NEW CONTEST

Congratulations to Cadet A. J. Geagley for his input "Fuji worker, gut wagon lurker, sixteen" which was selected as the winning entry. 

Since no one, not one, not man nor beast, submitted an example of three minute fiction, I am now offering the same prize for an even easier:  this contest requires an autobiography of exactly six words. Here are a couple of examples:

After Harvard, had baby with crackhead.


- Robin Templeton

70 years, few tears, hairy ears.

- Bill Querengesser

 I'm not recommending having a baby with a crackhead, nor am I endorsing hairy ears, but get with it.  Entries should be submitted to CDR Wall.  Ensure your name is clearly included. This contest will close at 0730 Monday, 2 April.  The prize will be $25.00.  Good luck.

Although the cat is not 70 years old, it does have hairy ears--presumably a bad thing.

COMMUNITY GARDENS

On Saturday, 24 March our cadets helped build a community garden.  Spring, as they say, has sprung in Middletown.

Roberto checks the want ads.

Roberto found a good deal, now everyone checks the want ads! (Except Marlena, who is apparently confused.)





THE DAY THEY H-BOMBED LOS ANGELES

Unfortunately the three minute fiction challenge is closed. 

First there were 70, but before that there were 599.  Figure it out!

WISNER AVENUE CLEAN UP

On Sunday, 18 March, MHS NJROTC cadets cleaned up our adopted road, Wisner Avenue, which is now a little slice of paradise.  Thanks to all who helped make Middletown better.



Cadets clean the corner of Wisner and Carpenter.




"Hey guys!  Cool--I found a bottle!"




The minnow prepares to pounce.




"No, watch carefully this time--it works like this..."




All this and a bag of garbage, too!



TAKING OFF THE PACK

"Retired on Active Duty" (ROAD), "On the ROAD Program," "taking off the pack," and, my favorite, "FIGMO" ("F***, I got my orders!") are all terms used in the military to describe someone who stops putting out their best efforts as they approach transfer or retirement.  None of these terms reflect well on the individual to whom they refer. 

I mention this here because as the weather turns warm and summer draws near there will inevitably be a number of you who roll over and quit trying.  It is very hard to rebuild a good reputation once you have earned a bad one.  Be careful!

ANNUAL BILLET SELECTION PROCESS ANNOUNCED

Our annual billet selection process has been announced. Interested in applying for a leadership billet next year?  Visit the following link for details:  https://sites.google.com/site/middletownnynjrotc/billet-selection.

Caution:  Selectees must be ready to devote a substantial amount of time and effort to the unit and must have demonstrated potential for leadership.  Think about possible conflicts with other activities, academic requirements, and your life outside of high school--job, social life, etc. 

THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

I have been informed (repeatedly) that it will soon be Tiffany's birthday.  I don't care so much about that, but it does serve to remind one that the end of the school year, and for seniors the end of high school, is right around the corner.  Here are a few things to consider:

• If you are a freshman, ask yourself if you did everything you needed to do freshman year.  Are you prepared to capitalize on the rest of your high school opportunity?  Freshman year is tough.  If you did not do as well as you hoped, recommit yourself and work harder next year--there is still time.
• If you are a sophomore, ask yourself if you are ready to move into junior year and springboard yourself to a successful life after high school.  If not, it is time for what we call in the Navy a serious mid-course correction.  There is still time, but not so much.  You are now half way through high school and you have less of an opportunity to improve your average.  Get hot.  If you want to go to start at a four year college after graduation, you should be studying for the SAT test now.  You should be thinking about what you would like to do for a living.  To many people say they want to be an astronaut, but that they are going to take a year or two off to start a band first.  There's a saying I like:  "A goal without a plan is but a dream."  I'd add that the plan has to be a good one.  You don't get to be a doctor,  astronaut, or successful business owner without a good plan.  Without a plan you can't even pay the bills. 
• If you are a junior, ask yourself if you are really on track to becoming an independent adult.  Have you thought honestly about what you will do after high school?  Do you have a realistic plan? If so, does it need to be updated?  If you don't have a plan, make one!  If you are planning on going to college, you should have taken the SATs.  You should be at least starting the process of selecting a college.  Have you decided what is important to you college-wise?  If you are thinking of the military, you should be in contact with a recruiter. 
• If you are a senior, ask yourself if you are still on track--is your plan working?  By now, you ought to have things pretty well locked down.  If you don't have a firm idea of what you will be doing when the merry go-round stops, you need to get really serious.
• If you will be in the NJROTC program next year, be thinking about what you would like to do.  We will shortly announce the billet selection process.  If you are applying for a billet next year, be prepared to work--several people have been removed from billets this year.  If you are applying for a senior billet, be honest with yourself and ask if you really rate it.  This isn't a question of being a better cadet than your classmates, it is a question of meeting the requirements of the billet.  A staff billet is not a reward, it is an opportunity.

What else is going on:

• Annual Inspection 3 April.
• Orientation trip to DC 12-15 April.
• Military Ball 4 May.
• Area Championship 12 May.
• Awards ceremony and change of command 31 May.

We will also have an end of year challenge open to those who have qualified  There will be a cash prize.  The details are yet to be determined, but so far the following cadets have qualified for the competition:  Cadets Ferguson, Esquivel, Barone, Fitzgerald, and Lloyd.  If you have successfully answered a couple of my previous challenges and feel that you should be on this list, let me know.