Tuesday, December 27, 2011

A NEW YEAR'S NOTE


As some of you know, a ship’s deck log is the legal record of all events on the ship, all courses steered, all speeds run, all comings and goings—everything that may be worthy of notice.  The mid-watch entry is the first entry of the day and notes the ship’s status at midnight, the start of the new day.  It includes the ship’s location, mission and tasking, who has operational and tactical command, the whereabouts of the captain and the senior officer on board, the status of any restricted personnel, and the status of all major equipment such as engines, generators, and important auxiliary equipment.  It is traditional that the first mid-watch entry of the New Year be written in verse.   Some are extremely clever; this one, not so much, but that said, here, with great apologies to Clement Clarke Moore, is MHS NJROTC, The Night Before New Year:

“Twas the night before New Year’s and all through the school,
Not a creature was stirring, not even the little fish in the pool.
The grades were all entered by the faculty with care,
By Master Sergeant and Commander, so suave and debonair.
Tiffany’s the CO and she’s having a good year,
Except when she drives, which fills us with fear.
We’d like to think next year she’ll do okay
But either way she’ll be gone (Oh happy day!).
Jessica as OPS is scheduling and tracking,
To keep us moving ahead, not backing.
She’s short and she’s cheerful, except when she’s nailing
Some other cadet whose standards are failing.
The Chop, the Chop, who could ever deny
That she lives the thug life, Crip walkin’ on by.
In this regard, why it’s worthy of note,
Fish who write on the board, they often get smote!
The Ferg-Burger, he’s bilging and sneaking, he’s silently creeping,
It all makes one wonder just what secrets he’s keeping!
And A. J. G., all hands on deck!
You can tells where he's been, 'cause the place is a wreck!
In a couple of days and a fortnight [it’s poetry, get it?] we’ll be on our way
To Linden High School for the big MLK!
Lanae and the drill team, they’re trying their best,
From the jaws of defeat a victory to wrest.
The rest of the group, well what can be said
Of a bunch of cadets who make me see red?
The seniors are all primed, they’re ready to go,
Their motto it’s said is “All ahead, slow.”
Oh, but now we’ll soon hear them rue
When in January their research papers come due,
How sad to see them gimble and wail,
“Please take this work late, or else I will fail!”
The juniors, of course, they think they are done,
MoBd, they have learned, is just not much fun.
Then wait ‘til Navigation he said with glee,
With celestial, DR, and piloting—why it’s better by three!
And now for the sophomores, well what is the squeal?
Of a class whose symbol is the noble NJROTC weasel?
Of Jorge, Justin, Eric, Jewell, and all the rest,
We know and we trust that they’ll meet the test.
Of Voodoo Zombie Queens, of sickness and snakes,
Why it’s stuff such as this of which legends we makes!
And of the freshman, all happy, not sad,
The strength of their best, why it makes me all glad.
Maybe someday, someday so soon, they’ll even learn what to do
When faced with polish and a new leather shoe!
So now the cadets are all home for the break, all stable and steady,
All cheerful and ready, all “Ready, Aye, Ready.”
And of all the rest of you by name not cited,
Please rest assured you were not intentionally slighted;
We watch you all closely, the rumors we hear,
And be assured when you trip that we will be near!
So now here’s a wish from Master Sergeant and me
Here it is now, we give it with glee:
See you on the third, we say with delight!
Happy New Year to all, and to all a Good Night.

A NAVY HOLIDAY

While you are all at home enjoying the holiday break, I thought I would post a short note about Christmas in the fleet.  Often ships will be in their homeport for the holidays.  Most of the crew will then be on leave and enjoy the day at home, the same as you and I.  Many ships, squadrons, and Marine Corps units, as well as other units from other services, will of course  be deployed away from home over the holidays.  For these folks the service always does their best to make the holidays as special as possible.  Ships in port set special decorations; each ship tried to outdo the others, but the finest displays were always seen on the huge battleships where the gun turrets would be outlined with lights.  Some of the best Christmas meals I've ever had were on ships at sea where the food almost made up for being away from home.  Here are a few pictures of fleet activities:

The USS Hoon tricked out for Christmas in port, Pearl Harbor.
(April Kalblein,MHS class of 2009 and our former cadet XO is a second class petty officer aboard the Hoon.)

RADM Schoemaker, Commander of Carrier Strike Group 9 assists in cutting the ceremonial  cake cutting on board his flagship, the USS Abraham Lincoln.

The Command Master Chief helps serve Christmas dinner aboard the Abraham Lincoln.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

SEASONS GREETINGS TO ALL!

Seasons greetings to all.  Enjoy the break and be prepared to hit the deck running upon your return on Tuesday, 3 January 2012.

"Maybe I can be a Middletown Cadet someday!"

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

ANNOUNCING THE FIRST ANNUAL LOCAL GILLLIAM AWARD COMPETITION

As mentioned in class, this year we will sponsor a local award competition open to all cadets mirroring the Navy's nationwide Gilliam Award competition.  All cadets are encouraged to participate.  Essays are due no later than 0730 Tuesday 31 January 2012.  Late inputs will absolutely not be accepted. 

See the page posted to the right for details.  Good luck!

Monday, December 19, 2011

A BIT OF NEWS AND A NEW CADET CHALLENGE

It has been mentioned that I have been remiss is updating this blog.  Sadly, this is true.  Here's a quick summary of the latest NJROTC news:
  • We're on track to attend the Linden Drill MLK Memorial Drill Meet on Monday, 16 January 2012. 
  • Our annual 500 ticket raffle raised over $1,200.
  • We will be hosting a pancake breakfast at Applebee's on Saturday, 14 January.
  • We are planning a Winter Festival at the American Legion on Thursday, 19 January.  Details to follow.
  • The ASVAB will be given here from 12 to 3 p.m. on Friday, 27 January.
  • Congratulations to those who have earned promotion to cadet seaman.  For the rest of you, why not?  We will select the first few freshmen cadet third class petty officers in February.
  • We may reconfigure the unit as a battalion after the break.  Stay tuned.
We're almost half way through the year now.  By now you've seen, or shortly will have seen, three sets of grades (first interim report, first marking period, and the interim report for the second marking period).  If you're not doing as well as you had hoped you would, you should at least know why.  There's plenty of help available. If your NJROTC average is not 85 or better, you probably aren't wearing your uniform regularly.  Failure to wear your uniform properly will really hurt your grade.  We expect you to wear the uniform correctly all day.  Included in the grade is your personal grooming (haircut and shave), jewelry and makeup, and cadet knowledge.  Are you ready?  Here are a few unacceptable reasons for not being in correct uniform:
  • "I didn't know."  (It's your responsibility to know.)
  • "I'm getting a haircut next week."  (Good for you, but your too late.)
  • "I got up too late."  (Should have set your alarm clock.)
  • "I was cold."  (Your short waist jacket is sufficient for wear anywhere in school.)
  • "I don't know where my shirt is."  (Wow!)
  • "My uniform is in the wash." (Your uniform is your responsibility.  I can't give your Mom a failing grade, so I guess I'll give it to  you.)
Here is a much shorter list of acceptable excuses:
  • I had an approved absence. (Must make it up.)
  • I had a scheduled field trip.
  • I have video proof that I was abducted by aliens who stole my uniform so they could infiltrate the Area Four headquarters and steal Commander Hankin's brain.  (Show me the video!)
Here's the latest cadet challenge:  This challenge is closed.  No winners.  No credit assigned.How sad.
  • For seniors:  How high is up.  Explain.  Half as high as twice as high.  Duh!
  • For juniors:  Why is a traditional nautical mile 2,000 feet long?  Because a traditional nautical mile consisted of 1,000 fathoms of 6 feet each.  You could have looked this up, you lazy cadets.
  • For the FROSH:  You are on a game show. You are presented with a choice of 3 doors: behind one is a luxury car, and behind the other two are nothing. The host asks you pick one of the doors. After you do this, as part of the game he opens one unpicked doors which he knows is empty. There are now only the door you picked and one remaining door which are unopened. You are asked if you would like to switch your choice. Should you switch? Yes.  When you pick the first time you have a 1/3 chance.  If you were to pick again, you would have a 1/2 chance.  (Caveat:  There are many who would question whether this choice is beneficial or necessary, but the math works.)
The above challenges will end at 0730 on Thursday, 23 December.  Good luck! 


The Commander contemplates interim grades.



Friday, December 9, 2011

CONGRATS AND A NEW CHALLENGE

First a somewhat belated BZ to those who recently passed the advancement exam and been promoted to the rank of Cadet Seaman (E-3).  So far, the count is four...I hope to see more next week.  And, by the way, if you aren't a Cadet Seaman Apprentice yet it is time for you to get with the program! 

No one solved the previous cadet challenge, but here's the latest:

A drawer contains 10 black and 10 brown socks that are all mixed up. What is the fewest number of socks you can take from the drawer without looking and be sure to get a pair of the same color?

This one is ridiculously easy, I look forward to an earl;y answer. One attempt each. No Guessing. This challenge will close at 0730 on 13 December. Good luck! Good job to Cadet Justin Marcano who correctly answered that you need take no more than three socks. For all you who are confused, just think about it!





Caught on Film:  Cadet Geagley whispers the correct answer to Cadet Marcano.

An unkown cadet watches Middletown's Drill Team arrive at Bethel.  He was not amused.