OSU sisters blaze twin trails through Army training

By Sgt. Joseph Siemandel,  Summer 2006

FORT LEWIS, Wash. – For some, the United States Army is rich with family tradition. Uncles and cousins, brothers and sisters, fathers and grandfathers and great grandfathers. If you look hard enough you will probably find that someone you are related to served.

Kimberly and Megan Neu are doing something more than following in a family members' footsteps – they're blazing separate trails together.

The siblings, both Ohio State University students, attended the Army's Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis this summer. Kimberly and Megan are both part of the university's Army ROTC program. And that's not were the similarities end.

Kimberly, who is in 5th Regiment, Alpha Company, 2^nd Platoon, is the older of the two, at 22.  She and her sister Megan, 21, 5th Regiment, Alpha Company, 3rd Platoon, are a lot alike.

Aside from being in the same Company, both sisters have the goal of commissioning as second lieutenants in the Army, and into the same branch, the Medical Service Corps.

Both sisters are members of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority at Ohio State and they're both majoring in Health Sciences, specializing in Geriatrics and Gerontology.

“Mom never wanted to go to two different events, so I was always moved up one age group.” Meghan says. “Plus for us, having competition with a sister pushed us even more to be better.”

The Army's LDAC, also known as Warrior Forge, puts more than 4,000 Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets through their paces each summer, teaching them the leadership skills necessary to lead American Soldiers in combat.

The two women brought their competitiveness to Warrior Forge. And having other family members in the Army is a reason they both wanted to join.

Megan, the younger sister, will graduate in March 2008. She originally wanted to enlist in the Army National Guard before joining ROTC, but her father dissuaded her fearing she would get deployed. Kimberly, who will graduate in June 2007, broke her foot and was unable to participate in Warrior Forge last summer.

Joseph Siemandel is a sergeant in the U.S. Army, a journalist with the Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis, Washington, and a Reserve Officer Training Corps cadet at Central Washington University.

Senator McCain issues the Oath of Office

On 11 June, the 2006 Spring Quarter graduates of The Ohio State University received words of wisdom as they entered the post-undergraduate stage of life from the guest speaker, a 2000 candidate for the Presidency, Arizona Senator John McCain.  But even before he addressed the students, families, friends, and faculty at commencement in the Ohio Stadium, or the “Shoe” as it is known to native Buckeyes, Senator McCain paid a quick visit to the new cadets and midshipmen of the Ohio State University Reserve Officer Training Corps.  In the first Triservice Commissioning Ceremony in recent memory, students, family, friends and Staff from the Army, Air Force and Naval/ Marine ROTC programs, welcomed Senator McCain at Hitchcock Hall that morning.  There, the Senator took a moment to delivery remarks on a more personal level to the service men and women. Remarks made possible only by one who has worn the shoes of a Military Leader. While his tone was relaxed, with more than one joke aimed at him, the message was still serious as he talked about the importance of service to ones nation. He kept his remarks brief and to the point only speaking for about ten minutes.  Despite this brevity, Senator McCain left a very strong impression on the 60 Cadets and Midshipmen with his powerful message of public service.  At the completion of his remarks, Senator McCain rendered the Oath of Office to the Cadets and Midshipmen thus welcoming them to the fraternity of officers in the United Sates Military. Upon completion of the Oath of Office, each newly minted officer was presented to audience as they stepped forward to shake hands with Senator McCain before he departed for the graduation ceremony. This was truly a remarkable day in lives of our newly commissioned officers. 

By DIANA NORWOOD
Ohio State University

OCT 2006

Each summer, students from the Ohio State Army ROTC Buckeye Battalion and other universities across the country take time to participate in the 28-day Leader Development and Assessment Course, at Fort Lewis, Wash. Educators participate in training activities such as combat water survival, a high ropes climbing complex, small boat training and a field leader’s reaction course. This year staff members from the OSU College of Nursing were given the opportunity to participate
in the course.
 

Linda Daley, assistant dean of the OSU College of Nursing, spent five days at LDAC. She chose to experience what nursing students involved in the Army ROTC endure during summer training. Daley said it was an excellent opportunity to observe the Army’s version of leadership training firsthand. “I enjoyed my entire experience, especially the field training,” Daley said. “It was an opportunity to observe different methods of leadership and the Cadets in action. I really appreciate the approach and attitude of the cadre, along with the teamwork exhibited by all involved.” Bonnie Kirkpatrick, an advanced practice nurse and clinical instructor at the College of Nursing, also participated in the exercises and said she was impressed by the training the Cadets received.“A typical day was up early and just experiencing all the
things the Cadets did in a day,” Kirkpatrick said. “We were able to see their tired yet never-complaining expressions, feel to some extent the adrenaline rush as they crouched down to crawl under barb wire or approach a simulated structure that may be a threat. “I appreciated the opportunity to attend the ROTC program for educators, it has given me ideas to
use with my students, and it has given me a better appreciation of the training these young men and women go through.”

27 OCT 06

OSU Army ROTC Exemplifies Tradition, Honor, Excellence in Recent Competition

 Army ROTC cadets represented The Ohio State University this past weekend at Fort Knox, Kentucky in the annual Ranger Challenge Competition involving nineteen universities and 30 teams from across Ohio and Kentucky….and they WON…AGAIN!!!  Xavier University finished second and Central State University finished third.  

 The Ohio State University Army ROTC ‘Scarlet’ Team is the first to repeat as champions in back-to-back years in the 21 year history of the competition.  This year’s OSU AROTC ‘Gray’ team also did a phenomenal job, finishing 8^thoverall.

 The purpose of the Ranger Challenge Program is to challenge cadets in tough mental and physical competition, enhance leader development, develop team cohesion, as well as, develop healthy competition among the Army ROTC battalions. 

 The Buckeye Battalion Ranger Challenge team featured some of the best Army ROTC cadets ever from The Ohio State University.  The 18 hour competition covered 8 events - the Army Physical Fitness Test, basic rifle marksmanship, construction and execution of a one-rope bridge, patrolling, weapons assembly, orienteering, hand grenade assault course and a 10 kilometer (6.2 mile) forced road march.

 The Ranger Challenge Competition plays an important role in furthering cadets’ development as leaders and future Army officers.  The OSU Army ROTC Ranger Challenge team finished 2^nd in 2002, 1^st in 2003 and 2^nd in 2004, and First Place last year in 2005. 

-- The Ranger Challenge Competition started in the early 1980s with several schools in Utah.  By the mid-80s, the senior leadership of Cadet Command saw the benefits that the Ranger Challenge was bringing to those schools and decided to institute the competition throughout the entire country…and it continues today. 

 This was a Leadership Test…and our team AGAIN ‘wrote the answer key’!  They led this competition from start to finish, a truly outstanding accomplishment for a great group of young men and women.  These students represent the best of our society, our great university, and the Department of Military Science & Leadership. 

Ranger Challenge Results

First Brigade
First - Rochester Institute of Technology
Second - Siena College
Third - Boston University
 

Second Brigade
First - Lehigh University
Second - University of Pittsburgh
Third - Penn State
Third Brigade
 

Div I
First - West Virginia University
Second - James Madison University
Third - Georgetown University
 

Div II
First - Temple University
Second - Univ. of Maryland College Park
Third - George Mason University
 

Div III
First - Loyola College
Second - McDaniel College
Third - West Virginia State University
Fifth Brigade
 

Div I
First - Furman University
Second - Appalachian State University
Third - The Citadel (Team 2)
 

Div II
First - Univ. of Tennessee-Martin
Second - Middle Tennessee State Univ.
Third - East Tennessee State Univ.
 

Seventh Brigade Ranger
Challenge results
First - Ohio State University
Second - Xavier University
Third - Central State University

24 August 2006

Operation Czech Wings – March ‘06

            Many college students use Spring Break as a time to kick back and relax at popular locales such as Cancun or the Bahamas. However, instead of lying on the beach and sipping margaritas, four cadets from The Ohio State University’s “Buckeye Battalion” traveled to Prague, Czech Republic to make three jumps with the Czech military and earned the Czech Republic’s Basic Military Parachutist badge. With the help of the European Military Parachutists’ Association, Cadets Tyler Boswell, Ross Daly, Anthony Douglass, and Taylor Manson were able to link up with Czech Airborne instructors at a remote airfield located near the German border formerly used as a Soviet MiG fighter base throughout the Cold War to complete their training.

Upon arrival at the airfield, the cadets received a basic airborne refresher course as well as familiarization with the Czech OVP-68 parachute system. After completing the familiarization course, learning the Czech jump commands, and demonstrating proper parachute landing falls, the cadets boarded an Antanov AN-2 airplane to execute their first jump. Utilizing proper technique taught at the US Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, GA and always remembering “feet and knees together,” the cadets successfully completed three jumps from an altitude of 1800 feet to earn their Czech wings.

However, making three jumps with the Czech jumpmasters and equipment was not the only mission to be accomplished. The cadets were also joined by paratroopers from France, Germany, Austria, the French Foreign Legion, and special police forces from both France and Austria as well. The unique group of paratroopers proved to be an outstanding way to meet and share experiences with armed forces from other nations. Several of the paratroopers had actually served alongside US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and provided great insight regarding experiences working with other militaries in the Global War on Terror.

Although this opportunity is not what most may envision as a typical Spring Break, these “Buckeye Battalion” cadets took advantage of a unique opportunity to enhance their military skills and knowledge. Upon returning back to the United States, the cadets noted that the training and experience they gained by taking part in an event like this was time extremely well spent and are looking forward to pursuing similar training this year. 

OSU takes first at national drill competition in Washington

April 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The last
time Pershing Rifles, Company A-1 at Ohio State University placed at a national drill competition, it was
hosted in their own backyard three years ago in Toledo. On March 23-25 the Pershing Rifles
National Convention (NATCON) took place in the nation’s capital. Company A-1, along with all active Pershing Rifle companies from around the nation, participated in the event. The activities included a memorial service for General of the Armies John J. Pershing at Arlington National Cemetery, a legislative meeting at Fort
Myer, a drill competition at Fort Meade, and a dining-in hosted at the Almas Temple in Washington, D.C.
Company A-1 had the privilege of sending one team of seven cadets to participate in the drill competition and
placed first in the squad regulation drill event. In 2003, Company A-1 also placed first for the squad regulation
drill event at NATCON, which was hosted at the University of Toledo. To help elevate the costs of
NATCON, Company A-1 hosted its annual JROTC Buckeye Invitational Drill Competition to raise funds. Eight
Central Ohio JROTC high schools participated in the Buckeye Invitational Feb. 11. With the help of
NCO cadre to help judge individual events, Company A-1 completely planned, prepared and executed the
drill competition. The event not only helped raise funds for Company A-1 but also helped in the recruiting
efforts of the ROTC, Reserve and National Guard programs. The company’s founder, Pershing,
said the purpose of the NationalS ociety of Pershing Rifles is to develop, to the highest degree
possible, outstanding traits of leadership, military science, military bearing and discipline within the
framework of a military oriented, honorary fraternity. Company A-1 at Ohio State is credited for making
Pershing Rifles a national organization and has a rich tradition with the ROTC programs at Ohio State in helping
produce the best officers to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. Company A-1 alumni include former Air Force Chief
of Staff Gen. Curtis LeMay, and the current deputy director of force structure, integration, & deployment
for the Missile Defense Agency AirForce Brig. General Keith McNamera.

Ohio State takes Ranger Challenge

ROTC cadets compete to beat the clock

By STEVE AREL/Eastern Region (ROTC)

Sweat beading on their faces, Army ROTC cadets lugging rucksacks loaded with 30 pounds of equipment speed-marched 6.2 miles of Fort Knox’s hilly terrain Saturday in a race against a heartless enemy. The clock.

Ultimately, cadets representing schools in the 7th Brigade of Eastern Region squared off against each other. But the times in events like the road march—the climax to a day of stiff competition—were used to rank squads.

In the end, Ohio State University beat the clock and 17 other schools en route to winning the Ranger Challenge, the school’s second crown in three years. Xavier University (Team 1) took second, and the University of Cincinnati finished third.

“We knew we could do it,” said cadet Ross Daly, a junior who served as Ohio State’s team captain. “It was a matter of everyone finding their strengths and executing.”

The annual Ranger Challenge tests the physical and mental mettle of ROTC cadets with nine sometimes-grueling tasks as if, in a sense, they were Army Rangers.

Cadets in teams of 10 had to construct bridges made of rope, assemble and disassemble M16s, throw hand grenades at targets, and take physical fitness tests. Scores and times of each participant were averaged to come up with a team score.

Each of Eastern Region’s seven brigades is holding Ranger Challenges over the next couple of weeks at posts from Georgia to Massachusetts.

Several 7th Brigade schools entered two teams for a total of 27 squads taking part.

Ohio State finished second to Xavier last year. And approaching last weekend’s competition, some team members weren’t sure how well they might perform.

The challenge took place a week earlier than in 2005. Ohio State didn’t start classes this year until late September. And several members of the squad did not return to campus from Army schools until just a few weeks ago.

The potential liabilities, though, proved to be non-factors.

Ohio State won just two events—patrolling and the physical fitness test—but finished no worse than seventh in any area.

Daly said the nine men and one woman making up his squad did physical training together five days a week leading up to the competition. They even traveled to Fort Knox earlier this month and spent a weekend scouting the grounds and training on sites similar to or more challenging than those they would encounter.

“That was a big bonus,” said Master Sgt. Dan Whitney, the squad’s coach.

Entering the road march, Daly said he figured the team was doing well but did not know where it stood in the rankings. The squad’s performance ended up solidifying the win. Cincinnati crossed the

finish before Ohio State, which took second in the event.

Lt. Col. Todd Miller, Ohio State’s professor of military science, wasn’t surprised his cadets performed so well. He said the win is indicative of the students’ leadership.

“This is a great group of kids,” Miller said. “You couldn’t hand-pick a group of young men and women. They’re good at what they do because they’re good kids, good people.”

A number of the cadets’ parents made the trip to Knox to watch their sons and daughters compete. Lt. Col. Ken Woodburn, the 7th Brigade executive officer, said their presence left a lasting impression.

“It was a tremendous event and a tremendous experience,” he said.