The University of Memphis Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps TIGER CRUISE NEWSLETTER FALL 2011 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Cover Story - 2011 1 Freshmen Orientation 2011 Freshmen Orientation Professor of Naval 3 Science Executive Officer 4 3/c & 4/c Advisor 5 1/c & 2/c Advisor 6 Marine Officer 7 Instructor Assistant Marine Officer 8 Instructor Company Commander 8 Summer Cruise Articles 10 Colorado Relay 14 Tennessee Ragnar Relay 14 MIDN 1/c Miller gives instruction to the new midshipmen of the Class of 2015 Patriot Day Golf 15 This year’s Freshman Orientation, led haircuts and were on their way to Lit- by Officer Candidate Riccardo Hicks, tle Rock. LCpl Tim Creager 5k 16 was filled with seven days of introduc- Sea Service Ball 17 tion to military life. Nineteen incom- Upon arriving at LRAFB the new mid- ing Naval ROTC midshipmen complet- shipmen were introduced to their Memphis Air Show 17 ed the training, held primarily at Little troop handlers, Staff Sergeant Mat- Fundraiser Rock Air Force Base (LRAFB) in Ar- thew Ward, Midshipman 1/c Scott Commander Dunn’s kansas. The evolution began on the Miller, and Midshipman 3/c Katherine 18 Retirement morning of Saturday, 13 August 2011 Townsend. These three motivators carried out their assignments with JROTC Recruiting with introduction briefs by OC Hicks 18 Jamboree and Captain Robert Wickham, fol- professionalism and urgency in order lowed by the swearing in of the new to instill military bearing and motiva- Wisconsin Drill Meet 20 midshipmen by the Naval ROTC Mid- tion in the new students, while in- South Region Commanding Officer, structing them in military customs Blue Angles Display 21 Captain Kenneth Auten. From there and courtesies, and the conduct of AFROTC - NROTC the new midshipmen were issued uni- close order drill. 22 Flag Football forms and filled out administrative AROTC - NROTC paperwork. After lunch, the parents On four of the five mornings in Little 23 Flag Football left their students completely in the Rock, Sergeant Shane Kennelly led the hands of the orientation staff. The new freshmen and staff in physical training 9/11 Memorial 24 midshipmen then received their first (PT) sessions that consisted of stretch- Navy and Marine Corps regulation es, formation runs, and circuit cours- HENAAC College Bowl 24 TIGER CRUISE NEWSLETTER The new midshipmen also spent three mornings undergoing swim instruction and testing at the base pool. Led by the officers and as- sisted by a handful of students, the students all obtained a 3rd class swim qualification, with many progressing on and earning 2nd class as well. On Thursday, the last day in Little Rock, the freshmen were instruct- ed on basic marksmanship by the staff at the base Small Arms Range. They then conducted a live fired range with the M16A2 ser- Test (PRT) for the Navy options. es. This served as a light introduc- vice rifle. A select few midship- After the PFT and PRT the new tion to the more rigorous PT ses- men were given the opportunity midshipmen had a uniform in- sions conducted during the school to fire the standard issue 9mm spection, close order drill evalua- year. Beretta service pistol. tion, and a graduation ceremony followed by the final event: a During their five days at LRAFB Friday morning SSgt Ward orga- BBQ. the freshmen were bombarded nized and led a Leadership Reac- with a massive amount of tion Course at the University of Overall, the new midshipmen per- knowledge. The classroom in- Memphis. The new midshipmen formed wonderfully, giving a posi- structors, Midshipman 2/c were organized into three and tive impression on the upcoming Beazley, Midshipman 2/c four person teams and rotated generation of Navy and Marine McAuley, and Midshipman 2/c through six stations. At each sta- Corps officers. tion a member of the team took Very Respectfully, the lead in ne- Shane M. Kennelly gotiating chal- Sgt, USMC lenging and NROTC, University of Memphis combat related obstacles. The new mid- shipmen were then taken to Patriot Lake at Shelby Farms Park and given instruction on and an oppor- tunity to sail in our sailboats. This experience gave them an Herron taught classes on basic opportunity to Navy and Marine Corps enjoy one of the many activities knowledge ranging from history the University of Memphis Naval of each service to uniform regula- ROTC has to offer. tion and many other topics. Of- ficer Candidate Yoder, Officer Saturday morning the new mid- Candidate Niewald, Captain shipmen completed a Physical Wickham, and Lieutenant Jacobs Fitness Test (PFT) for the Marine also taught classes. options and a Physical Readiness 2 HTTP://WWW.MEMPHIS.EDU/NROTC/ FALL 2011 Professor of Naval Science Greetings to The University of months. The midshipmen Memphis NROTC and your have tutored local 7th and 8th families! I am excited to be graders in math and science; your Commanding Officer organized a campus-wide and can think of no more re- blood drive; competed in drill warding tour than to serve competition in Madison, Wis- here at Naval ROTC Mid- consin; competed in the Ma- South, The University of rine Corps Marathon in Memphis. The unit that Cap- Washington, D.C.; competed tain John “Buzz” Sorce turned in a relay race though the over to me is a well-oiled ma- mountains of Colorado; and chine indeed! I look forward sponsored the Lance Corporal lead me to believe, without a to building on past successes Creager Memorial 5K Run doubt, that these midshipmen and milestones to reach even here on The University of truly exemplify Honor, Cour- higher levels of performance Memphis campus. We are age, and Commitment. and achievement. These are truly active force in student aggressive aspirations, but I life, in the local community, The above accomplishments have no doubt that our team and far beyond. notwithstanding, it is im- of midshipmen, active duty portant to remember that aca- students, dedicated NROTC Equally important, I am ex- demics are our number one staff, and supportive universi- tremely motivated by our new priority and will continue to ty officials can and will reach freshman class of midship- be so. Academics are fol- even higher. men 4/C who displayed an lowed by physical fitness/ impressive amount of enthu- readiness in importance. A This past summer and the siasm and drive during their sound mind and sound body current fall semester has been week-long indoctrination pro- are absolute necessities to be an action-packed one to say gram in early August. I could successful as Naval and Ma- the least. I could not be not have been more im- rine Corps officers. All the prouder of all of the accom- pressed by these new mid- rest is the “other half” of the plishments that the students shipmen and the midshipmen equation that enables the stu- have achieved in these few staff that trained them. They dents to become well- all conducted rounded, engaged leaders. I themselves with look forward to a superb rest an unprecedent- of the year and to beginning ed level of pro- 2012 at All Ahead Flank! fessionalism, military bear- Hooyah Navy and Oorah Ma- ing, and leader- rine Corps! ship. The ac- Ken W. Auten complishments Captain, USN that these mid- Commanding Officer shipmen have NROTC, Mid-South Region already attained in my six months here HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NROTC.MEMPHIS 3 TIGER CRUISE NEWSLETTER Executive Officer’s Corner fair share of challenges and re- tion Program for the newly ar- wards. One of the rewards was rived freshman. I was delight- working with and leading some ed in the way that our senior of the best and brightest young midshipmen staff conducted people – both officer and en- themselves while serving as listed – that our country has to drill instructors, motivators, offer. Some of the officers of physical training instructors, the MAINE wardroom were and, most importantly, leaders. products of the NROTC path to Moreover, I was equally im- their commission; all were top pressed with our incoming notch individuals! On one oc- freshmen class. Making a com- casion for a couple weeks the parison of them on the first day Welcome to an exciting year at “best and brightest” also in- of their indoctrination program the University of Memphis! I cluded several midshipmen to the last day, I must say, begin with a wish of “Fair from various NROTC units “What a remarkable difference Winds and Following Seas” to from around the country who seven days can make!” That Commander Dunn who turned were participating in their was my first impression of the over the reins of Executive Of- summer cruise. Because I did freshmen class, and they have ficer, Naval Reserve Officer not earn my own commission certainly continued to set the Training Corps (NROTC), Mid- via NROTC and because my bar very high for themselves in South Region, The University previous submarine assign- their future and for all future of Memphis, to me this past ments did not provide the op- freshmen classes. August. I reported aboard portunity to participate in mid- from the far away and exotic shipman summer cruise opera- While there is insufficient duty station of Millington, Ten- tions, I had very limited expo- space available to me in this nessee, – approximately 17 sure to the NROTC environ- article to expound on all the miles almost directly to the ment. What was clear from my activities and accomplishments north of my desk here on cam- own wardroom and from the of the unit since August, it will pus – where I had served as the visiting midshipmen was that have to suffice for me to convey Major Staff Placement Officer.