NEW WEEKLY CHALLENGE

Here are this week's challenges:

There were no winners this week.  Answers are in red.
For seniors:  What is the approximate area of the courtyard of the Pentagon building?  5 acres.

For juniors:  The officer responsible for training the crew in damage control techniques and for maintaining installed damage control equipment is the _______________________; he or she works for the _________________ department head.  Damage Control Assistant (DCA), who works for the Engineering Department Head.

For the FROSH:  What is your 4th general order.  (Must be recited correctly to CDR Wall and you must maintain military bear--no twitching or eye rolling!)  My FOURTH Genral Order is:  To report all calls from posts more distant from the guardhouse or quarterdeck than my own.

This challenge expires at 0730 1 October 2010.

NEW WEEKLY CHALLENGE

NO WINNERS THIS WEEK!  (Answers in RED.)

Here are a set of new challenges:

For Seniors: A ship is making 21 knots good against a head current of 3 knots. How far will it travel in 18 minutes? (RTQ.)  If your ship is making 21 knots good then your speed over ground is 21 knots and the 3 knot head current is irrelevant (I threw that in jsut to see if you were paying attention).  In 6 minutes at 21 knots you will go 2.1 NM's; therefore, in 18 minutes you will go three times that far, or 6.3 NM's.

For Juniors: From what mast do we fly the Union Jack when underway? (Careful.)  Trick question.  The Union Jack is NEVER flown underway i the United States Navy.

For FROSH: Describe the battle flag of the brig Niagara. Who was its captain and what is he famous for? The battle flag proudly proclaimed the dying words of CAPT Stephen Lawrence, "Don't Give Up the Ship!"  The captain of the brig Niagara was CAPT Oliver Hazard Perry, CAPT Lawrence's best friend.  CAPT Perry is famous for defeating the British in the Battle of Lake Erie (1813) and thus preserving the old Pacific Northwest for the United States.

The first cadet in each category with the correct answer will win a soft drink from the MHS vending machine of their choice. This offer expires at 0735 Monday, 27 September 2010. You must see CDR Wall with the correct answer by then--NO GUESSING!

FROSH CHALLENGE

For any freshman or sophomore, claim your prize! There's a soft drink from the MHS vending machine of your choice if you are the first FROSH to correctly define and describe any two of the three following terms:

• Weather deck--Any deck exposed to the weather.
• Athwartship--Perpindicular to the ship's centerline.
• Belay--To make a line secure to an object so that it does not run free. By extension, an order to stop anything as in, "Belay all that bellyaching and get to work!"

This challenge expires at 1500 (that's 3 PM for you landlubbers) on 24 SEP.

And the Winner is...Cadet Master Chief Petty Officer Jessica Glickman! Everyone else, stand by for the next challenge.

SITREP: WEEK ONE

We have now completed our first full week of school. A few comments:

1. Unit size. As we figure out who is going to be in the unit and who is going to be dropped, it looks like we will have about 140 to 145 cadets. Warning: If you serious, drop the course before you hurt your academic average. If you do not make the weekly inspection, or if you skip 10th period, you will fail.
2. Classroom discipline. Pretty good, especially, I am happy to say, on the part of our new cadets. One comment: Don't think that the instructors can stop class to get you ribbons, check on your trousers, etc. If the situation is obviously hectic, come back later.
3. First personnel inspection, Thursday, 16 September. Mixed. Only 67 people were accounted for. Many cadets skipped this MANDATORY event. Many others really need to spend some time and attention on their shoes.
4. Uniform issue. In progress. Uniforms will be coming back from the tailor early next week--be sure to check if your items are back so you can be in uniform on our inspection on the 23rd.
5. Independent studies. If you are taking NS3 or 4 independent studies, or if you are taking NS2 10th period, your first weekly assignment has been posted and is due on Friday, 24 September. Don't fall behind.

"Bravo Zulu" on a good start to what should be a great year. Keep charging!

MEET, EAT, AND BE HAPPY: APPLEBEE'S PANCAKE BREAKFAST!

The MHS NJROTC will be conducting a pancake breakfast at Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 12 Orange Plaza Lane, Middletown, on Saturday, 25 September from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. Come on out and join us--$5 buys you a plate, coffee, tea, or juice, and refills on the pancakes. You will be served by our smiling Middie cadets, so come early and bring the family. (The images are from our 2008 Applebee's Pancake Breakfast.)

UNIT GOALS FOR 2010-2011

Check out our unit goals for school year 2010-2011:

1. Have at least 25% of the unit listed on either the Middletown High School High Honor Roll or the Honor Roll.

For calculation purposes, the count will be based on cumulative standings through the first semester. Unit enrollment as of the end of the first semester will serve as the baseline. To count, cadets must be active in the program and in good standing. BOCES or CETEC honors will not be applied.

2. Cadets shall perform a total of at least 2,500 hours of valid community service during the period of the annual report (1 April 2010 through 31 March 2011).

“Valid community service” is as defined in the annual report. Essentially, such service benefits the community beyond the unit and is performed by cadets as cadets. For, example, community service provided as a member of a church, as a member of another youth organization, or as a firefighter, while commendable, will not count, nor would assisting with unit fundraising.

3. The Unit shall participate in at least two (2) competitive drill meets during the school year and win, place, or show (i.e., take 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place) in any three competitive events.

Our in-house drill meet, the annual inspection, or any other non-competitive meet will not count. A “competitive event” is an event that counts toward the overall standing at the meet. Exhibition and trick events will not count.


4. Have at least 60% of the unit qualify to wear the Physical Fitness ribbon according to the new President’s Physical Fitness Challenge rules.
For calculation purposes, the number of cadets in the unit will be based on our enrollment on the day of the annual inspection. Only cadets who actually participate in the annual inspection will be counted toward the goal. A cadet who qualifies for a gold or silver lamp may also be counted toward the requirement for lower level awards.

NEW CADET ORIENTATION 26 and 27 AUGUST

A short orientation will be offered for incoming 9th graders who plan on taking NJROTC in the 2010-2011 school year. This is a great way to get to know the program and your fellow cadets. Nothing is special is required--all you have to do is show up at the high school main entrance!

The orientation consists of two half-day sessions and will be conducted from 8 a.m. until about noon on Thursday the 26th and Friday the 27th of August. We will discuss the NJROTC program, participation requirements, grooming standards, and how to succeed in high school. We will introduce basic drill and demonstrate the proper wear of the cadet uniform. Transportation WILL NOT be provided.

Please call (845) 326-1578 if you have any questions.