WORD OF THE DAY

Here's the WOD for 27 and 28 April:  Surreptitious.  Sureptitious is an adjective meaning secret; furtive; sneaky; hidden.  For example:  Hoping to discover where the Christmas presents were hidden, Timmy took a surreptitious peek into the closet.  It was then that the pit bull attacked. 

Have you bought your Military Ball tickets?  Are you waiting for something special?  How about if I promise to bring all my favorite music? 

Notice:  All freshmen who have attained the rank of cadet seaman are promoted immediately to the rank of cadet of cadet third class petty officer.  Good job!  See me in uniform for your new insignia.

WELCOME BACK!

Hope everyone had a great break.  Now it's back to school for the home stretch--only 35 instructional days remaining! 

Upcoming events: 
- The Military Ball, Friday, 6 May. 
- The Area Four Championship, Saturday, 21 May.
- The change of command and end of the year awards dinner, Tuesday, 7 June. 

We had a great orientation trip.  Forty-six cadets went to Newport, RI, Boston, MA, and Groton, CT over four fun-filled days and three spectacular nights at the spectacular King Hall, the Navy's officer training command barracks where each guest luxuriated in not one, but two sheets!  Here are some pictures:

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (best two out of three!)

The USS Constitution--note that her topmasts have been removed for maintenance.

USS Cassin Young in dry-dock. 

Middletown cadets looking at a model of a 19th century warship--can't seem to find the satellite dish.

The group in front of the USS Massachusetts's turret number three.

Pretty sure that the human leg isn't supposed to bend like that!

The group in front of the sail from the USS George Washington, our first fleet ballistic missile submarine.

ARE YOU BORED?

If you missed the orientation trip and you're looking for something fun to do, look no further, just start those independent studies assignments! 

More than five cadets approached me today and asked, "Can you tell me what my grade is"?  Of course I can, and you probably won't like the answer.  If you haven't worn the uniform as required and haven't turned your academic work, why even bother asking me--I am not the Santa Claus, I do not give grades, I merely give you the opportunity to earn them.  Yikes!  It's all over but the crying!  But there is hope, you can pass, and it's easy: just do what you agreed to do when you became a cadet and when you signed up for independent studies. 

NJROTC HAS BEEN SAVED, BUT...

As you may have already heard, the Middletown Board of Education voted to approve a proposed budget that includes our NJROTC program.  We're all obviously very happy, and to all who helped, thanks.  The program would almost certainly not have survived were it not for your many shows of support.  We were gratified by the outpouring of support and the many touching comments.  The Board and Superintendent noticed and worked to put the program back into the budget. Again, thanks to everyone involved.

Here's the "but,":  The budget must still be approved by the voters, and it is based on a large tax increase.  This means that next year's NJROTC program is still not a sure thing.  Also, despite the strong support of a number of board members, there is a move the program "off budget" after next year by finding alternative funding.  This could mean participation fees, donations, a public/private plan that features some sort of sponsorship arrangement, or something else altogether.  We can't properly comment on this until the details are proposed and understood, but we have some reservation about any plan that treats NJROTC as anything other than an in-house" program fully sponsored by the District.  More about this later.

What can you do?  I, personally, cannot, should not, and will not endorse the budget.  If you are a vote, please just vote your conscience and encourage your neighbors to do the same.  Please also consider the issue when voting for the board member of your choice.  Let's all gently remind the Board in the right way and at the right times over the next year that still consider our NJROTC program important and that we're all prepared to fight the battle again next year if need be.

ORIENTATION TRIP--GET HOT!

On 14 April we will depart for Boston.  Will you be with us?  I currently have only half the seats on the bus filled.  I will accept permission slips until 1500 (3 P.M.) this Friday.  After that, you are out of luck.  Since I have to send an access list to the Navy base on Monday, I will not accept late add-ons.  If you want to go but can't pay or get your permission slip until next week, see me and maybe I will reserve you a seat.  BUT THERE WILL BE NO ADD-ONS.  If your permission slip isn't in my hands by 1500 Friday, you will not go, and no excuses or explanations will be accepted. This will make life tough for you who are "deadline challenged."  

Submarine control room mock-up.

Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, America's tall ship.

USS Nautilus (SSN 571) Oldest

 

BUSINESS AS USUAL

As you all know, the Board of Education will vote on the budget this Thursday.  That vote will determine what budget is presented to the voters of the school district in May.  We want to keep the pressure up, but in a respectful way. Please keep your Thursday evening open--we need a big turnout at the board meeting.  [Thanks to Jessica Glickman for catching my error!]

So much for the self-licking ice cream cone, at least for now.  Back to business as usual.  Here are are few issues of current interest:

• Orientation Trip.  We still have seats open.  Cadets must be in good standing and permission slips must be received by this Friday.  If you want to go, tell me and I will reserve a place for you.  If you wait until the last minute I will tell you it's too late. 
• Military Ball.  The Ball is scheduled for Friday, 6 May.  Tickets are $38.00.  I've got 55 spoken for so far. 
• Area Drill Meet.  We are still planning on hosting the Area Four Championship Drill Meet here on Saturday, 21 May.  This is a big deal--save the date now since it will be an all-hands evolution.
• Billet Selections.  To be announced.
• Annual Awards Ceremony.  The annual awards ceremony has been scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, 7 June. 

The WOD for today is usurp.  Usurp is a verb meaning to seize another's power or rank.  Example:  Fedorka failed in his weak attempt to usurp the company CO's authority. 

Challenge:  New challenges are being held in abeyance pending the completion of several open challenges.