NEW CHALLENGE

Here's the latest challenge:

Adam, Bob, and Charlie are wearing clothes and hats of three colors: red, yellow, and blue. From the clues below, figure out the color of hats and clothes that each man is wearing.


- Adam doesn’t wear a red hat, and Bob doesn’t wear a yellow hat.

- The person who wears a red hat doesn’t wear blue clothes.

- The person who wears a yellow hat wears red clothes.

- Bob doesn’t wear yellow clothes.

Good luck.  BTW, the WOD is skeptic.  Skeptic is a noun meaning a doubter; a person who suspends judgment until the evidence has been fully examined and understood.  Example:  I am a skeptic about the new health plan.

Here's the answer to the challenge.  Did you figure it out?
 
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		HATS
CLOTHES		R	Y	B
	R		Adam
	Y	Charlie
	B			Bob

BILLET SELECTION, PART II

As you know, we will shortly be starting the annual billet selection process.  If you are a new cadet, or if you are unfamiliar with our process, it's fairly simple:  a cadet's rank is determined either by their class or by the job (billet) that they hold.  New cadets start as cadet recruits and can advance to the rank of cadet seaman by completing the PARS and PQS requirements and then taking a short practical test.  At the end of the third marking period, we will select five (5) member s of the 9th grade class to be meritoriously promoted to the rank of cadet third class petty officer. 

All returning NS 2 cadets are automatically promoted to cadet third class petty officer.  This is termed their class rank.  Juniors hold the class rank of cadet second class petty officer and seniors hold the rank of cadet first class petty officer.  Certain sophomores, juniors, and seniors are selected to hold a billet.  The selection is based on their stated interest in a particular job and, more importantly, by the faculty's assessment of their potential to perform in that job.  A cadet will hold their rank as long as they perform well in the billet they hold.  A cadet who does not perform will be removed from their job and revert to their class rank.  At the end of the year, a cadet reverts to their class rank or assumes the rank of their next job.  For example, a sophomore cadet who serves as an platoon guide may be assigned the rank of cadet first class petty officer.  Despite this, if they are not selected for a new billet for their junior year, when they return to school in the fall they would assume the rank of cadet second class petty officer--they do not retain the rank of their old billet.  Note also that a cadet who misbehaves may be demoted to cadet recruit or even separated from the program.

So, how do we decide who gets what?  First, we have you fill out a billet application.  They can be found on our unit website and are due on 25 March.  Next, we review the applications and put the applicants on a spreadsheet so we can easily see who is competing against whom for each billet.  Then we rank order all the candidates for each billet and decide who would be the best fill for each.  We then finalize our selections by checking that our potential selectees can all work well together--no matter how good you are are, you must work as part of the team.

Ask yourself:

1. What billets would I like?  (What billets do I think I could do best in?)
2. Are they appropriate for my class?  (Think:  we're probably not going to select a sophomore to be unit CO!)
3. Do I really rate my choice?  (Be honest with yourself.)
4. If you rate the job, that is, if you are good enough, is there someone else who might be better?  (Again, be honest.  We try to come up with the best match for the job, not someone who is good enough.)
5. Before you accept a job, make sure that you are really committed.  Non-hacker (those who don't perform) will be removed.

Once you are selected for a job, work hard.  Consider it a chance to prepare for the next job you want.  And remember that those cadets who hold rank should serve as good examples for everyone else. 

MILITARY BALL

Our military ball has been scheduled for Friday, 25 March from 6 PM until 11 PM.  Tickets will be on sale 28 February and will be $38.00 each.  The evening is a formal military dinner dance and includes a receiving line, a POW-MIA remembrance, a cake-cutting, election of the king and queen, and more (way more!). 

Male cadets are expected to be in uniform, female cadets may wear evening attire (party dresses or gowns).  Guest must wear appropriate attire.  "Appropriate attire" is coat and tie--absolutely no blue jeans, boots, athletic shoes, ball caps, etc.  The music will be provided by a professional DJ.  Dancing will be tasteful--Master Sergeant and I will decide what crosses the line; offenders may be asked to leave. 

A few pictures from previous years:




Formal entry and honor guuard, 2009

2008

Cadet Comander (in evening attire) and guest, 2008

20th anniversary cake, 2008

MSGT Willard, Cadet Commander Hansen, and LCPL Edwards (MHS 2006)

The evil banana appears, 2008

PUSH-UP CHALLENGE

As you all know, we are participating in the annual Vietnam Memorial Push Up Challenge.  The challenge is for us as a group to do one push up for every name on the Vietnam Memorial Wall by Memorial Day.  There are 58,267 names listed on the wall, each an American serviceman or woman who died as a direct result of the conflict. 

To date we have performed 28,622 push ups and are over 3,000 ahead of our goal.  Good for us.  Lest we forget, though, the real value in participating is that we are reminded just how big a number 58,267 is and that each number is really a name:  some one's son or daughter, brother, sister, or friend, who never got a chance to experience a full life.  Each of these lives, and those of hundreds of thousands more who died in our other conflicts, represents a debt we have to pay by keeping America free, being good citizens, and living by our core values of Honor, Courage, Commitment.  Keep this in mind when you feel yourself slacking off.

BILLET SELECTION PROCESS ANNOUNCED

In a memo dated today and posted both on our unit website and on the bulletin board, I announced and described our billet selection  process for next year.  In simple terms, this is how we will pick who gets what jobs for next year. 

If you are interested in a job next year, read the memo and don't miss the deadlines.  Take special note about meriting the position--I will leave a billet vacant before I fill it with a candidate I think will fail. 

Please remember that what ever rank you hold this year goes away at the start of the next school year.  For example, if you are a sophomore, regardless of your rank this year, you will start next year as a cadet second class petty officer unless selected for a billet requiring a higher rank. 

MIDDIES COMPLETE OUR ANNUAL AREA MANAGER'S INSPECTION

On Wednesday, 9 February we completed our annual area manager's inspection.  This inspection, as the name implies, must be completed every year.  This year, Commander Joseph Hankins, the Navy's NJROTC manager for Area Four, which is basically the northeast part of the United States.  Commander Hankins is responsible for overseeing the NJROTC programs at over 50 high schools and coordinating regional events such as the Leadership Academy. 

The inspection is conducted on a rigorous SAT/UNSAT basis.  "SAT," short for satisfactory, is passing.  We received a grade of SAT.  So, congratulation--we made it, and this reflects some hard work.  Good job to all, particularly if you were recognized for exemplary personal experience.  Our strong areas were admin, supply, fiscal, and program management.  Our weakest area:  cadet appearance during the personnel inspection.  Although over 80 or 132 cadets received a grade of outstanding or excellent, we should have done better.  Commander Hankins comments included numerous down-checks on grooming (hair length, color, color of tie-backs), numerous comments about Irish-pennants, a few belts on backwards, and more than a few unshined shoes. 

Here are a few pictures:

I bet he's talking about hair length!

Stop-action:  CDR Hankins prepares to inspect !st Platoon.

CONGRATULATIONS CADET PARKER!

Congratulations to Cadet Lieutenant Junior Grade Tiffany Parker who has been selected to attend the Navy-sponsored Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Seminar at the University of San Diego this summer.  Tiffany will spend a week at the University of San Diego along with about 125 other NJROTC cadets from all over the country exploring topics in science, math, and emerging technology such as robotics.  The week, which is paid for by the Navy, is a hands-on experience conducted by the faculty of the university and is a great opportunity to see what college is really like.  In addition to the academics, there are a variety of social events with the other cadets including liberty in San Diego and, usually, a couple of "big-ticket" events like attending a major league ball game. 

So, congratulations Tiffany.  Cadets in this year's sophomore class might want to be thinking about applying to attend next summer.  Aside from a fun week and a great experience, applying for the seminar is a good way to set yourself apart from the competition for senior leadership positions.  There is no cost or obligation to attend, but selection is tough.  Each school is invited to nominate cadets based on their interest and potential, but out of the 55 schools in Area Four, only about 20 are accepted.  Criteria includes grades, performance as a cadet, potential as a senior leader, and post-high school plans.

EVENING PRACTICE 7 PM TONIGHT, 7 FEB

An evening practice has been scheduled for 7:00 PM this evening, Monday, 7 February. We expect to be finished by 8:15 PM.

The WOD for 7 and 8 February is renounce. Renounce is a verb meaning to abandon, disown, or repudiate.  Example:  Joan of Arc refused to renounce her belief that her voices came from God.  (The first cadet to see me with the correct WOD and definition will get a "fun-sized" candy bar.)

INSPECTION PRACTICE CANCELED

The inspection practice scheduled for Saturday 5 February has been canceled.

DAY-GLO POODLES

Just a thought:  If poodles were painted bright day-glo colors, then kids would be less likely to hit them when taking driving tests!

Actual day-glo poodles (works with cats and small children, too!)

EXTRA PRACTICES FOR ANNUAL INSPECTION

There will be an extra practice tonight at 7 PM (1900 for us military folks) here at the high school for all cadets in preparation for next Wednesday's area manager's inspection. 

There will also be a practice, weather permitting, tomorrow, Saturday, 5 February, at 12:30 PM here at the high school.  Practice canceled due to anticipated inclement weather. 

AMI Practice back when Cadets were Cadets!

If you look carefully you can see Tiffany Parker's brother--look for the freaky big feet and bewildered expression.

Be prepared!  The WOD for 4 and 5 FEB is reprehensible. Reprehensible is an adjective meaning deserving blame.  Example:  The people uniformly condemned the reprehensible conduct of the government.

AREA MANAGER'S INSPECTION, NOTE #3

Inspection is less than a week away--are you ready?  We'll be having a series of extra practices to get ready(you may hear them called "night practices" even though they aren't at night).  Make sure you attend as many as you can--we need you to know what you're doing.  By now you should have your uniform in for cleaning and pressing.  You should also be shining your shoes and squaring your ribbons and insignia away.  Once you get everything all ready, set it aside.  Spend the time between now and next Wednesday studying your cadet knowledge--if you don't have it anywhere else, you can find it on our unit website:  https://sites.google.com/site/middletownnynjrotc/-rocks-and-shoals. 

Read this carefully:  No matter how good we do, we will fail the inspection if fewer than 90% of our cadets attend.  We have 140 cadets, so we need to have at least 126 cadets present for the inspection just to pass; to do well we will need an even better turn-out.  What does this mean?  Simple:  if you are really sick, stay home.  But, everyone who is absent, no matter what the reason, will count against us.  If 8 people are legitimately sick, 2 people are on a college visit, 2 people are home for family emergencies, 2 people are skipping, and one person is suspended and can't attend, the 15 people total will be absent and we will fail--NO MATTER HOW GOOD THE OTHER 125 ARE.  Does this sound unfair?  It isn't really since all schools are held to the same standard.  Welcome to the real world. 

The WOD for 3 and 4 February is somber.  Somber is an adjective meaning gloomy; depressing; dark; drab.  For example:  From CDR Hankin's grim expression, Fedorka could tell he had somber news.