Alumni Newsletter Central Michigan University ROTC Chippewa Battalion 2012-2013 Volume 13 / Fall 2013 ROTC Alumni Board President This past year convinced me even more that we are in good hands. CMU's Cadets whom I have met demonstrate numerous leadership qualities: dedication, initiative, bearing, knowledge, tact, focus and more. I witnessed their achievements at an April awards ceremony and their Commissioning Ceremony in May. As always their Mili- tary Ball was an exciting, enjoyable evening. General Colin Powell complimented them also during his January speech at Central. In closing, I want to commend LTC Thayer, his cadre and staff. They have been key to the proven success of Central's Cadets. Theodore Hummel Class of 1958 ROTC 2012-13 PMS LTC Greg Thayer, SMI MSG Darrell Bailey with Cadet Battalion Commander Jessica Slavin and Cadet Command Sergeant Major Andrew Prueter CMU/ROTC can be found on-line at www.cmurotc.com and CMU ROTC Facebook 2 The State of the Chippewa Battalion Commander, Professor of Military Science LTC Greg Thayer Greeting s Chippewa Battalion! We just completed another outstanding year, and we’re starting a new one with the dedication & completion of the much needed Field Leaders Reaction Course! I would like to thank all the Alumni, Uni- versity Staff, and other donors for their support on the project, and a special thanks to former PMS LTC Aaron Kalloch for his idea, and Alumni Class of 65 BG John Kulhavi for his vision and drive for the project. Thank you gentlemen! CMU’s ROTC Battalion is one built on a legacy of excellence, and our Cadets are continuing that legacy in everything they do. The Alumni should be proud of them, I know I am. We have an outstanding program here at CMU, and our exceptional Cadre and Staff are committed to providing the best training and support to our Cadets. Our Cadets have excelled in every way over the past year. This summer we sent 33 Cadets to camp (LDAC), a record number (at least over the past 25 years) for the Chippewa Battalion. At LDAC our Cadets excelled at every endeavor, achieving a physical fit- ness test average score of 274 out of 300 points, earning 9 excellence ratings, and 5 Cadets earning the cov- eted Recondo Badge. Of note, this past December 2LT Joe Graffeo placed 21’st out of 5500 Cadets who accessed for Commission- ing, placing him in the top 1% in the Nation. This past winter, CDT John Grabow was awarded the Association of the United States Army’s Golden Saber award at the Greater Michigan Awards Banquet for being selected as the number 1 Cadet in the State of Michigan, possibly another first for the Chippewa Battalion. During the last Ranger Challenge Competition our Cadets placed 2 nd in the rifle marksmanship portion of the event, beating out 42 other teams. That being said, we need .22 long rifle ammo. I would like to thank BG Kulhavi again for his donation of funds to purchase new competition rifles and pistols for the Battalion. My intent is that every 2LT leaves CMU knowing how to shoot proficiently with both the rifle and pistol, and with the shortage of ammo across the Na- tion, it’s becoming difficult to train to the level we need to meet that intent. So if you have a box of .22 long rifle you’re not using we could sure use it! We are ramping up for the many events this year, one of which is the Senior’s Broadening Experience from 18 to 22 OCT, where we take the Seniors to Gettysburg battlefield to do a battlefield analysis & staff ride, then travel to the Nation’s Capitol where they visit Arlington and brief on an American who is buried there and their significant contributions to our Country, and then we culminate with the Association of the United Sates Army annual convention. This trip is funded by Terry Moore, CMU Alumni Class of 65, and everyone involved learns and grows immensely from this trip. Thank you, Mr. Moore for your continued support! As our pro- gram grows, the financial need for this trip increases as well. If you could see your way to sending any amount of support, it will be greatly appreciated. In closing, again I’d like to congratulate and thank the Cadre, Staff, and Cadets of the Battalion for their hard work and dedication to our organization, the University and our Country, it is truly a privilege to be serving America here at CMU. Sincerely, LTC Greg Thayer. 3 Alumni Newsletter Central Michigan University DECEMBER 2012 CASEY LUKE (FSU) * JOSEPH E. GRAFFEO * Branched: Armor (Active Duty) Branched: Aviation (Active Duty) Hometown: Kalamazoo, MI Hometown: Huntsville, AL BRYCE MASTERSON CURRIE A. TIGHE (FSU) Branched: Field Artillery (National Guard) 2LT Graffeo Dec. 2012 Branched: Medical (Army Nurse) Hometown: Sterling Height, MI Hometown: Midland, MI JESSICA SLAVIN MAY 2013 Branched: Air Defense Artillery (Active Duty) MATTHEW ALEXANDER * Hometown: Dearborn, MI Branched: Aviation (Active Duty) Hometown: Clarkston, MI FOREST TOPPING Branched: Signal (Active Duty) CAMERON ALLEN Hometown: Dowagiac, MI Branched: Military Police (National Guard) Hometown: Howell, MI AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013 2LT Tighe Dec. 2012 SEAN A. ARMSTRONG MALORIE COLE (FSU) Branched: Ordnance (National Guard) Branched: Adjutant General Corps (Active Hometown: Walled Lake, MI Duty) Hometown: Howard City, MI ZACHARY BENKE * Branched: Medical Services (National Guard) JEWEL COLON (FSU) Hometown: Stevensville, MI Branched: Adjutant General Corps (National Guard) NICHOLAS P. FIEBKE Hometown: Grand Blanc, MI Branched: Ordnance (Active Duty) 2LT’s May 2013 Hometown: Commerce, MI JOHN-MARK GRABOW * Branched: Armor (Active Duty) MARSHALL J. HALAS * Hometown: LeRoy, MI Branched: Infantry (National Guard) Hometown: Tawas City, MI JOSHUA HOISINGTON Branched: Ordnance (National Guard) DANIEL R, LAJOIE Hometown: Mt. Pleasant, MI Branched: Ordnance (Active Duty) Hometown: Allendale, MI 2LT Lajoie Aug. 2013 CHRISTOPHER JABLONOWSKI Branched: Signal Corp (Army Reserves) MICHAEL LOSINSKI (FSU) Hometown: Columbus, MI Branched: Military Police (National Guard) Hometown: Sterling Heights, MI NOLAN KIISKILA Branched: Ordnance (Active Duty) JARED J. MULLINS Hometown: Leonard, MI Branched: Air Defense Artillery (Active Duty) Hometown: Milan, MI 2LT Benke Aug 2013 DRAKE C. PATTEE (FSU) Branched: Nursing Corps (Active Duty) Hometown: Flushing, MI ANDREW C. PRUETER Branched: Ordnance (National Guard) Hometown: Walled Lake, MI STEVEN G. SCOLES Branched: Field Artillery (National Guard) Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI 2LT’s Armstrong, Fiebke, Halas, Scoles, Prueter, Mullins Sept. 2013 4 Cadet Events RANGER CHALLENGE October 12, 2012 by CDT Nicholas Palka The Ranger Challenge Team departed for the 7th Brigade Bold Warrior Challenge Competition at Ft. Knox Kentucky. Eight weeks prior to the competition, a team of eleven of the most disciplined, highly motivated, and physically fit Cadets were chosen to represent the Chippewa Battalion. In the weeks prior the Cadets endured intense training which included a rigorous physical fitness program, construction and use of a one rope bridge, first aid, land navigation, basic rifle marksmanship, common Cadet Skills, and team building exercises. The overall competition consisted of 44 teams from various ROTC programs across Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. Each team had to complete a range of missions within assigned guidelines while ensuring that each participant maintained their more than 40 pounds of personal equipment while moving as a team across a course that spans over 10 miles. Some of the different events that were encountered at the competition include the one rope bridge, rifle marksmanship, obstacle courses, rappelling from the 60 foot rappel tower, conducting re-supply missions, weapons assembly and disassembly, physical fitness tests, land navigation and water born operations using zodiac water craft. The competition challenged each cadet’s physical and mental toughness helping them to develop many useful skills such as teamwork, leadership, discipline, determination, attention to detail, problem solving, and decision making. This competition helped to sharpen Cadets knowledge and enhance their leadership skills. The Chippewa Battalion Ranger Challenge Team concluded the competition proudly and honorably represented CMU Army ROTC program by placing second overall in Rifle Marksmanship, and making a strong competitive placement in all other events. FALL FTX September 21-22, 2012 by CDT Nolan Kiiskila Field Training Exercise took place at Fort Custer in Augusta, Michigan. Cadets completed events such as Leader Reaction Course, land navigation, and finally MOUT training. MOUT is an acronym for Military Operations in Urban Terrain. The Cadets were treated to a one way ride on UH 60 Blackhawks thanks to the Michigan National Guard. Despite the rain, the Cadets still managed to complete the challenges presented to them and learned something about leadership in the process. For the practical exercise they had to plot points on a map and then use the map and compass Preparing for takeoff! to find those points in the woods. It is training designed to teach Cadets how to move and clear buildings in an urban environment. Cadets were given formal instruction and practice in both simulated buildings and actual wooden structures. To maximize the fun and the training value the cadets used paintball guns. After several games of paintball, ammunition expended, and smiles on everyone’s faces, the battalion packed up its gear and headed back to Mount Pleasant via buses. Team work... BROADENING EXPERIENCE October 19-22, 2012 the senior Cadets from CMU and FSU had the opportunity to travel to Gettysburg and Wash- ington DC. The Cadets learned about our country's history and how we came to be where we are today. At Gettysburg, Cadets traveled to the places where many significant battles took place including The Battle of Gettysburg. Cadets were responsible for explaining what happened during that specific battle. One Cadet explained the Union positions, one the Confederate positions, and another how different units from Michigan were involved.