As cadets were getting their gear for the week, many

heard Master Sergeant Cornelius speak of a weekend

camping trip. Every cadet got an excused absence from

classes that FrIday, and at 0700 Hampton University

Army ROTC set off for what would be a learning and

developmental weekend at Fort Eustis in Newport

News, Virginia. LDX started off very fast paced even

before the bus took off and the last rucksack was

loaded onto the trailer. Once the battalion reached

Fort Eustis, LDX was underway starting with rushing

to get off the bus and falling into formation in a timely

and orderly fashion. As things began to settle, many

cadets had the opportunity to try their first MRE (meal

ready to eat) for breakfast, which was an adventure in

itself. After breakfast, the Battalion prepared to get a

tour of Fort Eustis’ historic transportation museum. The

museum went into great detail with the tour guides

giving an in depth look into the Army Transportation

Corps. The tour began with transportation used in the

Revolutionary War and concluded with transportation

used in Iraq and Afghanistan. From there, the battalion

moved into the woods where an MS3-led introduction

of squad movements took place. On Friday night, the

MS3 and MS2 classes were able to further develop their

skills on map reading and land navigation. They were

even able to utilize those skills to land-nav to their

sleeping location that night. Cadet of the month (for

October), MS2 Cadet Wells said, “LDX was a great test

of my personal courage and will to succeed. Sleeping

outside in a patrol base forced me and all those out

their with me to perform outside of our comfort zones.

It taught me to trust in my battle buddies to my left and

right, bringing all of us closer and fostering camaraderie

by going through the same struggle together. I was

cold and tired, but everyone else being out there with

me helped me push through it.”

Day two, Saturday, brought many more exciting

moments. After a quick breakfast, Cadets were able

to spend most of the day in the woods where the

emphasis was on squad level tactics. Cadets were

shown how to properly hold a weapon and were taught

the basic competencies and responsibilities when using

a weapon. Cadets were allowed to go through a real life

situation during the Key Leader’s Engagement. Cadets

were challenged with interacting with role players

effectively to retrieve the required information for their

mission. Later that day, Cadets were ready to test their

teamwork skills at a Leader’s Reaction Course. They

were forced to work extremely close and collectively to

achieve a task within a given time frame. On day three,

many cadets were exhausted, but still brought a spirit

of excitement to the final events. As Sunday rolled

around, the sun shined bright and the weather proved

worthy for an obstacle course, which consisted of

fourteen events. The purpose was to test one’s physical,

mental, and collaborative skills. All teams managed to

critically think and finish strong. All teams completed

the course with competitive times and it was apparent

that cadets were becoming closer because of the

training. The Leadership Development Excercise finally

came to a close with a positively charged AAR (After

Action Review), with suggestions from all MS levels to

make future events an even greater success. Finally,

MS4 Cadet Brett Harris organized a group photo for

the entire Battalion to commemorate the outstanding

training event and continue the legacy of the Hampton

University Army ROTC program.

Leadership Development Excercise: Adventure in the Woods

Pirate Battalion: Hampton University Army ROTC Newsletter

October/November 2015 Volume 1, No. 2

THE PIRATE PRESSContents

• LDX: Adventures in the Woods .....1• Professor of Military Science...........1• Homecoming .......................................2• Home by the Sea ................................2• Community Service at the VA

Hospital ..................................................2• Drill Competition ................................3• Cadet of the Month ..........................4• Ranger

Challenge...............................................4• Cadet Photo Wall ................................5• Upcoming Events ...............................6• Save the Date........................................6• Social Media..........................................6• Winter Spirit Pack ...............................6• Fundraiser Webpage..........................6

Professor of Military Science

The Pirate Battalion – LDX: Adventure in the Woods • Ranger Challenge

1The Pirate Press

Photo by: CDT Brett Harris

LTC Yusef E. GoodStatement

“It’s great seeing the Cadets active in the community and giving back... I admire their commitment to selfless service. We are all looking forward to their expanded community outreach activities in the future.”

By: CDT Marquise Brown

On Saturday, October 31, the new Cadet Community Servers spearheaded their first outreach event to the Hampton Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital. This is a new sub-committee that is a detachment from the Pirate Battalions Public Affairs Committee (PAC). The purpose for the project was to assist in a trick-or-treat party for the Veterans, with an outcome to build a relationship with the director of volunteer services. Cadet Mariah May (MSIII-Nursing major) stated, “I feel like it went well and I wish more cadets could have came out, but selfless service is one of the most important Army values and I believe that giving back to veterans who have sacrificed so much is something that we should try to do more often”. Some of the activities the Pirate Battalion participated in were a series of Bingo games, preparing/serving lunch, and passing out candy and prizes. The director asked for the Pirate Battalion to return more often. The veterans had a warm spirit with all the youth that were present for their event. CDT Hall (MSI-Criminal Justice major) stated, “You could see on their faces how elated they were to have us there and to see young people doing good for the community. Not only did I take pride in being able to make the veterans smile and brighten their day, but after the deed was done, I myself felt exuberant and humane. Vis-iting the VA more often will give a chance for other cadets to bask in such an experience as well. Yes, I do feel the Pirate Battalion should continue visiting the VA. During my visit on Halloween, a couple other cadets and myself passed out treats and prizes to some of the veterans and assisted in their bingo game.” With just a few Cadets present, they made such a large impact on to these honorable veterans and fulfilled the ultimate outcome, building selfless-service in each Cadet, one-by-one.

2 3The Pirate Press The Pirate Press

Pirate Battalion: Hampton University Army ROTC Newsletter Pirate Battalion: Hampton University Army ROTC Newsletter

Cadet of the Year

CAPTION: sumquunt adi aut aut atis quiscia pro ini-mos que di dus conecuptas as maximo que n quiscia

Community Service at the VA Hospital

Home by the Sea

CDT Pierce WatsonClassification: JuniorMajor: BiologyHometown: Lowell, MichiganExtra Curricular Activities: Commanding ranger challenge, tutoring and playing the pianoFavorite Quote: “Uncommon thought leaduncommon action.” - Kia Green

On October 24, 2015, Starla Treadwell (BC), Olamidé Thomas (XO), Patrick Evans, Marjanae McMillan, Makailah Davenport, Deja Dunn, Jade Leonard, Angela Marshall and Dominique Wilson attended The First Annual High School Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) Drill Competition hosted by The Hampton Roads Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW) supported by the Northampton Community Center. Seven JROTC programs from the Hampton Roads area arrived decorated in their uniforms, ready to compete in the rigorous competition. Pirate Battalion cadets provided support for the eight events which included open rank inspections, color guard, drill demonstrations, and evaluations. The event began with inspiring words from the commander of the Hampton Roads Chapter of the MOWW. Throughout the event, Hamptonians were amazed at the amount of determination and precision each school displayed as well as the overall professionalism and military bearing. It was astonishing to hear how much effort each JROTC program put forth into preparing for each event. While calculating scores from each event, Cadets had the opportunity to interact with a few active duty personnel from Fort Eustis and Langley Air Force Base, who gave a few pointers to the cadets. One point of emphasis was to “work smarter, not harder” when it came to the judges calculating scores. Although the calculations were very tedious, it was a great way for cadets to practice critical thinking and visualize the process of being evaluated on those critical thinking skills. Hampton cadets were award-ed the opportunity to present the schools their well-deserved trophies; which was a bonus for both the JROTC cadets and Hamp-ton ROTC attendees. Hampton cadets also had the opportunity to take a picture and become acquainted with our PMS’ daughter, Trinity Good, who was a participant in the competition from Tabb High School. This event was truly an exciting and worthwhile opportunity for our cadets to fellowship and build unit cohesion. Each Hampton cadet was awarded a personalized letter of appreciation from the MOWW. We hope to continue the relationship with MOWW and offer the battalion more opportunities to positively influence local JROTC programs.

Drill CompetitionBy: CDT Olamidé Thomas

Photos by: CDT Brett Harris

Photos by: CDT Brett Harris

Hampton University’s Homecoming 2015 was one for the history books. Homecoming would not have been the great success that it was, if it was not for the help of the Army ROTC department. The ROTC involvement during Homecoming kicks off with coronation, then the bazaar and parade and finally the football game. The ROTC department provides the coronation committee with the Pirate Battalion Saber Team to officially coronate Miss Hampton during the ceremony. Every year the Saber Team presents the sabers as both Mr. Pirate and Miss Hampton University are introduced for the academic year. Along with the Saber Team’s involvement in coronation, there are also several cadets that represent various organizations during coronation. This year Mr. ROTC, CDT Reginald Hamilton & Miss. ROTC, De’Yona Goggins, Mr. Freshman, Mr. Golden Key, Miss. Pershing Rifles and Mr. Resident Assistant represented the Pirate Battalion. We are proud to have cadets excelling in different areas on Hampton’s campus other than Army ROTC. Alumni will agree, there could not be a homecoming without the classic 12-5 Bazaar Friday of Homecoming. Army ROTC participated during the Bazaar with a Cotton Candy Booth. Along with generating proceeds for the Battalion, the Cotton Candy Booth became a hotspot for ROTC alumni and current cadets to network and continue the legacy of the Pirate Battalion.

In order: Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Anthony, Captain Ramon Neal, 1st Lieutenant Jerome Johnson, 2nd Lieutenant Jarvis Scott

We are pleased to have our alum come back to their “Home by the Sea” and spread their nuggets of knowledge to the Army ROTC program. “Giving is the highest expression of potency. In the very act of giving, I experience my strength, my wealth, my power. This experience of heightened vitality and potency fills me with joy. I experience myself as overflowing, spending, alive, hence as joyous. Giving is more joyous than receiving, not because it is a deprivation, but because in the act of giving lies the expression of my aliveness.” - Erich Fromm

By: CDT Laura Payton

By: CDT Nicholas Anthony III

Homecoming HU Alumni, Major General Darrell K. Williams, returns to his “home by the sea” for the Military Appreciation football game.Major General Williams is a native of West Palm Beach, Florida. He is a Distin-guished Military Graduate of the Hampton Institute ROTC Program and was commissioned into the Army Quartermaster Corps in 1983.

Home by the Sea (continued)

4 The Pirate Press

Pirate Battalion: Hampton University Army ROTC Newsletter

Classification: Sophomore Major: AviationHometown: Norfolk, VirginiaExtra Curricular Activities: Volunteer lifegaurd, Flight team, Ranger Challenge, Color Guard, Saber Team, MentoringFavorite Quote: “The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.” -Ray Kroc

Cadet of the Month (October):

Cameron Wells

Ranger Challenge

Cadet of the Month (November):

Timothy Hallaren

Ranger challenge is exactly that – a challenge. In order to compete, a Cadet must be physically and mentally tough, they must be technically and tactically proficient, and they must be able to work as a productive member of a team. The advanced training, and the crucible that is com-petition day mold cadets into something unique. Those that choose to try out for the team already has an uncommon mindset. And those that are chosen to compete are of a special breed of cadet. Last year, the Pirate Battalion’s Ranger Challenge team was able to break new bounds bringing home a banner for the first time in nearly ten years. This year I strove to build on that success; utilizing the experienced gained from my first year of leadership. We decided to focus on tactics based training and critical thinking in order to build on the weaknesses of our previous year’s performance. The concentration shift from physical training to intellectual sharpening was one that this team was uniquely designed for. The 2015 Ranger Challenge team was one of the keenest and mentally agile groups that I have had the privilege to work with. They were tasked to learn, essential-ly, a year’s worth of subject matter and then utilize it in an unpredictable and physically challenging environment. The shift in training meant that they would be accountable to PT on their own in order to maintain the standard of fitness. Undoubtedly, this group rose to the challenge. It was the goal of this year’s team to place in the top ten of the 42 teams from schools across the east coast from the Army ROTC 4th Brigade. When I first took over the ranger challenge team, the previous cohort was in the bottom five teams. The following year, we were able to bring home a streamer for a top score in an event, but our overall score was lacking; again a low finish. This year, it was the goal to put it all together by cracking into the top teams. Unfortunately we fell short of my goal, but while falling short of top ten by a mere 10 points, we were able to finish as the second highest HBCU of the competition. The HBCU in front of us was a mere 1-point beyond us in the final score. The competition this year was only one day instead of the usual two. This meant every-thing was going to be condensed and packed into a one day marathon of competition. There were very few breaks for the mind as the ranger challenge team pushed through event after event, giving our all in physicality and focus. Each event was stimulating and challenging in there own way. A sample station that the team executed: shoot M4s and M9s from various firing positions for accu-racy, maneuver a grenade assault course, conducting boat maneuvers, and complete a gauntlet of exercises with a log, etc. After 12 hours of non-stop focused effort, the competition came to a close. 6 weeks of training Monday through Saturday, 6 weeks of waking up early, 6 weeks of Learning at feverish pace while keeping up with school; in 12 hours it is all over. The biggest takeaway from this year, personally, was learning how to deal with and lead a set of personalities that I hadn’t previously had dealt with before. It was not a challenge to teach this group, or to get them to think. The challenge came with the trying to motivate and direct the team into the proper line of thinking and mindset. With so many strong and capable minds, I had to work to set the conditions that would allow each member to fully reach their potential and contribute their utmost to the team. What I hoped to instill in this team was a series of habits that would lead them to become stronger, better officers in the future. The knowledge that we packed-in during our time together may stick, or fade, but the life lessons – the ability to keep putting one foot in front of the other when your body is saying quit; the ability to be accountable to a team and yourself; the discipline to consider each detail and plan accordingly; and most importantly, the knowledge that consistent focused effort can achieve much more than ever thought possible – these things will last. I believe that the leaders on this year’s team will continue to shape and lead the Pirate Battalion, and in short time, the United States Army.

5The Pirate Press

Pirate Battalion: Hampton University Army ROTC Newsletter

CAPTION: 2015-16 Ranger Challenge Team

Photo by: CDT Brett Harris

By: CDT Pierce Watson

Classification: SophomoreMajor: Sport Management/Leadership Minor Hometown: Boston, MassachusettsExtra Curricular Activities: ROTC is life. Serve at Grace Church. Love spending time with my blood family and my MSII family. And lastly, I love working out. (I did ranger challenge) MSII’s LEAD THE WAY!!! Favorite Quote: “Do you know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it get a crown that will not last forever. Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize”. -1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Photo Wall

Displayed above is an assortment of photos from the months of October and November.

UPCOMING EVENTS...Pirate Battalion: Hampton University Army ROTC Newsletter

6 The Pirate Presshttps://www.payit2.com/fundraiser/75428

Contact Information

Army ROTC DepartmentTelephone - (757) 727-5244

Fax - (757) 722-8802Email - hamptonS5rotc@gmail.com

Published by:Cadet Public Affairs Officer - CDT Montrey DeLoatch

Cadet Assistant Public Affairs Officer - CDT Brett Harris

Editors: CDT Na’tise Bankston & CDT Brian Battle

Visit MemberPlanet to join the Database: Hampton University Pirate Battalion Alumni Database

December 10Ugly Sweater Social on campus

February 8-12100th year of ROTC

Leadership Week on campus

$60- Fleece Gift Set- Battalion Photo

Please email HamptonS5ROTC@gmail.com or visit the Facebook page for the order form.

Army ROTC Winter Spirit Pack

Items cannot be purchased separately.One size fits most.