THE ESSENCE OF DESTINY

Watch your thoughts for they become words. Choose your words for they become actions. Understand your actions for they become habit. Study your habits for they become your character. Develop your character for it becomes your destiny.

(Often attributed to the 6^th Century BCE Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu)

ASPIRANT INSPECTIONS

Do you want to have a billet next year?  If so, you aspire to rank and are therefore an aspirant.  Aspirants will fall out for a separate inspection at the uniform inspections and musters held weekly in the theater.  The first such aspirant inspection will be tomorrow, 27 November.  Tomorrow will be for current sophomores and juniors only, next week and thereafter we will inspect all aspirants.  

Bond Volunteer Aspirants at the Citadel.

NEW CNSTC ANNOUNCED

As of the change of command on 4 December, the new Commander of teh Naval Service Training Command will be Rear Admiral (Sel.) Dee L. Mewbourne, USN.   Rear Adm. (select) Mewbourne was raised in Ormond Beach, Fla. He graduated in 1982 from the United States Naval Academy and was designated a naval flight officer in December 1983. He later earned his master’s degree in Business Administration from Colorado State University. He is an honor graduate of the United States Naval Test Pilot School and completed the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program, Air Command and Staff College, and Joint Forces Staff College.

Mewbourne’s command tours include: Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139 embarked in USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), USS Nashville (LPD 13), USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).

At sea, Mewbourne completed sea assignments flying the A-6E Intruder aircraft in Attack Squadron (VA) 34 embarked in USS America (CV 66); VA-75 embarked in USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67); Carrier Air Wing (CVW) Three embarked in Eisenhower; and as the executive officer of VA-196 embarked in USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). After transitioning to the EA-6B Prowler aircraft, he served as the executive officer of VAQ 139 embarked in Lincoln. He also served as the executive officer in USS George Washington (CVN 73).

Ashore, Mewbourne served a flight instructor in VA-42, the East Coast A-6E Fleet Replacement Squadron, and project officer at the Strike Aircraft Test Directorate. Later, he served as military assistant and trip coordinator for the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense; chief of staff for Navy Cyber Forces; and on the staff of Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic.

Mewbourne’s awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (four awards), Meritorious Service Medal (five awards), Air Medal with Combat "V", Strike/Flight Air Medal (two awards), and various other personal and unit awards and campaign medals. While at the Naval Academy, he received the Carl Vinson Leadership Award. Upon completion of initial flight training in the A-6E Intruder aircraft at VA-42 in 1985 he was selected as the Replacement Bombardier/Navigator of the Year. Two years later, he was selected the East Coast A-6 community’s Junior Intruder of the Year. In August 2012, he was awarded the Truman Foundation Leadership Award for inspirational leadership.

Mewbourne has deployed supporting Operations El Dorado Canyon, Provide Comfort, Deny Flight, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, Enduring Freedom, and the 2006 Lebanon War. He has accumulated over 3,500 total flight hours in 47 various type aircraft and over 1,000 arrested landings on 13 carrier decks.

A PROBLEM OF SOME SIGNIFICANCE

Here's a tough cadet challenge.  Because this is significantly more involved than our standard challenges, the challenge will extend through the 2nd marking period and wrap-up at 0730 on Monday, 28 January 2013.   The challenge is to create a one- to two- minute video that

• explains a problem of some significance to and describes how it impacts you, your family, your community or the global population;
• describes a new innovation or solution that could solve or impact the problem;
• explains the science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics behind your innovation; and
• illustrates how your innovation could both address the everyday problem you've identified and have a broader impact locally or globally.

There will be a $25 prize for the best effort and this will count double toward qualfication for the end of the year competition. 

A problem of some significance.

GILLIAM AWARD COMPETITION ANNOUNCED

Every year the Navy sponsors the Joseph C. Gilliam Academic Achievement Award.  The award is based on overall academic achievement as exemplified by one's grades, class standing, faculty recommendation, and an original 500 to 750 word essay written on an assigned topic.  This year the topic is "Describe how the Navy Junior ROTC has provided a foundation that has allowed you to more fully develop as a citizen and a future leader in your community."  The essay should highlight examples of positive reinforcement, leadership challenges and goal attainment that are attributable to the lessons learned and experiences of NJROTC. Provide details and feel free to use personal experiences and examples in the essay.

While it may seem like it, this is not strictly an essay contest.  The winner need not have the best essay.  The best candidate will be a well-rounded senior, but any cadet may apply.  I will select the best overall candidate and nominate him or her to Area Four.  The prize is $1,000 (minus taxes) and one winner will be selected from among the approximately fifty schools competing in Area Four.  The last winner to be selected from Middletown High School was Cadet Marquis Cabrera in 2006.  Marquis received a check for $856 ($1,000 minus taxes) and went on to attend Northeastern University.  He served as a White House Intern between his junior and senior year of college and went on to found FosterSkills, a not-for-profit corporation that seeks to support children in foster care and those who foster them. 

MHS BEAT PORT--BRAVO ZULU MIDDIES!

In the Navy the signal "BRAVO ZULU" means "well done."

BRAVO ZULU to our varsity football team for rolling over Port Jervis 30 to 0 in the 134th Erie Bell Game.

"Go Middies!"

CADET CHALLENGE--YET AGAIN

Congratulations to Cadets Migliori (the "g" sounds like a "s") and Esquivel who both correctly determined that the puzzle below refers to Jack Spratt.  In fairness, Sam got it first.

Congratulations to Cadet Misliori who provided the correct answer to the previous challenge (the answer, as a couple of other cadets also knew, is Loki).  Here's a new challenge:

Complications arose during an investigation of dietary influence; one researcher was unable to assimilate adipose tissue, and another was unable to consume tissue consisting chiefly of muscle fiber. By a reciprocal arrangement between the two researchers, total consumption of the viands under consideration was achieved, thus leaving the original container of the viands devoid of contents.

The challenge?  Name the nursery rhyme.  This challenge will expire at 0730, Monday, 26 November.

NEW CHALLENGE

Here's a new cadet challenge:

I am a mischievous deity, the second part of my name is pronounced the same as a tool used for unlocking doors. Who am I?

This challenge will end at 0730 Monday, 26 November.  Good luck.

BETHEL: IT WAS A SLOW START, BUT...

On Saturday, 17 November the MHS NJROTC Drill Team competed in the 9th annual Bethel High School NJROTC Invitational Drill Meet against a field of 12 other schools.  After a slow and disorganized start, we ended up doing rather well: 

• The Marksmanship Team (Samantha Migliori, Derek Fitzgerald, and Tyler Jetjomlong) came in first overall and swept the field coming in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd as individuals.
• The Academics Team came in third.  They missed just one question--there was a tie for first and second place between two teams that missed no questions.
• The New Cadet Color Guard (Alexander Velazquez, Jacob Moody, Tyler Jetjomlong, and Christian Bailey) placed third in the new cadet division.  Good job to all, especially Cadet Vasquez, who commanded.
• Our new cadets placed 2nd overall in the new cadet division--a strong indication that they consistently placed high in all the events.

The common comment from the judges was that our senior armed, senior unarmed, and new cadet platoon lacked "snap, pop, and polish."  That being said, we looked better than we have in recent drill meets and we are definitely on the up-ramp.  Want to win more next time?  Get really serious about practicing the way you will perform--pay real attention to the fine points.

Here are a few photos:

I don't know which is better, the expressiopn on the CO's face when she is getting chewed out or...

...Ferguson smirking about it!

Jessica gets a cookie!

New cadet inspection

Senior inspection

Air rifle competition

Senior unarmed

Senior Color Guard

Samantha (the "g" sounds like a "s") Migliori and Corrinne (two r's and two n's, please) Jewell head to the bus.
(We later determined that Migliori was transporting parts of two jeeps, a small refrigerator, and the left wing from a F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet fighter-attack aircraft..)

A COUPLE NEW PHOTOS FROM THE PARADE

Courtesy of Mrs. Glickman, three more images from among the many taken during the NYC Veterans' Day Parade. 

Cadets with Miss America International



A good shot of the color guard, banner detail, and Middie NJROTC marching unit



If you look closely you can see where King Kong climbed the building.
(You know he did, 'cause he chased away all the pigeons.  You know he was there, because you don't see any pigeons, right?)

NEW CHALLENGE

Congratulations to Cadet Samantha Migliori who correctly determined that the answer is 19. 

Here's a new challenge for the logically or mathematically inclined among you:

At a classic car auction, thirty buyers were present. Ten of the buyers bought fewer than 6 cars. Eight of the buyers bought more than 7 cars. Five buyers bought more than 8 cars. One buyer bought more than 9 cars. What is the total number of buyers who bought 6, 7, 8, or 9 cars?

  This challenge will close at 0730 20 November 2012.  The winner will receive, along with the respect of their classmates, a tasty box of Milk Duds. 

A classic car auction

VETERANS' DAY PARADE PHOTOS

On Sunday, 11 November, Middletown High School cadets participated in the annual NYC Veterans' Day Parade.  Here are a few photos and pertinent comments:



Two blond girls stare into the sun...kind of like turkeys stare into the rain.



Master Sergeant's evil twin

Cadet Barone and the Park Service Bald Eagle



Our color guard



Coast Guard recruits from Cape May Training Station...they are almost as good as the Navy, but they don't like deep water.



The ceremonial first push-up of the annual push-up challenge.  Between now and Memorial Day we will do at least one push up for each of the 58,627 names on the Vietnam Memorial Wall.



Our cadets render honors at the reviewing stand.

Our color guard renders honors to the Grand Marshall.

What's better than this--it was a sunny day and for a few short moments nearly everyone was in step.

CADET STANDARDS

Gentlemen, time to square-away.  If you are in uniform, ensure you you have a proper haircut.  Look like "A" and not like "B":

"A"

"B"





And ladies, please go easy on the lipstick!



NEW CADET CHALLENGE

Congrats to Cadet Esquivel who found the coin behind the Middie Bear's paw print on the bulletin board in the back of the classroom.  BZ?

Here's the first part of a multi-part cadet challenge.  I have hidden a coin around the NJROTC classroom, your task is to find it.  You will not, should not, and MUST NOT disturb any personal areas or equipment.  The coin will not be hidden in a desk, LCD projector, or any similar place; it will be hidden from easy view, but in a common area.

Your first hint:  Look on the "best" page of the book written by the old China Station hand.

USS Tutuila, Chungking, circa 1925