ANNUAL INSPECTION POSTPONED

The annual inspection planned for Thursday, 1 March has been cancelled due to the expected marginal weather conditions.  The inspection will be rescheduled for a date to be determined.  Take the delay as an opportunity to look even better when the inspection actually happens.

Stand-by for news as it happens.

SLOW, SOOO SLOW!

Since no one has yet found my penny, I have an entirely new challenge for you:  There lurks in the gym one of the many "animals about the ship."  What is it?  Good luck.  The penny challenge will, of course, also remain active.

FOUR STAR LEADERSHIP

FOUR STAR LEADERSHIP WITH GENERAL TOMMY FRANKS is a world-class summer leadership program that allows 50 of the top high school students in the US to have a face-to-face experience with national and international leaders. King Abdullah of Jordan, Governor Mike Huckabee, Governor Mary Fallin, General Tommy Franks, Secretary Jack Kemp, Governor Bill Richardson, Judge Andrew Napolitano, Senator James Inhofe and Olympic gold-medalist Michelle Smith are a few of the program participants over the past three years. The National Center for Policy Analysis, Oklahoma Christian University and the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute & Museum are partnering to create this opportunity for our next generation of leaders.


Students receive the same policy briefings world leaders receive and then are challenged to address those issues individually in a persuasive speech and editorial, and collaboratively in a Student Congress format. The program includes teambuilding exercises, spontaneous problem solving and coaching in persuasive speaking and writing. Students have an opportunity to gain scholarships, internships and much more. When students win a scholarship for themselves, they also win a financial award for the school that nominated them to attend.

The program is built around the core principles of character, common vision, communication and caring that guided General Tommy Franks through a 38-year career. These principles form a platform of discovery for the next generation of America's Leaders.  If you are interested and want more information visit the following link:  http://fourstarleader.com/.

Still interested?  See Commander Wall for more info and assistance.  [Thanks to Cadet Fitzgerald for catching the typo.]

THE HIDDEN CHALLENGE

The penny remains hidden.  The next hint:  ...and neither is it yellow.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Cadet Jessica Glickman who was selected by Commander Hankins, the NJROTC Area Four Manager< to attend this year's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) seminar at the University of San Diego in July.  Jessica's air fare, room and board, and tuition will be covered by the Navy and she will attend with a select group of other top-flight cadets from around the country.  Here are a few pictures from last year's seminar attended by Cadet Tiffany Parker:

This is why they don't let you roll the windows down.

Part of the seminar in front of a real tree.

That's the Pacific Ocean (If it were Loch Ness you'd be able to see Nessie!)



Field Day




Graduation.  Fooled 'em again!



THE OLD AND THE NEW

New.  Congratulations to those cadets who participated in the drill meet at Minisink Valley High School last Saturday.  We came in first in unarmed squad (commanded by Cadet Parker), took second in the personnel inspection (commanded by Cadet Ferguson), and third in armed squad (commanded by Cadet Rutland).  BZ!  Pictures to follow when available.

Old.  To date no one has identified the mysterious substance found in the third caster.  This challenge will remain open until solved.

Old.  To date no one has found the penny.  Jeez Louise, could I make it any plainer?  Here's another hint:  it isn't painted red.

New.  Here's a new challenge: What is between the Devil and the deep blue sea?  Inquiring minds want to know?  This challenge will remain open until I tire of confusing cadets.  Don't hold your breath!

ANNUAL INSPECTION 1 MARCH

As I hope each of you now knows, our annual inspection will be conducted on Thursday, 1 March. 

Are you ready?  How many of you actually know your general knowledge, not just the easy stuff, but the General Orders to the Sentry?  Really?  How about General Order Number Six?   Are your shoes shined?  Again, mostly not.  Every week I hear excuses, but don't see much progress. 

Have you ranked up?  Most of our 9th graders are still Cadet Recruits.  Yeow!  Aren't you as good as last year's class?  If you're a sophomore, junior, or senior, what are you doing to help others?  The more senior you are, the more we expect of you.  Be a leader--do something besides just goof around with the freshmen.  You were whatever rank you have because you were placed in a position of trust and because we expected you to perform.  Are you?  What have you done, specifically, to help a fellow cadet figure it out? 

I've shown you some pictures of previous inspecctions at MHS; here are a few pictures from other inspections...

Riverhead High School NJROTC, 2010-2011

A Citadel freshman (a "knob") is inspected by a junior.  Note the exaggerated position of attention called "bracing."

The annual President's Inspection at the Citadel.  This event typically last about two hours. 



The Royal Sea Cadet Corps parades for inspection.



A United States Naval Sea Cadet Inspection.  (Yes, the cadet pictured is actually shorter than Cadet Glickman, but then he's only eight years old!)



Personnel inspection at the Nationals.  Don't let this happen to you!  (Notice also, to her credit, the young cadet is maintaining her military bearing.)



GLOBAL JUNIOR NATIONAL SECURITY GAME

For the sixth year the senior class is participating in "Global Junior," a complex national security decision making game in which the participants will develop and present a national security strategy.  The strategy they develop must accord with national values and must be paid for considering a resource-constrained budget.  They will be faced by a similar strategy developed by the evil Red Cell adversaries (the exact nature of who the Red Cell will remain unknown to the players until discerned or announced).  Double-blind play will proceed under the control of the umpire (me) with disclosures made in the form of intel briefs or newscast as appropriate.  The purpose of the game is to explore some of the concepts we have covered in class thorough the year in the context of a fictionalized but largely true to life dynamic scenario. 

Good luck!  You all have young eyes--squint and you should be able to read the caption.



    

STOP THE PRESSES! (FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING, OF COURSE)

Just this morning Cadet Sandrea "Voodoo Princess" King became the 17,000th visitor from the United States to visit this site since its inception.  Hoo-Yah! 

Incidentally, over the months we have had numerous visitors from other countries including Russia, Serbia, Japan, China, and Brazil--I've never been sure why.  All are welcome, but only a select few can be Middletown Cadets!

The Voodoo Princess in full regalia.
(For the record, this picture was not taken at the high school.  We don't allow chickens here.)

IDENTIFY THE KNOT CHALLENGE

Congratulations to Cadet A. J. Geagley who correctly identified the knot as a cross knot.  The knot has various names, and cross knot is but one of the most common; the specific name I was looking for based on the clue I gave below was "Japanese (or Chinese) Square Knot."  [My hint refers to the fact that in the U.S. the square knot is what most mariners refer to as the reef knot.  Obviously this was not the clearest of clues, but then it wasn't meant to be.]  And by the way, how come no one has found my penny? 

Here's a more graphic challenge for those of you still grappling with the penny:



Identify this knot.  Here's a hint:  It's not a reef knot!

 Incidentally, hints # 1 and # 2 in the penny challenge were solved successfully.  One of you classmates successfully cracked the code and found hint # 3 behind the plan.  Good luck on finding the penny.

THE CHALLENGE, CONTINUED

Read this:  It's not in the library.  And stay out of the library if you don't have a pass!

Next hint:  Sometimes you must look behind the plan.

A DEVILISHLY CLEVER CHALLENGE

I have been asked by several cadets to provide a new challenge.  Yippie-skippie, to think I get paid for this!  The challenge will be in the form of a treasure hunt.  I have taken a token (actually a penny, which I marked so that is is uniquely recognizable) and hidden it somewhere in the building or on the school grounds.  I will provide a series of hints until the token is located and returned to me.  Since this will be a multi-part challenge, I will offer a $10 prize.  No outside clues will be given.  Anything I tell one person, I will publish here so everyone knows.  Here are the rules:

1. The token will be placed in an area accessible to everyone.  It will not, for example, be placed in a girl's bathroom, a boy's bathroom, a locker room, or a locked space.
2. The token will not be placed in a private area such as a teacher's desk, file cabinet, or some similar location. 
3. The token will be placed in an area where it will not be likely to be found or disturbed accidentally.  I will check periodically during the course of the challenge to ensure it is still where it should be.
4. The token will not be placed in a dangerous or bizarre location--I will not hide it where you have to place yourself at any risk to get it.  No climbing, crawling, slithering, or fire walking will be required.
5. If you find the token, bring it to me for verification.  If you find it, you will win the prize.  If you bring it to me wearing a pirate costume with a parrot on your shoulder, you will win a BIG prize.
6. Any cadet who exercises poor judgment or violates school rules in pursuit of this prize will be liable to appropriate consequences.  DO NOT DO ANYTHING STUPID. 

Here is your first clue as to its location:  Without one, a goal is but a dream.


Get it?



TAKE THE CURE!

For sick fish.

PICTURES FROM PAST ORIENTATION TRIPS

Here are a few pics from past orientation trips:

Smithsonian Air and Space Annex.  The Enola Gay, the aircraft that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima is the silver aircraft in the mid-ground of the picture. 



SR-71 Blackbird at the Air and Space Annex




The shuttle Enterprise at the Annex




Interior of 16" gun turret on USS Massachusetts.  Pictured at the periscope is (I believe) Corrine Jewell.




Control room of a U.S. nuclear submarine (mock-up).  Pictured is Robert Lucchese, class of 2010.



Ship's wheel, USCG Eagle, America's Tall Ship.  The Eagle was a prize of war seized from the Germans at the end of World War Two and used by the Coast Guard as a training ship for cadets ever since.