SHOP-RITE VETERANS' PROJECT

As many of you know, we have recently partnered with the ShopRite on Route 211 to help with their ongoing veterans' support project.  Throughout the summer,  into the fall, and beyond, we will have cadets assisting in passing out information, collecting donations, and otherwise supporting the effort.  It's a great cause--please get involved.  Contact the NJROTC office or our OPS Officer, Cadet Glickman, if you are interested.  Here are a few pictures:



Left to right, Cadets Marcano and Esquivel.  Both are rising sophomores.



Test:  Which is Cadet Marcano?

Which is still Cadet Marcano?



Cadet Glickman details the hubcaps--no stepladder requered!



The world's cleanest hubcap.  (That's what happens when you pay by the hour!)

It was a busy day.  There was only the one car, but we washed it 27 times!

NEW CADET CHALLENGE

For Cadet Ferguson:  Explain the following notable quotation, "Where is Cadet Gomez?  The World wonders."  (I've paraphrased the original passage, which obviously did not refer to Gomez, although they had no idea where he was, either.  Tell me about the significance of the passage.)  Congratulations to Robert "King of Google" Ferguson.

For everyone else:  Lieutenant Fedorka has two children. At least one of them is a boy. What is the probability that both children are boys?  Explain. 


For Cadet Geer:  Assume that the cadet executive officer has a piercing/implant ("assume," because such an situation would obviously not occur in the real world).  What is the probability that the cadet executive officer will still have said piercing/implant when he ships out to the Leadership Academy? 
 
For Cadet Parker:  What word describes a woman who doesn't have all her fingers on one hand?

COMMUNITY GARDEN PROJECT PHOTOS

On Saturday, 18 June a group of Middletown Cadets built raised garden beds for the Orange County Community Garden near David Moore Heights housing.  Here are some pictures:

Soriano inspects the dirt before moving it.  Maybe he was looking for Cadet Jonathan Gomez.

Jorge Esquivel working hard (or hardly working).  Not pictured:  Jonathan Gomez.

Corrine Jewell moves a heavy load of fill. Not pictured:  Jonathan Gomez.

Not Jonathan Gomez.

Spreading fill.  Not pictured:  Cadet Jonathan Gomez.

Assembling the boxes.

Cadet Dakota Ryder looking for Cadet Jonathan Gomez.



Loading fill.



Shifting fill.  Not pictured:  Cadet Jonathan Gomez.



NEW CHALLENGE

It's been awhile since I last issued a cadet challenge.  It's been even longer since a cadet successfully answered a cadet challenge.  Here we go:

• For new seniors:  What is the announced name of the newest carrier in the United States Navy?  (This ship is being built now, it will not be commissioned for some time.)  The correct answer is "John F. Kennedy."  The Kennedy, which will be launched later in the decade, will carry be the second super carrier to bear the name of President John F. Kennedy.
• For new juniors:  What is a "rabbit"?  (The quotation marks should tell you that the correct answer has nothing to do with small, furry creatures.)  No winner--although Samantha Migliori came close.
• For new sophomores:  We are organized as a company now.  If we have a larger unit next year, we may organize as a battalion.  What is the next echelon up from a battalion?  (In other words, two or more battalions make up a ____________.)  Congratulations to Cadet Ferguson, who apparently will be repeating sophomore year.
• For incoming freshman:  Nothing--yet!

The winner of each challenge will receive a candy bar.  Regulation size, not extra-large.  The challenge expires 0830 24 June 2011.  Good luck.

MHS NJROTC SUMMER OPERATING HOURS

As the school year draws to a close and you find yourself drawn toward the frivolous pastimes of a misspent youth, please remember that there are those of use who will be working throughout to ensure that the Middletown NJROTC Unit will be prepared to hit the deck running when the school year begins.

During the summer, the NJROTC office will generally be open Monday through Friday from 0800 until 1400.  Due to off-site commitments, it is best to call before you come in to ensure that an instructor will be here.  The office number is (845) 326-1578.  If no one answers, leave a message.

Summer events:

• Saturday, 18 June, Cornell Cooperative Extension Flower Bed Project.  Meet at behind David Moore Heights at 0800 to help lay in a number of raised flower beds. 
• Tuesday, 2 August, Middletown Night Out Against Crime.  Meet downtown at 1700. 
• Saturday, 9 July, Middletown Cares City Clean-up.  Meet at City Hall at 0830.
• Tuesday, 23 August, Staff Orientation Meeting, ROTC classroom, 0830. 
• Tuesday, 30 August, Middie Move-up Day.  Select cadets will support.  Uniform:  NSUs.
• We will support the ShopRite "Tower of Hope" program throughout the summer.  Point of contact:  Cadet Jessica Glickman. 
• We will be looking for cadets to assist in admin preps such as assembling the new cadet handbooks, decorating the classroom, etc. 
• We may be asked to provide additional support over the last couple weeks of summer to ready the school for opening day.  Tasks might include stamping new textbooks, helping collate class materials, and assisting in similar preparations.

Other contact information:

• Check this blog site for postings throughout the summer.
• Check the unit website for official postings.

Congratulations to all who qualified for the physical fitness award over the last several weeks!  Qualifiers include:  R. Ferguson, J. Glickman, L. Rutland, N. Turco, J. Marcano, Y. Davis, and D. Geer.  Good job.

FAREWELL MHS NJROTC CLASS OF 2011

Although the Class of 2011 hasn't actually graduated--there's still time to turn in your NJROTC leadership paper--the days are rapidly dwindling to nothingness and this might be a good time to say a few words of farewell. 

When you are a new freshman, high school seems as if it will last forever.  You know now that it does not.  Although I always downplay graduation, it is of course a major life event.  By graduating from high school and reaching your 18th birthday, you will be recognized as adults.  Reaching the age of 18 is a legal requirement and graduating from high school is a social expectation; what you make of it and whether people really treat you as an adult is largely up to you.  Here's my simple advise, much of which you have heard before.  First, act like an adult.  Whatever your driver's license says, if you act like a kid you will be treated like one.  If you act like an adult and insist on being treated as one, you will be.  Ask anyone who has done this and they will tell you it takes time and effort to get it right.  Second, recognize that all adults are not equal.  Where you end up in the pecking order is mostly up to you.  If you keep yourself focused on the values and principles you have developed and work toward long-range goals, you will almost certainly be happier than if you bounce from one short-range goal to another without any real context to against which to measure your success.  As Shakespeare said, "To thine own self be true."  Third, don't sell yourself short.  Real accomplishment takes time, involves risk, and you will almost surely stumble along the way.  Don't equate a set-back with failure.    To quote Marcus Aurelius, "Take not counsel of your fears."  Finally, take heart.  Have some confidence in yourself.  Master Sergeant and I have seen each of you grow tremendously over the past four years and expect great things from you in the future. 

Keep in touch, visit when you can, remember your time in NJROTC, and know that we are proud of you.

Fair winds and Following Seas.

CDR Wall

ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY

The final official NJROTC event of the year is always our June awards ceremony. At this ceremony we recognize outstanding cadets, say farewell to our graduating seniors, and install next year's leadership with a formal change of command.  It is always with mixed feelings that we say goodbye to our graduates and those other cadets who won't be returning in the Fall, but at the same time it is always a real pleasure to see the quality of our cadets, the positive changes that have taken place over the year, and their readiness for whatever the future may bring. 

Here are a few highlights:

The Class of 2011 enter--it only like they were moving fast.

Member of the Class of 2011 (not all are pictured and not all in the picture or members of the class of 2011)

The MHS Color Guard--lookin' good and actually in step!

The "wheels" of 2011.

A supercilious point.

MSGT Willard present the Non-Commissioned Officers' Association Leadership medal to Cadet MCPO Jessica Glickman.

Cadet LCDR Justin Lucchese, outgoing company commander, makes final remarks.

Frank Tanico chokes back a tear.

The unit colors are passed from Cadet Lucchese, class of 2011, to Cadet Parker, class of 2012.

"Don't take my picture with Tiffany--someone might recognize me!"

Cadet Daniel Levien

A snakey-snake

RIBBON CHECKER WEBSITE

I am sad to say that many of our cadets don't wear their ribbons correctly.  The link below allows you to enter the ribbons you qualify for and will then produce an image of exactly what your ribbons rack should look like.  Check it out and make sure your ribbons are in order!

http://kepler.pratt.duke.edu/NJROTC/NJROTC.html

Be careful to wear only ribbons you have actually earned. 

MIDDLETOWN MEMORIAL DAY PARADE--WERE YOU THERE?

MHS NJROTC Participants (some actually had covers!)

Vietnam Vets Color Guard

Gulf War Vets and the scruffiest Boy Scout I have ever seen.

Fire Department Flag Banner

Cadet Geer checks his piercing.  "Check SAT."

Mikey Robertson working toward that Boy Scout haircut.

AWARDS CEREMONY TUESDAY 7 JUNE

A reminder:  our annual awards ceremony and change of command will take place at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, 7 June in the large gymnasium.  All cadets are expected to attend.  The uniform is the NSU.  At this ceremony we will recognize outstanding cadets, honor the graduating seniors, and announce the incoming senior staff.  Other billet selections will be posted immediately after the event. 

A word about billet selections:  The selection process is always difficult and has been doubly so this year.  Several outstanding candidates submitted no application.  Several cadets who have been less than fully attentive to their duties and responsibilities submitted very strong applications.  There are also more than a few cadets who are expecting a billet, but who have really not met the minimal expectations.  As a result of all of this, we have struggled to find the best overall "slate" of candidates to fill our billets.  If you are not happy with the job you receive--or the fact that you didn't get a job at all--think hard about why.  Be honest with yourself and ask the hard questions before you come to see me.  I will be happy to discuss your particular situation, but I will not argue with you about a decision that has already been made.  I will be fairly direct and try to provide useful feedback that you may use to improve your performance in the future.  If this isn't what you want, you probably ought not to bother coming by. 

If you do get a job, be prepared to work hard.  Regardless of what your rank or job is, if you want to be thought of as a leader, act like one.  All the time.