Yellow Jacket Battalion. Commander s Corner. Army Reserve Officers Training Corps. In this Issue: Commander s Corner 1. Making Headlines 2-3

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1 Vol. 6 June 2015 In this Issue: Page Army Reserve Officers Training Corps Commander s Corner Yellow Jacket Battalion Commander s Corner 1 Making Headlines 2-3 Summer Training 4 Newest Lieutenants 5-6 Farewell 7 Upcoming Events: Cadet Leadership Course Cadet Initial Entry Training Air Assault School Cadet Troop Leader Training As I approached the Spring Semester back in January I remember thinking to myself that this semester cannot be nearly as busy as the Fall Semester. I was wrong! The spring was just as busy if not busier than the fall. In addition to our normal program of instruction, we also conducted two major events this semester, a Leadership Development Exercise (LDX) and a Dining Out. The LDX is an opportunity for select Cadets to practice their planning skills while gaining a broader understanding of the Army. This semester we conducted our LDX with WVU and Marshall University. The first event was a visit the U.S. Army War College, where the Cadets had the opportunity to learn from a panel of Colonels in order to gain some perspective from the Army s senior leaders. We then visited the U.S. Heritage Center and conducted a staff ride at Gettysburg National Military Park to gain insights on the operational art as well a better understanding of our nation s military history. The second major event, the Yellow Jacket Dining Out, is executed annually to teach Cadets some of the traditions of the service while giving them the opportunity to dress up, socialize, and enjoy each other s company in a less stressful atmosphere. As the semester came to a close I had the pleasure of executing ROTC s capstone event; the commissioning ceremony. This May we commissioned six Second Lieutenants into this great Army of ours. A day later I administered the oath of office to a WVSU Cadet during the university s commencement ceremony, highlighting ROTC and demonstrating our continued close relationship with WVSU. With school out of session, we transitioned to preparing our Cadets for Summer Training (CST) at Fort Knox, KY. This year we have a total of seven Cadets participating in CST, one of whom will also attend Air Assault School and another who will go to Korea for Cadet Troop Leadership Training. This semester we also said goodbye to four individuals that were key in my transition to WVSU and have played vital roles in guiding Cadets. The Senior Instructor, Master Sergeant Shank, is headed to Korea; one Assistant Professor of Military Science (Major Beirne) is headed to Fort Bragg, NC, and the other (Captain Judy) is transitioning to work at the WV National Guard Headquarters. Finally, Mrs. Fatiema Wilkerson, our office manager, has moved to the Office of Academic Affairs across campus. I hate to see them leave but I wish them God speed in their new assignments. Recruitment of quality Cadets is still one of our top priorities, so we continue to need your support to encourage students to attend one of the schools that make up the Yellow Jacket Battalion and then consider ROTC as their FIRST option. 1

2 Yellow Jacket Battalion Making Headlines West Virginia State University Army ROTC Ferguson-Lincoln Building PO Box 489 Institute, WV Yellow Jacket Battalion Cadre and Cadets help out WVSU on WVSU Cares Day, an annual day of service to the community. Cadets Fitzgerald, Robinson, and Thompkins demonstrate the 2 man carry during the first aid lab. Tel: /3109 Fax: [email protected] Cadets at the annual rifle range. Cadet Buchanan advises a Cadet on marksmanship. SSG Hatcher monitors Cadets during the Combat Water Survival Test. Cadets learn the one rope bridge during lab. 2

3 Yellow Jacket Battalion Making Headlines Yellow Jacket Battalion Annual Dining Out The Yellow Jacket Battalion conducted the annual dining out in the Union on WVSU s campus. Thanks to Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Charles Ledbetter (WVSU Professor of Military Science from ) for his inspiring words as the guest speaker. West Virginia State University Army ROTC Ferguson-Lincoln Building PO Box 489 Institute, WV Tel: /3109 Fax: [email protected] Want to keep up to date with the Yellow Jackets? Check out our Facebook page! Look us up on the web! 3

4 Cadet Summer Training Specialty Schools Cadet Ashley Burns will attend Cadet Troop Leader Training Cadet Vincent Bird will attend Air Assault School Cadet Leadership Course Cadet Ashley Burns Cadet James Hubbard Cadet Abraham Hummel Cadet Franklyn Myers Cadet Initial Entry Training PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE Cadet Vincent Bird Cadet Brittany Watkins Cadet Enya Williams 4

5 Newest Lie ute nants is th e U.S. A rmy Second Lieutenant Ryan Buchanan Second Lieutenant Ryan Buchanan is a graduate of West Virginia State University. He will serve in the Regular Army as an Infantry Officer. Second Lieutenant Caitlin Gwinn Second Lieutenant Caitlin Gwinn is a graduate of Glenville State College. She will serve in the WV National Guard as a Medical Services Officer. Second Lieutenant Kyle Hartleben Second Lieutenant Kyle Hartleben is a graduate of Glenville State College. He will serve in the WV National Guard as an Ordnance Officer. 5

6 Newest Lie ute nants is th e U.S. A rmy Second Lieutenant Molli Hill Second Lieutenant Molli Hill is a graduate of the University of Charleston. She will serve in the WV National Guard as an Ordnance Officer. Second Lieutenant Christopher Jenkins Second Lieutenant Christopher Jenkins is a graduate of the West Virginia University Institute of Technology. He will serve in the Regular Army as a Nurse. Second Lieutenant Travis Nesbitt Second Lieutenant Travis Nesbitt is a graduate of Glenville State College. He will serve in the WV National Guard as a Signal Officer. 6

7 Yellow Jacket Battalion West Virginia State University Army ROTC Ferguson-Lincoln Building PO Box 489 Institute, WV Tel: /3109 Fax: Farewell Master Sergeant Johnathon Shank Major Charles Beirne After three years as the Yellow Jacket Battalion s Senior Military Instructor, Master Sergeant Shank has been reassigned to Korea. Master Sergeant Shank will be missed for his sage advice, wise mentorship, and, most especially, his Crossfit focused physical training program. The Yellow Jacket Battalion wishes him luck in his new assignment. Major Charles Beirne has been the face of ROTC at Glenville State College for the last three years. He leaves the Yellow Jacket Battalion for Fort Bragg. Known for his sense of humor and jovial nature (although he hid it well), he was integral to the success of the Battalion. The Yellow Jacket Battalion wishes him luck in his new assignment. Captain Jonathan Judy Captain Jonathan Judy has been our lead Basic Course Instructor and training officer for the Yellow Jacket Battalion. He is assuming duties as the WV National Guard Officer Strength Manager. Known for his charm, good looks, and unusual work ethic, Captain Judy as been the officer who made sure everything happened in the battalion. The Yellow Jacket Battalion will continue to work closely with Captain Judy in his new duties, but he will be missed. Ms Wilkerson has been the backbone of the battalion, taking care of everything from the Hall of Fame to every day operations. Always ready to take on new challenges, Ms Wilkerson has been a steady hand in the program. Ms Wilkerson has been promoted to work in the Provosts Office, and we wish her luck. Ms Fatiema Wilkerson 7

8 West Virginia State University Army ROTC Ferguson-Lincoln Building PO Box 489 Institute, WV Want to keep up to date with the Yellow Jackets? Check out our Facebook page! Tel: /3109 Fax: Look us up on the web! WVSU Army ROTC Video Check out our video. It can be found on our website, Facebook page, or on YouTube at: The Yellow Jacket Battalion 8