NEW UNIT WEBSITE

If you are reading this, you obviously already know about our blog.  You may or may not know that we also have BRAND NEW, REAL, HONEST-TO-GOODNESS, NO-KIDDING WEBSITE.  The website (see the "Useful Links" section to the right) will be used for more official sorts of communication and will feature access to many useful references including the Cadet Field Manual (CFM), the Cadet Reference Manual (CRM), our unit calendar of events, required cadet knowledge, and much more.  This blog will be more social its focus and will continue to include the weekly challenge, photos and short stories on recent events, a announcements of coming events.  Although this may sound complicated, you will be able to navigate easily between the two; just remember, THIS site is more socially oriented and THAT site is more official in nature.  HOO-YAH, isn't modern technology wonderful?

NEW WEEKLY CHALLENGE

Here's the weekly challenge for the week of 1 NOV:  This challenge is now CLOSED.

For Seniors:  Name the world's nuclear powers (i.e., those nations with nuclear weapons).  No attempts.  So much for the class of 2011.  So sad.

For Juniors:  What is the difference between an Article 15 proceeding and a court-martial?  This was mentioned in class.  Are you guys practicing to be no-load seniors next year?

For Sophomores:  Name three strategic choke point points.  Good for Robert Ferguson and Ylexice Davis.

For Freshmen:  In the Navy, what does the term "rating" mean?  Congratulations Jonathan Gomez.

This challenge will expire at 0730 on Friday, 5 November 2010.  The winners will receive a  prize of indescribable proportions.

NJROTC COMPANY DINING-IN, MONDAY, 1 NOVEMBER

You've heard the scuttlebutt and it's true.  At 5:30 PM on Monday, 1 November we will assemble at the Middletown American Legion Post, 185 Waywayanda Avenue for a company dining-in.  The dining-in will serve as the offical welcoming ceremony for our new cadets who have now completed the orientation period.  We will recognize those who have earned promotion, and we will announce new jobs for some upperclass, including platoon chiefs, guides, squad leaders, and assistant squad leaders.  There is no cost.  The unifor is steak and gravy or summer white.  The food will be great!  Here are a few photos of last year's event:

Recalcitrant cadets are calibrated.

A few well-considered remarks.

"I find this beef to be tasty and fit to eat."

Evan gets his due.

Madame Vice

Guess who's out of uniform.

HOO-YAH--THE BELL COMES HOME!

Congratulations, Middletown High School, the Bell has been recaptured!

MHS NJROTC Color Guard Presents the Colors.

Middie Pride--All the Usual Suspects.

I'm not sure what's going on here.

Master Sergeant Serves it Up.

Cadets Guard the Bell.

WEEKLY CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK OF 25 OCTOBER

Here's this week's challenge:

This challenge is now CLOSED.

For Seniors:  Who is known as the Father of the Nuclear Navy?  How easy is this!

For Juniors:  On a typical surface combatant such as a cruiser, destroyer, or frigate type vessel, who does the First Lieutenant work for and what are his/her primary responsibilities?  I can't believe this hasn't been answered yet!

For FROSH:  Who is the National Security Advisor?  (Hint--he's new in the job.)  Congratualtions to C/MCPO Jessica Glickman who correctly identified Tom Donilon as our new National Security Advisor.

For anyone:  How's the cow?  Congratulations to Jorge Esquivel who now knows the correct response to the questions "How's the cow?", part of the plebe knowledge that must be memorized by a fourth class midshipman (freshman) at the Naval Academy and other lesser military schools such as West Point. 

This challenge will expire at 0730 Friday, 29 October.  The prize will be a candy bar.

NEW WEEKLY CHALLENGE

Here's the new weekly challenge for the week of 18 OCT through 22 OCT.  This challenge is now CLOSED.

Seniors:  Who wrote "The Laws of the Navy"?  Congratualtion C/LCDR Justin Lucchese, who correctly answered that Rear Admiral Hopwood, RN, penned the poem "The Laws of the Navy" as a humorous set of instructions and warnings for officers.   

Juniors:  Who was the highest ranking American naval officer ever?  It is not FADM Halsey!  Keep trying.
Sophomore:  Who was the youngest captain in the American Navy, ever?  Nice try, Jessica, but the answer must be properly pronounced.  This question is still in play.

Fresman:  Who was Dan Daly?  Congratulations Jonathan Gomez, who correctly identified Sergeant Major Dan Daly, USMC as a double Medal of Honor recipient for heroic actions in both WWI and the Haiti intervention. 

The prize this week is a brand-new shiny MHS NJROTC pen.  The challenge expires 0730, Friday, 22 October 2010.

SCHOOL SPIRIT NJROTC-STYLE--GET SOME!

This week MHS NJROTC cadets showed their true school spirit.  Next week it'll be steak and gravy as usual!

"I wonder where I left my pants."

A Super Hero pretending to be a deer in the headlights.

If she had real super powers, she'd know it's not a real ship.

Hope and Change visits MHS

"You can dress 'em up, but you can't take 'em out."

HAPPY 235TH BIRTHDAY, UNITED STATES NAVY!

The United States Navy was established on 13 October 1775 making today our 235th anniversary.  For years, this day has been celebrated throughout the fleet on ships, from battleships, cruiser, destroyers, frigates, and gunboats, to air squadrons, and on remote bases and stations from the North Pole to the South.  This year the occasion was marked in the mountains of Afghanistan and the desert of Iraq as well.  The traditional ceremony is built around a large cake.  The crew is gathered at quarters and the commanding officer or master chief and the junior or youngest crew member share the duty of cutting the cake using either an officer's sword or an enlisted man's cutlass.  This year our cake was cut by our comapny CO, C/LCDR Justin Lucchese, and a member of our freshman class.  Check out the pictures below:

The Traditional Cake.  Note the officer's sword.



The crew, such as it is.  Note the expressions of delight.



The cutting, supervised by Cadets Adam Ballard and David Levien.

AIR RIFLE TEAM ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

Are you interested in developing concentration, attention to detail, and precise muscle control?  Do you want attain national standing as an air rifle marksman and possibly qualify for college scholarships?  Wuold you like to be a part of a nationally-ranked team and travel to national competitions?  If so, you may want to participate in the Air Rifle Marksmanship Team sponsored by Middletown's American Legion Post 151.  The team is coached by Master Sergeant Willard and organized as a Boy Scout Venture Crew.  Anyone may participate and details further will be provided at the meeting. 

The meeting will be held at 7 PM on Wednesday, 20 October at the American Legion, 185 Waywayanda Avenue. 

CADET ORIENTATION AND DINING IN

Our orientation period for new cadets will be ending at the end of the month and our new cadets, mostly 9th graders, will be officially welcomed into our cadet company at a dining-out to be held at the American Legion at 185 Wawayanda Avenue on Monday, 1 November (note that the date has changed).  Our new cadets are learning the basics of drill and will soon begin learning the more advanced moves.  Good job!

MORE CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to the following freshmen who successfully challenged the Cadet Seaman Apprentice test:

Quincy McCoy
Hector Arias
Jorge Esquivel

For the rest of you:  Keep Charging!  There's room for more.

NEW WEEKLY CHALLLENGE

Here is the weekly challenge for the week of 11 - 15 October.  This challenge is now CLOSED.

Seniors:  What instrument is used by navigators to precisely measure angles between object off the ship?

Juniors:  What is the individual (by watch station, not by name) who acts as the enlisted assistant to the officer of the deck INPORT?  ("INPORT" is in caps for a reason--think about it!)

Sophomores:  Who is the Commandant of the Marine Corps?  Congratulations Cadet Third Class Petty Officer Edith Mann, who correctly identified Gen. Conway, USMC as the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

Freshmen:  Who is Admiral David Stiendl?

The first cadet in each category who presents me with the correct answer--no repeated guessing permitted--wins a MHS NJROTC pen.  This offer expires at 0730 on Friday, 15 October 2010.

UPPER CLASS BILLET SELECTIONS

We are in the process of selecting fills for most of our remaining billets.  Subject to the approval of the chain of command, each platoon commander can select a platoon chief, a platoon guide, three squad leaders, and three assistant squad leaders.  See you platoon leader if you are interested.  Selectees will be announced at the dining-in on October 28.

Additionally, we will be filling the Public Affairs Chief billet, and the Assistant First LT/Provost billet (a chief of PO1).  If you are interested, see CDR Wall.  Selectees will be announced at the dining-in on October 28.



Finally, we are looking for sophomores, juniors, and seniors for our academic teams.  If you are interested, see C/ENS Manis, the academic officer.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Cadet Jonathan Gomez who successfully challenged the advancement exam and was promoted to the rank of Cadet Seaman Apprentice--the first in the freshman class.  BZ!

NEW WEEKLY CHALLENGE

This challenge has now closed. 

This week's challenges:

Seniors:  Who was Admiral Burke?  What was his nickname?  Admiral Burke was a World War Two hero who led a squadron of destroyers against the Japanese in a series of battles in the South Pacific.  He later became CNO and the Navy named a class of ship after him.  His nickname:  "31 Knot Burke."

Juniors:  Who is the division officer responsible for the ship's engines?  The correct answer is the Main Propulsion Assistant (MPA).  Congratulation to C/LTJG Tiffany Parker.

FROSH:  Who is the Area FOUR Manager?  Congratualtions to C/PO3 Juan Gonzalez Ortiz [note the correction -anw] who correctly answered CDR Joseph W. Hankins, USN, Retired.

This challenge expires at 0730 8 October 2010.