Alumni Newsletter Central Michigan University ROTC Chippewa Battalion 2013-2014 Volume 14 / Fall 2014 Military Science Senior Class Fall 2013 Cadet Battalion Commander Nathan Denig and Cadet Command Sergeant Major Kirsten Jex 2014 Football Schedule Aug 28 Chattanooga CMU ROTC current enrollment: 105 Sept 6 Purdue Sept 13 Syracuse FSU ROTC current enrollment: 54 Sep 20 Kansas Sep 27 Toledo Oct 4 Ohio (Homecoming) Oct 11 N. Illinois Oct 18 Ball State Oct 25 Buffalo Nov 01 Eastern Michigan Nov 15 Miami Nov 22 Western Michigan Dec 6 MAC Championship More information about CMU’s ROTC program can be found at www.cmurotc.com also check out CMU ROTC on Facebook 2 The State of the Chippewa Battalion Commander, Professor of Military Science Dear ROTC Alumni, Friends, and Supporters; The Army is changing the way we build leaders, the way we train, the way we fight, and the way we are manned. Currently, the Army will reduce its size from approximately 500,000 Soldiers to 425,000 by fiscal year 2017. Over the past 10 years, in order to meet the needs of our Army at war, the Chippewa Battalion has annually developed on average 18 outstanding, adaptive, agile, physically fit, critical thinking Lieutenants that have done a marvelous job leading America’s Sons and Daughters in Combat. I’m proud of our Army, and I’m proud to be part of the Chippewa Battalion and our contributions to our Army’s accomplishments. Prior to 9/11, our commission mission was 12 Lieutenants a year. For the past 6 years, we’ve had commission missions as low as 18 and as high as 23. Starting in 2016, our commission mission will lower with a requirement to produce 15 Lieutenants annually. We can exceed that number, as other units in the Brigade don’t. Fall 2015, we’ll commission 27 new 2nd Lieutenants. We’ve had many accomplishments over the past year. We took first place in the marksmanship competition at the Brigades’ Ranger Challenge Competition, beating 39 other schools. We could not accomplish this without the outstanding support we receive from you, the Alumni, our University, and our outstanding Cadre and Staff. When I think of the support we receive from our Alumni, I am thoroughly impressed. You have generously given your time, energy, and financial resources. Whenever I have asked, you have given, and I thank you for that. The level of University support at CMU is unparalleled in the State, and across the Country. Pro-Military and Pro- Veteran, CMU attracts the best America has to offer. Recently, I approached the University for additional room only scholarship stipend funding. They responded, providing an additional $16,000 for 8 room-only stipends. This in addition to the $58,000 the University has provided annually in the form of Room and Board scholarships for the past 30 years. I would like to thank John Fisher, VP for Student Services for being our advocate, and CFO Barrie Wilkes for continuing to support our Program. Thank you, Gentlemen. We have a great Team here in our Department, and I’d like to recognize Mrs. Kim Bailey and Mrs. Mary Brewer for all their hard work and dedication to our Chippewa Battalion. Ladies, you keep our organization running smoothly, and without you, all of our jobs would be difficult. Thank you! As I begin my fourth year here at CMU, Staff and Cadre have departed, and new Staff and Cadre are on board. We bid farewell to people who have left the department and welcome new Cadre. Larry Wilcox, our Supply Tech for the past 9 years, retired this past spring. Larry, the consummate professional, used his extensive experience as a 23 year veteran Air Force senior NCO to improve our organization, not only in supply, but as well as training, operations, and mentorship. Larry earned the Supply Tech of the year award twice while in Cadet Command. Thank you Larry, we all miss you and your wonderful wife Linda. MSG Darrel Bailey, our Senior NCO for the past 3 years, retired with 27 years of Active Federal Service which included 4 tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. MSG Bailey, thank you for your service, and we wish you, your wife Kim, and the rest of your Family health, wealth and happiness as you begin a new chapter in your lives. SFC Joe Harvey, our Training NCO, has departed to Fort Benning, to work in the Inspector General’s Office. SFC Harvey exponentially improved the Cadets training experience here at CMU, working with Cadets every weekend during the academic year, training them, and taking them to the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge Competition, Norwegian Ruck March, and Marksmanship Competitions as well as the Ranger Challenge Competition, where we took First Place in Marksmanship in 2014, and second place in 2013. Thank you SFC Harvey, and we wish you, Janine and your dog Winston success and happiness in your new assignment. We welcome our new Senior NCO MSG Matthew Dorman, his wife Nicole, and their Son Jarred from Sunbury, Pennsylvania, and I’d also like to congratulate MSG Dorman on making the Command Sergeants Major list. Welcome to our new Battalion XO, MAJ Jake Cornett and his wife Stephanie from Elkhart, IN and welcome our new FSU APMS MAJ Ryan Senn, his wife Sara, and daughter Sloane from Traverse City, and also welcome Mr. Yosef Tanenbaum our new Supply Tech, from Los Angeles, CA. I’ve said it before; I won the lottery joining the Chippewa Battalion and the CMU Team, FIRE UP CHIPS! Thank you! Sincerely, LTC Greg Thayer 3 Congratulations New Alumni DECEMBER 2013 (CMU) May 2014 Ferris State University Gillen M. Papenfuse Trevor John Crittendon Branched: Ordnance (National Guard) Branched: Military Police (National Guard) Hometown: Saginaw, MI Hometown: Comstock Park, MI Weston T. Waldron Daniel Debano Branched: Ordnance (Active Duty) Branched: Engineer (National Guard) Hometown: Carson City, MI Hometown: Kaleva, MI MAY 2014 (CMU) Kyle Allen Dolson Derek Mark Booker Branched: Infantry (National Guard) Branched: Engineer (Active Duty) Hometown: Zeeland, MI Hometown: Clarkston, MI John Geselman Kirsten Michelle Jex Educational Delay Program to enter Medical School Branched: Ordnance (Active Duty) Hometown: Port Huron, MI Clay Hoggard Branched: Military Police (National Guard) Megan Rose McBride Hometown: Branched: Ordnance (National Guard) Hometown: Beal City, MI Stephanie Nicole Shivley Branched: Field Artillery (Active Duty) Jared Ryan Price Hometown: Lansing, MI Branched: Field Artillery (National Guard) Hometown: Brighton, MI Michael Shoop Branched: Ordnance (National Guard) Ross James Teeple Hometown: Muskegon, MI Branched: Engineer (National Guard) Hometown: Grayling ,MI Ethan Andrew Watkins Branched: Military Intelligence (National Guard) Hometown: Midland, MI Dr. Gates, 2LTs Mcbride, Booker, Price, Jex, and LTC Thayer 2LTs Geselman, Debano, Shivley, Shoop, Watkins, Dolson and Crittendon SEPTEMBER 2014 (CMU) Nathan Denig Branched: Chemical (Active Duty) Hometown: Manitou Beach, MI Aaron Ellison Branched: Chemical (Active Duty) Hometown: Cadillac, MI Nicholas Palka Branched: Aviation (Active Duty) Hometown: Washington, MI Nicole Rieck Branched: Adjutant General (National Guard) 2LTs Rieck, Palka, Denig, Ellison Hometown: Clinton Township, MI 4 Cadet Events Ranger Challenge November 15-17 2013 by Cadet Sven Alm It was a cold and windy November morning when the Ranger challenge team left for Fort Knox, KY for the Bold Warrior Challenge led by their fearless leader CDT Daniel Joseph McCarthy. The three months leading up to the competition the team had started with a group of individuals and transformed into well oiled machine. During the BWC the team road marched over 18 miles, completed the one Rope Bridge, fitness course, M16 weapons assembly, HMMWV pull, and M16 rifle shoot. The CMU ranger challenge team took 1st place in marksmanship, best alternate team, and 6th place overall out of 38 teams. Fall FTX September 27-28 2013 by Cadet Joseph Kruse Central Michigan Army ROTC Cadets went to Camp Grayling for a two day Field Training Exercise. Half of the Cadets had the opportunity to fly from CMU campus on Blackhawks. On day one at Camp Grayling we conducted day and night land navigation courses. Cadets used a map and compass to find numerous points located in the woods. On the following day we conducted Platoon operations with paintball guns. Platoons were paired up against each other to simulate an enemy force. These paintball markers give a semi accurate representation of the chaos of combat along with the importance of cover and teamwork. These field training exercises allow Cadets to take what they have learned in the classroom and apply it in the field. Room clearing rehearsal Broadening Experience October 18-22, 2013 by Cadet Kirsten Jex For a number of years the senior Military Science class takes a trip to Gettysburg, PA and Washington, D.C. I was fortunate enough to take part in the Broadening Experience this fall, and I am thankful to have had the opportunity. Spending quality time with my fellow Cadets was great, but being able to walk the Battlefield of Gettysburg and the National Mall with them was remarkable. Our tour of Gettysburg was focused on the involvement of Michigan units in the battle and began with a short video summarizing the battle. Cadet Andrew Stow put his knowledge of American history to work and acted as our tour guide through the battlefield. The next day, we were able to visit the National Archives, the Smithsonian Institute, and Arlington National Cemetery, as well as the monuments found all over our Nation’s capital. We took a bus tour of Arlington and watched the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. On our last afternoon in Washington, D.C., we attended the AUSA convention where we were able to meet people from all different military backgrounds.