GATEWAY ARMY ROTC BATTALION
Gateway Gazette V O L U M E 3 ,
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INCLUDED IN THIS ISSUE:
A welcome from the Cadet Battalion Commander
Plenty of Photos!
A Cadets Experience at Air Assault School
Other accounts from cadets on their summer activities
Gateway MSIV Branching Results
Gateway cadets on color guard for the Rams vs. Packers game at the Edward Jones Dome.
Welcome from the CDT Battalion Commander Alumni, Family, Supporters and Gateway Battalion, thank you all for reading this year’s first issue of the Gateway Gazette. The Gateway Battalion is committed to creating officers that exceed the standard and excel above the rest not for themselves but rather for the soldiers they serve.
that when our Cadets put on the uniform they not only represent the Army but are a part of the Army. Values must help our leaders shape their decisions to always do what is right.
Pride is the second tenet in which our Battalion promotes. We have pride in our unit, heritage, and team. Our Cadre have instilled in us to have pride in what we are achieving and to recognize that we are a There are five tenets, “The Gate- part of something bigger. This pride unites way Big Five” which have helped the schools in our Battalion and creates shape Gateway Battalion and long lasting friendships. served as a foundation for the Academics are the third tenet that we development of our leaders: stress at Gateway Battalion. Graduating Discipline, Pride, Academics, from college with under a 2.0, no 2nd LT. Fitness, and Accountability. Our cadets understand the importance of We train our Cadets to maintain discipline both on and off duty. We recognize that military bearing is essential for any leader and
a strong knowledge base. Always taking the step to further one’s education is important to future success. Fitness is the fourth tenet. Our cadets
know the importance of exceeding the standard when it comes to Physical fitness. We never focus on the minimum PT standards, instead we shoot for excellence. We are taught to lead from the front and model the standard. Accountability is the importance of always being on time, in the right uniform, and at the right place, and taking responsibility for one’s actions. We teach that leaders are accountable for everything their soldiers do from the good acts to the bad ones. The Big 5 stressed here at Gateway will help set a strong foundation for our future Army leaders. Thank you for reading the Gateway Gazette and invite you to continue to stay in touch with our program. -Trent Farmer, Gateway CDT BN CDR
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Keep in Touch! Do you know other Gateway alums that we can keep in contact with? If so, please forward their contact information to CDT Jamison at christjamison@yahoo.com
CDT Bryan Ciccarello’s Air Assault Experience This summer I was given with the opportunity to attend The Sabalauski Air Assault School conducted by Mobile Training Team #2 of 101st Airborne Division in West Point, New York. For ten and a half days 180 cadets from various ROTC battalions and West Point as well as soldiers from active duty and National Guard units were instructed and tested in the skills and proficiencies required to earn the Air Assault Badge. This experience was unforgettable in terms of the skills learned and the relationships built. Air Assault school begins with a 0215 wake up on "Zero Day", a day in which all students must successfully pass inspection of the prescribed packing list for the day and completion of the obstacle course with a two mile run. There were 197 cadets/ soldiers present but only 180 would make the cut for the course. The first encounter with the Air Assault sergeants was a terrifying experience. These were professional NCOs,
who were determined to uphold the standard and prestige of their beloved course. Days one through three focused on the rotary wing aircraft of the United States Army, combat assault operations, and pathfinder operations. In order to make it to the classroom elements, the class was required to complete a 6-mile ruck march containing all of the equipment dictated by the packing list. Each student was allowed to accrue 45 penalty points before being dropped from the course. Most infractions were worth five or ten points meaning that in any given day cadets could not commit more than one or two graded penalties or they would risk being dropped administratively. This portion of the course included both classroom lecture sessions and practical outdoor lessons from which students were expected to apply the knowledge learned throughout the day. Days four through six are focused on sling load opera-
tions of the US Army rotary wing aircraft. This portion required the creation of note cards in order to study for the written section, however the true stress lay within the practical exam which required cadets/soldiers to inspect and identify three of four defects on four different sling loads laid out in the field. This required much practice since the key was attention to detail. The final phase of the course from days seven through ten focused on rappelling operations under a variety of conditions. The capstone of the experience was a rappel from a UH-60L Blackhawk helicopter 120 feet above the ground. Finally, the class was required to successfully complete a twelve mile foot march with packing list and following inspection on graduation day. The class then had their wings pinned on in the ceremony and officially graduated, having had the experience of a lifetime and leaving as Air Assault qualified soldiers. -CDT Bryan Ciccarello, MSII
Gateway Cadet Works at the Pentagon Cadet Kellerman working diligently at the Reserve Forces Policy Board
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Over the summer, finishing just days before leaving for LDAC, I was given the opportunity to intern with the Department of Defense at the Pentagon outside of Washington DC. I was offered an intern position with the Reserve Forces Policy Board within the Office of the Secretary of Defense. The RFPB is a federal advisory committee established to pro-
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vide advice and expertise concerning matters of the Reserve Components of all the services directly to the Secretary of Defense. The experience gave me an opportunity to see the daily workings of the world’s largest bureaucracy. As a cadet joining the Army Reserves, I was given a great chance to work with higher-ranking officers in the Reserves and Na-
tional Guard and was given invaluable advice. Any cadets interested in interning with the RFPB please let me know. The staff is more than willing to accept ROTC cadets for intern positions and asked me to forward names of those interested. -CDT Paul Kellerman, Gateway MSIV
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A Word from LTC Jim Craig, Gateway PMS Alumni, friends, supporters and members of the Gateway Battalion, It was a great summer and it has been a great start to the new school year for Gateway Battalion. First and foremost, I am proud to report that Gateway Battalion commissioned 20 new Second Lieutenants for our Army. These new 2LTs came from 7 different universities and accepted commissions in the Active, Reserves and National Guard. There is no other program in the Midwest (maybe in the country) that can claim that level of success with the same level of diversity. A former battalion commander once told me there is nothing scarier and nothing more scared than a new 2LT. I am not so sure with the class of ‘12. These new leaders are trained and ready! I would proudly serve with any one of them in my next assignment.
Next, Gateway Battalion cadets travelled the world (literally) during this summer’s Army sponsored training exercises. Maybe you saw them on your post or in your town? I am so proud of all of their accomplishments; you can read about many of their experiences in this newsletter.
your time. Graduates, if you haven’t contacted our alumni affairs officer, please consider doing so and offering to share your experiences with our cadets. If you don’t have time or resources to donate, at least consider simply “friending” our Facebook page and joining the conversation
The school year is already in full swing and we are very busy. Our freshmen scholarship class was not as large as we had hoped, but thanks to our student presence we have already found nearly a dozen new freshmen who want to join our ranks. Our cadets are proud young men and women who want to serve a cause greater than the next college fashion or fad.
Finally, no good PMS letter is complete without a small plea for financial support. In your end-ofthe-year giving plans, don’t forget LTC Jim Craig the Gateway Battalion. Your dona- 314 935 7200 tions are tax deductable if donated Jim.craig@wustl.edu through Washington University’s processes (see the last page for “...there is nothing details). 100% of your support goes to fund cadet activities, travel and scarier and nothing training opportunities. Nothing is taken “off the top” for Wash U. We more scared than a could not be as successful without new 2LT. your continued support. Thanks.
My personal thank you goes to all alumni and family members who have contributed to the Gateway Battalion both financially and with
Cadet participates in CTLT in Hawaii This summer I had to opportunity to spend three weeks at Schofield Barracks in the great state of Hawaii. During this time, I followed around three different officers: a warrant officer, a platoon leader, and a company executive officer. All three officers that I followed aught me various lessons about leading soldiers, being an effective leader, and building good rapport with the non-commissioned officers. These are all things that have been drilled into us since our very first year in ROTC, but now I was finally getting to see it at
work. During my time at Schofield I also got to done a lot of training with the soldiers. We did physical training every morning, we went to the .50 cal range, and participated in a few other training events as well. I think CTLT is a worthwhile experience for all cadets. Cadets get a first hand look at what they will be doing once they commission and arrive at their units. -Cadet Flege, Gateway MSIV
I am not so sure
LTC Jim Craig
with the class of ‘12. These new leaders are trained and ready!” - LTC Jim Craig
Cadet Flege visits with fellow Cadet Morgan Kimura, a Hawaii native, in some free time during CTLT
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Left: Newly contracted cadets are sworn in by Gateway PMS LTC Craig, at the Edward Jones Dome before the RamsPackers game. What a great way to commemorate such a milestone!
Right: MSIII Instructor, Captain Derek Martin, instructs a cadet on the proper form for firing an AT-4 at Fort Leonard Wood during Gateway’s Fall FTX
Left: Cadet Battalion Commander Trent Farmer leads the Battalion on a run at the beginning of the semester at Forest Park
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Right: LTC Craig gives final instructions to CDT Shannon Custer as she steadies herself before negotiating the 60 foot rappel tower during the Rappelling super lab this past September.
Left: Gateway MSIVs earn their branch results during Branch Day PT at Forest Park. After a 6:00 AM team building workout (carry heavy objects, up large hills, in the dark and cold), Gateway MSIVs were served breakfast at the visitors center and were notified of their branches.
Right: Cadets participate in the beloved Gateway tradition of Halloween PT. Cadets arrived at WashU athletic center dawned with an assortment of costumes. The Cadets then played in a tournament style basketball game.
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Cadet Zahn’s CULP trip to Tanzania
Above: Cadet Zahn enjoys some time with the Tanzanian locals
“I spent most days of the week working in an “office” writing proposals for funding with 1 other cadet and 4 locals, 2 of which had been living with HIV for more than 8 years”
-CDT Andrew Zahn
I can still remember, almost one year ago, last fall, when I was running at PT with an older cadet who kept pestering me to apply for this so-called “CULP” thing. I was hesitant because at the time I really had no idea what I was going to do the following summer but I knew I probably didn’t want to spend it teaching English or volunteering in some random country. I was honestly holding out for an Airborne or Air Assault slot, something I was sure I would enjoy and that would directly benefit my career and resume. Because I wanted this older cadet to stop bugging me, I decided to check out the application. Just because it was very brief and took about 30 minutes, I went ahead and applied for the program. It said it would still need a note from my PMS and I decided I would let the fates decide if I would get accepted. So I didn’t tell anyone I applied and just waited, figuring if LTC Craig got a notice and put in the letter, I would see what would happen, but if he didn’t get a notice, then I wouldn’t have to worry about making a decision about it. Looking back, I’m glad LTC Craig is always on top of everything, because CULP gave me an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life. I spent the first 3 days of my CULP trip in Ft. Knox, going through Soldier Readiness Processing, filling out paperwork and getting blood drawn. It was one of the most miserable places I’ve ever been, mostly because the heat was pretty unbearable. After leaving Ft. Knox, we flew across the Atlantic to Amsterdam, then down to Dar es Salaam, one of the capitals of Tanzania. We were picked up by the volunteer or-
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ganizations we were traveling through and drove about 2 hours up the east coast of Africa to a small fishing town called Bagamoyo. The next 21 days were the both eye-opening and lifechanging for me. While most of the 28 other cadets in m group taught English to kids in school, I worked with an HIV/AIDS organization in the community. I spent most days of the week working in an “office” writing proposals for funding with 1 other cadet and 4 locals, 2 of which had been living with HIV for more than 8 years. One day of the week, I got to conduct home visits with another HIV/AIDS organization and visit people of the community living with this deadly virus. The conditions people lived in were astonishing. 99% of the community was living without electricity and nobody had running water. Poverty was rampant; about a third of the country is living on less than $2 U.S. dollars per day. Many had little more than corrugated sheet metal and mud walls for houses. Despite these conditions and the hardships these people were living with, I met some of the happiest people I will ever meet in my life. Despite the language barrier, I could have spent days just sitting with these people and interacting with them. For the 21 days I was there, I got a much better understanding of the world outside of the bubble that is the United States and I realized that despite what we might see on TV or on the internet, it is easy to
passively sympathize with the poor situations other people are living with. Bagamoyo, Tanzania made these situations a reality for me. So while my summer wasn’t at all what I was planning on doing a year ago, it turned out to be one that I will never forget. CULP really was a once in a lifetime experience and I wouldn’t trade it for any other summer training ROTC offers to MS I or MS II cadets. You can go to Airborne or Air Assault at any point in your Army career, traveling across the world to experience a new culture is something that only comes around once in a lifetime and there’s no reason you shouldn’t take advantage
Cadet Zahn enjoys some down time in Tanzania.
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CDT Katherine Bogomolov on JCLC I don’t mind hard work and am always trying to get stronger. Some find PT to be an obligation and just a grind, but I do enjoy the could out the first year because of the demands of playing on the D1 hockey team.
My public speaking experiences in the past were absolutely horrible. And now I was expected to teach new material, giving clear instructions and deliver this content to JROTC cadets with confidence? No way would I be anything but a disaster and let down my In ROTC, though, I feel like leaders. My first briefing pretty absolutely everyone knows more much stank as I read from the pathan I do. I tried to convince per and probably looked like a myself it would be a growth exwooden soldier as I gestured this perience. Getting to go to JCLC way and that. The second run seemed like a chance to get a through my station was a fraction little bit of experience in a lead- better. Then the third one was ership role. It would be an opdone and it had gone okay. I had portunity to wake up early, run reached the point where I could around, help out where directed relax and really enjoy the cadets and watching thinking what on coming though my station. At one earth am I doing here. I was point, I had to work in front of my pretty sure I couldn’t do it. own MCJROTC instructor from my
high school, Gunner Cain. Over the course of the JCLC, I did run. I did learn and teach and push and mentor. I met some amazing people; some were already strong leaders and some would be future leaders. I still keep in touch with some of them. It brought together people from all over and that is something that happens in the army. Looking back on it five months later, I hope to be able to go to JCLC again.
CDT Bogomolov poses for a picture during JCLC “I met some amazing people; some -CDT Katherine Bogomolov, were already strong leaders and Gateway MSII some would be future leaders”
Gateway excels at Ranger Challenge On the October 19 to October 21, myself and 5 other gateway females competed in Ranger Challenge at Ft. Leonard Wood. The competition consisted of 10 physically demanding events: a 10k ruck march, day and night land navigation, a grenade assault course, an obstacle course, a medical evacuation lane, one-rope bridge, weapons assembly and disassembly, shot grouping, and a physical fitness test. We competed against four other female teams in our brigade and ended up placing second overall in the competition. Our team placed first in the shot grouping and Cadet Claire Henkel leads the female Ranger Chalmedical evacuation. It was lenge team on the 10K Ruck Run an awesome experience with 5 really great teammates. Next year we'll get that first place trophy!
Cadets Gowen (MSII) and Cornett (MSI) representing Gateway Battalion at UMSL homecoming
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Gateway MSIVs Learn their Branch Assignments This past month, Gateway MSIVs came to the first major milestone in their Military Careers. Each senior learned what branch of the Army they will begin their career with when they commission this coming spring/ summer. Gateway’s class of 2013 saw the fruits of their tireless labor as nearly all of them received one of their top 3 branch choices. The results are as follows: BROUGHAM: CHHUM: CLAYBURN : CORRELL: DOLD: ELDREDGE: FARMER: FLEGE: JAMISON: KELLERMAN: LILLY: MCBAIN: MCKIBBEN: MORIN: PETERS: PHILLIPS: PROSE: RILEY: WAGNER: WOODRUM: YO:
Finance (detailed Armor) Finance (detailed Armor) Air Defense Artillery Army Nurse Corps Engineers Military Intelligence Armor Transportation Corps Military Police Adjutant General’s Corps Military Police Field Artillery Engineers Signal Corps (detailed Armor) Adjutant General’s Corps (det. Armor) Field Artillery Field Artillery Infantry Air Defense Artillery Military Intelligence Military Intelligence (det. Infantry)
Above: Gateway MSIV’s after branch reveal Physical Training. They are pictured here, with branching results in hand, anxiously awaiting to discover which branch they will start their military careers in.
Left: first formation from the first leadership lab of the school year
Congratulations to all MSIVs and their families! There is a bright future ahead of all of you.
How can you support the Gateway Battalion? Donations are fully tax deductible CHECKS PAYABLE TO: “Washington University – Department of Military Science” (Memo: Acct# 11-2051-94990) MAIL TO: Washington University, Campus Box 1082, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, MO 63130. ON LINE: Go to: https://gifts.wustl.edu/giftform.aspx Click “select giving areas,” then check “other” and enter “Department of Military Science - Acct# 11-205194990” in the query box. OTHER: http://www.rotc.wustl.edu/
To donate time, money, equipment or other resources outside of Washington University channels, please contact the PMS. (700 Rosedale Ave, St. Louis MO 63112, 314 935 7200)
Facebook.com/gatewayROTC