut-check, said Maj.
Nathan Burnham, race participant and
Recruiting and Enrollment Officer
for the battalion. None of us are real
marathoners, but the race helped us
each raise the bar in terms of body
strength and mental toughness. It was a
great chance for us to test ourselves.
I enjoyed training up for it,
said Cadet Eric Mtike, a cadet who
commissions as a lieutenant in May.
I learned about myself and my limits.
But, he said with a smile, the best
part was crossing the finish line. Thats
what I like best about running: thestopping part.
I have never done anything like
this before, said Capt. Peter Nesbitt,
Operations and Training Officer. But
I wanted to show the cadets we practice
the lifelong commitment to physical
fitness that we preach to them all the
time.
The goal of the group was t
the cross country race in aro
hours. They did it. Cadet Eri
finished first of the group with
of 5:20 and Cadet Ethan C
finished at 5:30, while the
Burnham and Nesbitt came in
and 6:20. respectively. Cadet
Hull experienced knee problem
training that flared up during t
Hull managed to finish, limpin
the finish line just before dark.This is exactly the sort of
like to see our cadets do, s
Col. Cameron Carlson, Profe
Military Science and Leadersh
want the Armys future leade
tough enough to deal with
conditions, and this race show
these guys are ready.
L to R: Maj. Nathan Burnham, Cadet
Ethan Caldwell, Capt. Peter Nesbitt, Ca-
det Erik Mtike and Cadet Joshua Hullgeared up for the Little Susitna 50k, a
race named after a popular river near
Anchorage, Alaska.
UAF cadets, cadre plow across frozen north to finish 50k footra
Field Report
University of North Dakota
MANKATO, N.D. A Fighting Sioux Battalion graduate
and commissionee is back at the University of North Dakota
serving as a Goldbar Recruiter.
Second Lt. Scott Dickmeyer graduated in December with a
commercial aviation degree and a minor in military science. He
was a Helicopter Flight Training Program Scholarship recipient in
2003. The new lieutenant, a native of Champlin, Minnesota, about
280 miles from Mankato, grew up excited about aviation, which
makes the UND
Helicopter Flight
Training Program a
perfect fit.
I came to the
University of North
Dakota becauseof the outstanding
reputation the
aviation school
has particularly
UNDs fixed wing
aviation program, Dickmeyer said. During my freshman year
I completed the fixed wing course, which is approximately 50
flying hours in a piper warrior. My life continued to get more
complicated when I become a father during my sophomore year.
Knowing that I wouldnt finish college without some kind
of financial assistance, I sought help and found a home at the
UND program, Dickmeyer said. In January 2003 I competed
for and received a Helicopter Scholarship worth $93,500. This
scholarship pays for 175-185 actual flight hours, which would
allow me to branch as an Army Aviator and earn FAA Private,
Commercial and Instrument ratings in helicopters.
Dickmeyer
UND helo program
gets back its own
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