In This Edition:

• Joint Field Training

Exercise

• 26.2 Mile Freedom

Fitness Challenge Foot

March

• German Armed Forces

Proficiency Badge Testing

• Building Leadership

during Spring Semester

• Commander’s Corner

• Alumni Interest Group

Newsletter Title

During our Spring 2017 Joint Field Training Exer-cise (JFTX), Penn State University, Bucknell Uni-versity, and Lock Haven University Cadets were integrated into a rotational cycle of training events at Fort Indiantown Gap, PA. This training was meant to educate and improve the training of all Cadets, espe-cially juniors and seniors who are attending summer training in a few months. One phase of the JFTX was the range. All Cadets were given an opportunity to zero and qualify with an M16 rifle. A second phase of training included an obsta-cle course and a leadership reaction course (LRC). In the obstacle course, Cadets rotated through each obsta-cle in squad-sized elements, testing their physical strength and endurance. In the LRC, Cadets were given a complex puzzle or task that must be completed in a certain time allotted. Teamwork and communica-tion were key skills that were put to the test.

The third phase of this training was the tactics lane. Platoons were given a mission and would conduct the proper Troop Lead-ing Procedures in order to com-plete it, while relying on their tactical skills to defeat the ene-my. Throughout the whole weekend, Cadets were constantly rotated into leadership positions such as platoon leader, platoon sergeant, and squad leader. These leader-ship positions help to build the

Teamwork, leadership honed during unique Joint FTX

By Cadet Nicholas Rombold

confidence and command pres-ence that each Cadet will need in order to commission as an of-ficer. The JFTX planning team worked with the cadre from Penn State and representatives from the Pennsylvania Army Reserve and National Guard in order to con-duct such a successful training exercise. Overall, the Spring 2017 JFTX was a huge success, and Cadets received some of the best training they had seen all year. Penn State Proud!

Cadet Jack Ryan (MSL III) helps his team during the

Leadership Reaction Course

A Cadet qualifies on the M16A1

at the range

A Cadet assaults through an objective during the Tactics Lane

THE LION’S ROAR Page 2

“It was one of the most difficult things I have ever done, but everyone ruck-ing finished, and I think that showed the strength of our battalion!”

-Cadet Maxwell Dunn (MSL I)

Cadets tackle unprecedented Freedom Fitness Challenge

By Cadet Hannah Levine

Each semester, Nittany Lion

Battalion Cadets have the

opportunity to participate in

the 2nd “Freedom” Brigade

Freedom Fitness Challenge.

The challenge began in the

fall of 2015 under brigade

commander COL Kenneth

Mintz. Each semester’s

challenge has increased in

difficulty ever since, with the

current one topping them all.

The first event of the chal-

lenge was held in February,

and consisted of a multitude

of individual skills such as

weight carries and pulls,

high and low crawls, sprints,

and three-to-five second

rushes.

The second event was two-

parted and was conducted

overnight from a Wednesday

evening into Thursday morn-

ing. First, the participants

conducted a 26.2-mile road

march with more than 35

pounds in their ruck sacks.

The route was a long loop

around State College that

was traveled twice during

the rainy night. 45 Cadets

and nine cadre members

started and ended the ruck

march together. A 100%

success rate is unique and

impressive given the caliber

of this event!

Immediately after the ruck

was completed, the Cadets

and cadre grabbed dummy

M16s, donned their kneepads,

and hit the mud for the second

part of their challenge– over

500 meters combined of bud-

dy rushes, high crawls, and

low crawls.

Despite the fatigue of just con-

ducting a marathon, the partic-

ipants drove on to display

functional fitness and resilien-

cy in this demanding fitness

challenge.

“The events leading up to the ruck were fun and chal-lenging. The ruck itself was a great personal chal-lenge. Around mile 18 or 20 was when it really got tough, and the rain didn’t help. Luckily, I had the right cadre and Cadets around me so we could all stay motivated and finish together”

-Cadet Daniel Geibler (MSL III)

The Participants after completing the 26.2 mile Ruck March

CPT Reed and SFC Hanes lead the formation

“Crossing that finish line at the end with all the oth-er participants was an amazing experience that I will never forget.”

-Cadet Rylee Fluharty (MSL I)

Page 3 THE LION’S ROAR

German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge Winners

By Cadet Hannah Levine

Over Spring Break this year, 30 Cadets and two cadre from the NLB competed for the German Armed Forces Proficien-cy Badge (GAFPB) at Bucknell Univer-sity. Out of the levels of Gold, Silver and Bronze badges to compete for, all of Penn State’s competitors earned either a Gold or Silver badge. The GAFPB is a decoration of the Bun-deswehr, the German Armed Forces. It can be awarded to both German and Al-lied Soldiers. In the United States Army, the GAFPB is one of the few foreign awards authorized to be worn on the uni-form, and it is one of the most sought after awards to achieve. To earn the GAFPB, our Cadets complet-ed a First Aid Course, a Chemical/Biological/Radiological/Nuclear protec-

tive gear test, a 100-meter swim test in ACUs, a 11x10 meter sprint, a flexed

arm hang, and a 1000-meter sprint, a pistol marksmanship test, and a foot

march.

Penn State’s GAFPB Winners

CDT Eric Behringer CDT Tyler Krause

CDT Cole Crouse CDT Jacob Lutz

CDT Landon Delisio CDT Dante Panucci

CDT Nick DeLissio CDT Lloyd Perry

CDT Mike Fisher CDT Marcella Raggio

CDT John Fitzgerald CDT Anthony Reed

CDT Ryan Freeman CDT Andrew Rosenberger

CDT Cody Frey CDT Nathan Rosenberger

CDT Tim Givens CDT Jack Ryan

CDT Domanick Gonzalez CDT Eric Schoenberg

CDT Alex Greatti CDT Matthew Smyrl

CDT Alec Hahn CDT Paul Tretter

CDT Cam Houk CDT Patrick Tuccillo

CDT Kierra Irwin CDT Noah Van Blarcom

CDT Erin Kalke CPT Andrew James

CDT Matthew Kasper SFC Jeremiah Smith

GAFPB Silver and Gold Winners

CDT Nick DeLissio donning MOPP gear

during the GAFPB Test in March

THE LION’S ROAR Page 4

Cadet Daniel Roberts (MSL I) in

Beaver Stadium for the Con-

tracting Recognition Ceremony

My first year at Penn State has been an incredible experience. As an Army ROTC Cadet and a Nursing Major, it has been busy, yet rewarding at the same time. I attribute my freshman year expe-rience to the Nittany Lion Battal-ion.

Older Cadets provided invaluable advice for success in the class-room and in ROTC, and the cadre helped make my transition into ROTC as smooth as possible. Although I still have plenty to learn, the cadre have already taught me a lot about the Army and what it means to be a good leader.

From the unforgettable Penn State versus Ohio State football

ROTC helps to make first

year successful

By Cadet Daniel Roberts

game to the JFTX, fresh-man year has given me the memories of a lifetime.

MSL III’s favorite leadership position so far

By Cadet Brenna Fisher

Last semester, I had the op-portunity to be the squad

leader for Alpha Company, 1st Platoon, 4th Squad. I really enjoyed my position,

and I think it was one of the most valuable learning expe-

riences I’ve had in the Nitta-ny Lion Battalion.

I enjoyed planning my own

Physical Readiness Training sessions and leading them,

but my favorite part by far was lab. During lab every

week, I would be validated

on the tactics material be-forehand, and then I was in

charge of instructing my

Cadet Brenna Fisher (MSL III)

squad members on Thursday afternoons.

Teaching the material in-creased my own knowledge and understanding of Army

tactics, and it also challenged me to learn more so I could

answer any questions that my squad members had. This gave

me good practice in reading, understanding, and locating the correct Army doctrine. Addi-

tionally, I was able to evaluate my own leadership and teach-

ing styles based on how my

squad members retained the material.

Outside of Army ROTC spe-cific events, we increased mo-rale through squad dinners.

Overall, I am extremely grateful for my squad leader experience and I look forward

to building off this experience in the future, in order to pre-

pare for my future position as a Platoon Leader after com-

missioning.

“Enjoy it while it lasts.” –any MSL III You’ll hear it any time you cross paths with an upperclassman Cadet while walking into the Wagner building. Every-one seems to view MSL II year as the glory days of ROTC, and I think I un-derstand why. The second year (for most of us) was when things

started to make sense. It’s when we were past our first exposure to the Army and felt comfortable enough to start figuring out each of our individual and distinct paths within it. The year also gave us our first dose of formal leader-ship, even if only on the smallest of levels. As team leaders, most of us are responsible for about three cadets. Our responsibilities

“We’re halfway between where we started and where we want to be.”

By Cadet Robert Ohly

(Starting from left) MSL II Cadets Michael Taraborrelli, Brennan Leitch,

Anthony Reed, Robert Ohly, and Paul Tretter at the Dining In

boil down to one fairly sim-ple task: making sure our team is “squared away.” It’s essentially the lowest leader-ship position on the Nittany Lion Battalion totem pole, but it’s something that has taught many of us what it’s like to feel genuine pride in the successes of those we’re

responsible for, while reflecting on ourselves to become trustwor-thy and capable. It’s a year to enjoy, and a year which ends with the realization that we’re halfway between where we started and where we want to be.

THE LION’S ROAR Page 5

Commander’s Corner

Incoming Commander Cadet Andrew VanderWeele

command ceremony, enjoy your sum-mer and good luck if you are attending any summer training, but come back in the fall ready to work. Seniors, good luck at BOLC and beyond, and may God bless all of your endeavors; how-ever never forget where you began. For the Glory!

The incoming battalion staff and com-mand team are extremely excited to step up and take the reins of the best Army ROTC battalion in the country. The battalion leadership has already met on multiple occasions to discuss to future of the battalion. However, the success of this battalion is not solely on the shoulders of the battalion staff. It is on every one of us to step up and encourage the better-ment of our battle buddies and our battalion. As I said at the change of

The spring 2017 semester was a great one for the Nittany Lion Battalion. We had great events from the formal tradition of the Dining Out, to the culminating and tactical Joint Field Training Exercise. We had many great accomplishments including 45 Cadets and nine cadre com-pleting the Freedom Fitness Challenge, and 30 Cadets receiving the German Armed Forces Badge in either silver or gold. The Battalion has made great strides in the facilities upgrading our cadre offices and Cadet Lounge to provide comforta-ble professional places for individuals to work, learn, and relax. Penn State is a great school that should be proud to have such an outstanding

AROTC Program. We as the Battalion need to remember what we stand for and live up to that every day no matter what. The Cadets are under new leadership with Cadet Andrew Vanderweele as the new battalion commander and they are in his very capable hands. He will lead the battalion to new heights and welcome one of the largest freshman class the organization has seen in re-cent years. Good luck to all the Cadets and cadre in their future endeavors. You are all capable of incredible things. -Lion 6, signing out.

Outgoing Commander Cadet Matthew Smyrl

The NLB’s change of command

ceremony earlier this month.

Right, CDT Andrew VanderWeele

receives the Battalion colors from

LTC Richard Garey, Professor of

Military Science.

212 Wagner Building

University Park, PA 16802

Phone: (814) 863-0368

Email: army.rotc@psu.edu

Penn State Army ROTC

Nittany Lion Battalion

The Nittany Lion Battalion is a Cadet-centered battalion, where the

seniors are the command team and lead a unit of over 300 Cadets on

two Penn State campuses: University Park and Altoona.

Penn State Army ROTC was one of the first units created by the Mor-

rill Land Grant Act in 1862. The unit was actually deployed during the

Civil War. Military instruction has been taught since the college be-

gan, and fell under the ROTC umbrella in 1917. During that year, the

Army and the PA National Guard used Penn State property to train

their Soldiers for WWI. During WWII, ROTC was created at the Berks

and Abington-Ogontz Campus in addition to the ROTC at University

Park. Altoona and Hazleton ROTC programs were created soon there-

after.

Currently, Penn State Army ROTC has four companies over two cam-

puses, and is the largest Army ROTC program outside of Senior Mili-

tary Colleges!

http://www.army.psu.edu

https://www.flickr.com/photos/psuarmyrotc/

We’re on the Web!

2006 NLB Alum and Army Chaplain, CPT Mike Cerula and his

Chaplain’s Assistant, SGT Chris Wheeler in Iraq earlier his year

Penn State Army ROTC Alumni Interest Group

By Mr. Brendan Bagley, NLB Alum and former Field Artillery Officer

“Jump Master B”

The Alumni Interest Group (AIG), primarily provides networking to current Cadets and alumni. We:

• Inform our alumni by dis-seminating information about the current Cadets via posting their newslet-ter.

• Host meetings twice a year during a fall home football game and week-end and Blue/White Weekend.

• Send out the minutes from the meetings to keep eve-ryone in the loop on our activities.

1969 Penn State

Ranger Team

This is a great organiza-tion, and there is nothing 'mandatory' regarding the AIG. I’ve seen the AIG benefit current officers with everything from branch transfers, to finding civilian employment.

If you are MSL IV you should join the Facebook group (‘Penn State Army ROTC AIG’) and at some time post and see how many alums are willing to help you.

For the glory! Penn State Proud!