HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Chicken and Weasel

Apparently, weasels prefer Skittles to chicken.  Who knew?  Happy New Year!  

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

MHS NJROTC FLAG DETAIL RECOGNIZED

On December 7th the Middletown High School Flag Detail participated in the Pearl Harbor commemoration ceremony at Middletown's American Legion Post.  The Post Commander stopped by yesterday to present us with a plaque and pictures of the event.  The Legionnaires and other attendees were extremely appreciative of our flag detail's exceptional performance. 

UNIFORM DAY TUESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2016

Be there, Be Square.

BY SPECIAL DECREE CADET MAY CHANGE OUT OF UNIFORM AFTER THEIR ROTC CLASS.

CADET CHALLENGE # 6

Here's an easy challenge (SUPPO is feeling too challenged and wants something easy):

How many wheels does a bicycle have if you call the seat a wheel?  'Splain.  ...never mind.  She got it right.  (The answer:  Two.  Calling the seat a wheel doesn't make it so.  Next question:  I changed the form of the riddle so it couldn't be Googled.  What was the original, and who is famous for it?)

SPIRIT WEEK--TUESDAY IS TWIN DAY

Show your unit spirit by wearing your uniform with extra pride on twin day on Tuesday, 20 December.

Darn Right!

RECENT PHOTOS FROM NYC, THE USMMA, CADET INSPECTIONS, AND THE FLAG FOLDING DETAIL

Push-ups at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal

Waiting for the ferry and entertaining the locals.

The oldest Staten Island ferry in service

The "Million Dolar View"

Arrival at the United States Merchant Marine Academy

Forming for chow.

Coast Guard port security detail.

By the M/V Kings Pointer

Former cadets Jonathan Roopchand (now of Norwich University) and Jacob Moody (now of the USMC) inspect cadets during a weekly uniform inspection.  

Cadet Dillon Ortiz of The Citadel (MHS '16) inspects cadets.

Our Flag Detail performs the flag-folding ceremony at the American Legion's commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack.

SHOE SHINING CONTEST

On Monday, January 9th (NOTE:  The date has changed from Tuesday to Monday.), 2017 we will sponsor a formal shoe shining competition as follows:

• The competition will be open to all first, second, and third year cadets and will be conducted in two divisions, one for first year cadets, one for upper-class cadets.  Cadets will compete only against those in their division.  There will be one and only one winner in each division.  Each winner will receive a $25.00 prize.
• "Blind grading" procedures will be used to ensure fairness.  Shoes will be tied together and a 3 x 5 card with the contestants name will be inserted into the toe of the right shoe.  Graders will not know who's shoe they are grading.
• Each shoe will be independently grade on a scale of 1-10 by three judges.  The scores will be averaged together.  Grading criteria will be:
• Glossiness and reflectivity as measured on the top of the shoe's toe box and outboard quarter using a standard ruler to gauge the depth of shine.
• All-around shine on the uppers, sides, and heel areas.
• Cleanliness of the edge and heel.
• Proper lacing per the CFM. 
• Lack of IPs.
• Flaws in the leather will not count against the cadet.

NAVY ANNOUNCES NJROTC JOSEPH C. GILLIAM ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD COMPETITION

Every year, the Navy conducts the prestigious Joseph C. Gilliam Academic Achievement Award competition sponsored by the Admiral Senn Foundation.  The competition is open to all interested cadets.  Although the award is a competition focused on the cadet's overall academic worthiness, a significant part of the decision is based the supporting essay written by each contestant.  This year's topic is:

"Describe your thoughts about the flag of the United States of America, and what it means to you as a citizen of this country."

Background information:   Current events have brought competing ideals concerning the flag into the public eye.  On the one hand, there are those who, as a matter of protest have kneeled for the National Anthem or have burned the flag in protest under their protected rights covered in the First Amendment.  On the other, there is a large and highly vocal portion of the population which takes deep offense at these actions and there have been several proposed laws/amendments to the Constitution which have aimed to make desecration of the flag illegal.   NJROTC is a citizenship development program; as a citizen, how do you view the U.S. Flag?  Your essay should highlight examples of what you believe and why, as well as how your experience in NJROTC has affected your beliefs.

The essay should be typewritten, and between 500 and 750 words.  The award amount, if any, will be determined by the Admiral Senn Foundation and will be provided to the selectees from the eleven areas, with acceptable essays.  All cadets are encouraged to submit essays void of incomplete sentences, improper grammar, misspellings, strikeovers, and the like.   

Of particular note is the fact that a school must submit a credible Gilliam award nomination in order to be competitive for Distinguished Unit recognition.  There is a cash prize--last year it was $1,000.00.

Interested?  Submit your essay to the Senior Naval Science Instructor by 27 January 2017. We will review all submissions and based on the quality of the essay and the strength of the individual's overall standing academically and militarily decide on the best package to forward to Area Four for competition with the other schools.  We will forward only one package, although we may award a local prize to the runners-up.  

Questions?  You already know who to ask.  

  

SEA CRUISE RIBBON

If you attended our trip to the Merchant Marine Academy on Tuesday, 6 December, you are eligible for the sea cruise ribbon IF you complete the Google form posted on the unit classroom.  You have until Friday, 16 February to complete all the requirements, including the knot tying.

If you squint, you can make out the vessel's name.

Visit here for easy-to-follow help with tying knots, bends, and hitches:
 http://www.animatedknots.com/indexboating.php#ScrollPoint.

Visit here for more information:  http://www.siferry.com/currentvessels.html.  For electronics, you can say commercial navigation radar, GPS, and bridge-to-bridge radio.

ANNUAL INSPECTION IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER

Our annual inspection will be held on Tuesday, 7 February--seems as if that's months away, but it isn't.  February 7th will be here before you know it.  The inspection is an extremely important part of determining what schools get recognized as distinguished units and which schools receive academic honors.  We've put a great amount of effort into maintaining our status, so let's make sure that we send the right message to Commander Miller when he sees us for the first time.  We want him to leave with no doubt that we are proud, capable, and most deserving of recognition as a Distinguished Unit with Academic Honors.

Everyone will be inspected, so start getting your uniform squared away and learn your cadet general knowledge.  We will select the top 12 cadets and award them the exemplary personal appearance ribbon at the pass-in-review ceremony following the inspection.  Here are the criteria:  (1) You must receive a grade of "Outstanding" during the personnel inspection, (2) You must wear your uniform correctly and with pride throughout the year, and (3) You must otherwise be a cadet in good standing.

Commander (Retired) Jimmie L. Miller

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

MIDDLETOWN DRILL TEAM TAKES #1 AT THE BETHEL INVITATIONAL QUALIFYING DRILL MEET

Middletown High School's drill team came in # 1 overall at the annual Bethel High School  JROTC invitational drill meet held on Saturday, 19 November 2016.  Our cadets came in FIRSTin academics and rifle marksmanship, third in armed platoon, third in unarmed platoon, and third in personnel inspection.  Our new cadets, who compete in a different category, placed third in the color guard competition.

Of special note:  Cadet Jolese Martin came in second out of a field of 800 cadets in the individual drill competition.

Middletown is Number 1!

LAZY CADETS SLACK-OFF AGAIN!

The 5th cadet challenge expired today without any submissions. Boo on you all!

Lazy little weasels!  

CADET CHALLENGE # 5

Here is cadet challenge #5:

There's a story here.  Tell it in one paragraph.

This challenge will close out at 0730, Friday, 18 November.  There will be a prize.  Spelling and grammar count.

Good luck!

SME: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?

Are you struggling with a subject?  Talk with your teacher and seek other help.  Check out our list of Subject Matter Experts" (SMEs).  SMEs can help because they have done well in the course(s) you are struggling with.  Don't be shy about asking for help, and don't wait too long.  (One other bit of free advice:  Don't be lazy.  School is tough, but it isn't going away.  Don't fail to turn in assignments, you're not in middle school any longer.)

CADET CHALLENGE #4: SOLVED!

Congratulations to Cadet Araceli Reyes who solved cadet challenge #4.  Here's the solution:

The captain says he will take 98 coins, and will give one coin to the third most experienced  pirate and another coin to the most junior or newest pirate. If there were 2 pirates, pirate 2 being the most senior, he would just vote for himself and that would be half of the vote, so he's obviously going to keep all the money for himself .If there were 3 pirates, pirate 3 has to convince at least one other person to join in his plan. Pirate 3 would take 99 gold coins and give 1 coin to pirate 1. Pirate 1 knows if he does not vote for pirate 3, then he gets nothing, so he is going to vote for this plan. If there were 4 pirates, pirate 4 would give 1 coin to pirate 2, and pirate 2 knows if he does not vote for pirate 4, then he gets nothing,so he is going to vote for this plan. If there are 5 pirates, pirates 1 & 3 would vote for the captain or they face the chance of getting nothing or risking death. So the captain will have to get 98 coins in order to not risk his life 

This was a tough one.  The next one will be a bit easier.

CADET CHALLENGE #4

Here's Cadet Challenge #4:

Five pirates have obtained 100 gold coins and have to divide up the loot. The pirates are all extremely intelligent, treacherous and selfish (especially the captain).

The captain always proposes a distribution of the loot. All pirates vote on the proposal, and if half the crew or more go "Aye", the loot is divided as proposed, as no pirate would be willing to take on the captain without superior force on their side.

If the captain fails to obtain support of at least half his crew (which includes himself), he faces a mutiny, and all pirates will turn against him and make him walk the plank. The pirates start over again with the next senior pirate as captain.

What is the maximum number of coins the captain can keep without risking his life?

This challenge will expire at 0730 Monday, 14 November.  Be prepared to 'splain your answer.  This one is tough--good luck, weasels.

CADET CHALLENGE #3 HAS BEEN SOLVED!

Congratulations to Cadet LTJG Sara Rivera who solved cadet challenge #2.  The answer:  The minute hand would have to be 10 miles long (9.6 miles and change if you use the formula and a $200 calculator).  Here is an explanation:

• The end of the minute hand must travel 60 MPH.  Since it must make one circuit of the clock face in an hour (because it's a minute hand, Einsteins), the circumference of the clock must equal 60 miles (to travel 60 MPH, you must cover 60 miles in one hour).
• Knowing the circumference of the face, you can apply the formula for determining the circumference of a circle and solve algebraically for the radius--that's what Sara did.  Or, you can apply a little practical math.  Since you know that the circumference is 6 times the radius, you can work it backwards and, knowing that the radius is 60 miles, you can easily calculate that the radius (the length of the minute hand) is 10 miles.

For her efforts, Sara received a handsome, presentation quality MHS NJROTC pen.

  

NAVY NEWS

Click here for the current Status of the Navy:  Where's Waldo?

PHOTOS FROM THE IN-HOUSE DRILL MEET, SATURDAY 22 OCTOBER

Here are some images from the In-House Drill Meet conducted last Saturday:

BM2(SW) Ferguson (MHS '13) inspects Cadet Adrian Ramos

Sgt Tibedeoux inspects Cadet Commander Jose Ramos

Sgt T. inspects Cadet Iarussi

Unarmed reports in.

Cadet Michael Jones, Drill Team Commander and Commander of the Unarmed Drill Team reports in.

Guidon Bearer Cadet Jose Ramos

Unarmed Drill

Cadet Sara Rivera commanding armed drill

Armed drill.

IKO

New Cadet Color Guard

Varsity Color Guard

CADET CHALLENGE #3

Here is Cadet Challenge #3:

You want to ride the hands of time by creating a clock such that you could sit on the end of the minute hand and, while the clock is keeping time accurately, move at 60 miles per hour.  The question is this:  how long would the minute hand have to be?  There is no trick here--the clock is not on a train moving 60 miles an hour or anything like that.  The clock would be a standard clock similar to the one pictured, although you may picture it laying flat.

This challenge ends at 0730 Friday 4 November.  You must be prepared to explain your answer--guessing is for losers.  There will be a prize, but it will be smaller than was offered last time around because no one bother to submit an entry.  Lazy cadet.

Offered for your consideration.