Cadet Commander’s Corner By Cadet Jacob Morris

I would like to welcome eve-ryone back this year. It is my hope that everyone enjoyed their summer while staying safe and fit. MSIVs, I trust you enjoyed your time at LDAC. MSIs, IIs and IIIs, we have a lot of quality training ahead of us this year. We will have to work closely as a Battalion to execute our joint mission between SJU, CSB and SCSU. One team, one fight. MSIs are going to be expected to hit the ground running and catch as much as they can while enjoy-ing all that ROTC has to offer. MSIIs will need to adapt to re-ceiving extra responsibilities as they progress as leaders. MSIIIs are going to be expected to learn and fine-tune their skills, prepar-ing for LDAC summer of 2012. MSIVs will be given high expec-tations to develop the MSIIIs and

the rest of the underclassmen, while mentoring those they train. All members of the Battal-ion will need to hit the ground running and to complete all the training the MSIVs have pre-pared. As your Cadet Battalion Commander, I will push myself and the Battalion Staff so the MSIs, IIs and IIIs receive the best training we can give them to prepare them for LDAC and their future careers as U.S. Ar-my officers.

Initial Week By Cadet Michael Johnson

F I G H T I N G S A I N T S B A T T A L I O N S T . J O H N ’ S U N I V E R S I T Y ,

C O L L E G E O F S T . B E N E D I C T & S T . C L O U D S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y

Summer 2011 Fighting Saints Leader

What’s Inside:

Formations. They also had an opportunity to use the Engage-ment Skills Trainer (EST). Finally, they received instruc-tions on how to use the equip-ment they were recently given such as their uniforms, back-packs, and Load-Bearing Vest (LBV) and/or Load-Carrying Equipment (LCE). Initial week came to a close at the welcome dinner Friday evening that was sponsored by the MN Army National Guard. LTC Nelson gave a welcome speech and the Cadet Battalion Commander introduced himself to Cadets and their parents. Several contracting freshmen took their oath of of-fice and formally became Ca-dets. It was a great week and fun was had by all.

August 24th was the start of Initial week for the incoming MSI class this year. It started when they arrived at the St John’s campus and received help from Cadets in the MSII class with moving into their dorm rooms. The parents had a chance to meet the Cadre and the new Cadets got started on paperwork. The new Cadets had opportuni-ties to have some fun with a bonfire, watching a movie, and going to the ropes course at St Cloud State. They took their first PT test and had their first CWST (Combat Water Survival Test). There was also plenty of learn-ing time, as the Cadets had les-sons in Drill and Ceremony, Land Navigation, Marching and

From the PMS pg 2

From the SMI pg 2

Warrior Forge 2011 pg 3

Airborne School pg 3

CTLT pg 3

NSTP pg 4

AUSA pg 4

New Cadre Members pg 4

CULP pg 5

Leader Training Course pg 5

Air Assault Course pg 5

Sights from Summer ’11 pg 6-7 Fighting Saints Battalion welcomes Class of 2015.

Remember the differ-ence between a boss and a leader; a boss says "Go!" - a leader says "Let's go!"

Physical Fitness Program include a “300 Club” and increased objectives for each Cadet class. We will also increase our fo-cus in both land navigation training and situational training exercises. Our increased emphasis on Ranger Challenge (RC) and the Army Ten-Miler (ATM) is realized with 34 Cadets currently training for the RC Com-petition at Camp Ripley and 17 Cadets set to fly to Washington DC to compete in the ATM, tour our National Mall, and attend the Association of the United States Army National Convention.

Your Cadets are off to a great start! Congratulations to the incoming Freshmen Class who have stepped forward during a period of persistent conflict. They are motivated, disciplined and eager to suc-ceed. To the Corps of Cadets and most importantly its MSIV Leadership, we chal-lenge you to challenge, mentor, and care for your new MSI Cadets as they assimilate into your ROTC Program and college life. They are your legacy and the future of your program.

Once a Fighting Saint, always a Fighting Saint!

In the area of manning we made numerous changes to the Cadre Team over the summer, and I am confident that the team we have in place is more capable than ever. MAJ LeBlanc leads all recruiting and enrollment operations and with the quality and size of our incoming MSI class (over 55 incoming freshman) and the success that we have had at contracting MSIIs and MSIIIs, I would say that his team is off to a great start. Recent arrivals joining his team include LTC Jay DeCamps from Washing-ton DC, and CPT Mike Lohrenz from Fort Jackson, SC. LTC Zeitler will head our Operations Section with SFC Tajirian as his deputy. Together they will work close-ly with our MSIVs as they lead the Corps of Cadets. Our most recent Cadre addition to the Operations Section, CPT Richard Martinson, will assist as a project officer with special focus on Ranger Challenge and Bataan Marathon training.

We have also made significant developmental changes. Course start times are aligned to better support our Leader Professional Development Program, Men-torship Program, and the Cadet Garrison Orders Process. New initiatives to our

The train seems to be rolling full steam ahead for yet anoth-er busy fall. I trust everyone got some much needed

rest and we are ready to tackle future events. Warrior Forge was a great success, the MSIIIs sharpened their skills and the Cadre are eager to im-plement new ideas to better the Fighting Saints Battalion. One new change will be adding the Platoon Leader and Platoon Sergeant posi-tions to the command structure. This should improve the dissemination of information and give MSIIIs another opportunity to develop their leader-

ship skills. Congratulations to Cadet Morris for earning an overall “E” (the highest rating) at Warrior Forge, set-ting the standard for future MSIIIs to follow. Some Cadets had the oppor-tunity to attend Airborne School and Air Assault School, as well as spend time with an active duty unit. These experiences will continue to make the Fighting Saints Battalion stronger by enhancing the Leadership capabilities of the new MSIV class who will teach, coach and mentor the young, up and coming freshman, sophomores and juniors. The start of the year has arrived with the Ranger Challenge team in full swing. We have a secret weapon at our disposal with the Rang-er Challenge coach, CPT Martinson. He is a St John’s Alum and has led winning Ranger Challenge teams in

From the Senior Military Instructor MSG Thomas Biggerstaff

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the past. This year we have a large group of talented Cadets currently competing for a slot. The event will be held at Camp Ripley on the week-end of 14-16 October where we compete against seven other schools in our Brigade. I have high expecta-tions for this year’s teams. Our train-ing and events calendar is very crowded and it continues to demon-strate the level of dedication of our Cadets in achieving their maximum potential. The Cadets of the Fighting Saints Battalion are build-ing a new command and staff team which looks to be very strong and has the endurance to put forth 110% for the entire year. The FSB Cadre and I are looking forward to another great year.

From the Professor of Military Science LTC Thomas M. Nelson

As we start the Fall Semester, let us take a minute to reflect upon the many successes of our Corps of Cadets this past summer. In the Leadership Develop-ment and Assessment Course at Joint Base Lewis-McCord in Washington State, the

Capstone event of ROTC, our MSIIIs per-formed exceptionally well, with all 19 success-fully passing the course; their collective aver-ages beat the averages of Cadet Command in 8 of 10 events. 100% of our Cadets passed the Army Physical Fitness Test on their 1st attempt with scores which placed them in the top 20% of all ROTC Programs. Numerous Cadets also excelled in unique and challenging training opportunities to include Airborne School, Air-Assault School, Nurse Student Training Pro-gram, Cultural Understanding & Language Program, and Cadet Troop Leader Training. Despite our success, we must continue to adapt in order to maintain a competitive edge in achieving our mission of providing our Army with highly qualified 2nd Lieutenants.

Warrior Forge 2011 By Cadet Chris Boisjoli

This summer, Cadets from all over the United States and Puerto Rico went to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington to participate in the Leader Development and Assessment Development Course, also known as LDAC or Warrior Forge. While many of their classmates still on campus use this time to take a break from the rigors of schoolwork, Cadets who go

to LDAC spend their time preparing to be a leader in the United States Army. This year over 6,000 Cadets went to Warrior Forge to showcase their proficiency in the skills that they have learned. Warrior Forge was split into fourteen Regiments to allow for the large group to complete the rigorous training simultaneously.

CTLT By Cadet Gretchen Leyendecker

Ft. Bliss, Texas. This wasn’t exactly what I was thinking as I started my summer vacation, but it proved to be the most re-warding experience in my military career thus far. CTLT stands for Cadet Troop Leadership Training, and it gives Cadets the op-portunity to shadow a Se-cond Lieutenant so they

have a better idea of what they will be doing once they commission. I was assigned to the 204th Military Intelligence Battalion-Aerial Reconnais-sance. The unit primarily deploys to Columbia for three month rotations and gathers aerial photos in order to support ground missions. As a Cadet, I had the opportunity to shadow Second Lieutenants and Captains in three different companies within

the battalion. I was able to go on a training flight with two pilots who showed me what life was like in the cockpit and even learned the very basics of flying a plane. By visiting various battalion staff positions, I was exposed to how an entire battalion pulls everything together to complete its mission. On the last day of my experience, I was invited to attend the battalion formal. At the formal, we had a very interesting speaker, Keith Stansell, who is the longest held American hostage. He was captured by the drug lords in Columbia when his plane crashed. It was our unit that assist-ed in his rescue. He spoke about his experience in Columbia and touched on one of the most important Warrior Ethos never leave a fallen comrade. CTLT taught me how to ask the right questions and to not be afraid to make mistakes. It gave me confidence in my leadership abilities before I attended the Leader’s Devel-opment Assessment Course (LDAC). I recommend CTLT for any Cadet considering active duty as it puts the Cadet in full exposure of what the “real” Army is like and prepared me for being a future officer in the United States Army.

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AIRBORNE, AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY! By Cadet Jennifer Strege

While there, Cadets completed a twenty-nine day course which included events such as a physical fitness test, land navigation dur-ing the daytime as well as night, obstacle course, water confidence course, and movement techniques course. In addition to these cours-es, Cadets assumed various leadership positions. They demonstrated the seventeen leadership dimensions, as well as the seven Army Values. Each group of Cadets is assigned a tactics and counseling officer, as well as a noncommissioned officer that assesses their individual abilities for becoming a second lieutenant in the United States Army. FSB Cadets completed one to three years of training before going to this culminating event. While on campus, they are trained to excel at the different courses and leadership events to ensure they are well prepared for their LDAC experience.

This summer, four Fighting Saints Cadets including Chase, Stobb, Wirtz, and I earned our wings at the U.S. Army Airborne School at Ft. Benning, GA. The Airborne course is one of the few training events in the United States military that includes Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine personnel of almost every rank as trainees together in one installation. In three weeks,

Airborne school trains Soldiers to properly exit an aircraft and land safely to carry out a ground mission. Throughout training, attention to detail is constantly drilled into Soldiers because of severe inju-ries that can result from seemingly minor mistakes. The first week

of training, ground week, the instructors, also known as “black hats,” teach Soldiers correct exit techniques and execution of a parachute landing fall (PLF) as well as actions to take while in mid-air. The second week, tower week, Soldiers jump from 34 ft towers while demonstrating the skills learned throughout ground week and learn how to react to different types of malfunctions. During the third week, jump week, all Soldiers are required to make five jumps out of a C-130 or C-17 at 1250 ft. All of us learned a lot about the military and how hard we can push ourselves mentally and physically. We join a long line of paratroopers and will wear our wings with great respect and pride. Airborne!

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This summer I had the opportunity to participate in the Nurse Summer Training Program, or NSTP. NSTP is a 3-4 week internship that al-lows nursing students to work alongside an Ar-my nurse at one of the major army medical cen-ters. Immediately following LDAC, I was sent

to Hawaii to work at the Tripler Army Medical Center on the island of Oahu. I primarily worked with a 1st Lieutenant on the pediatric ward, but I also got to work in the ER and ICU for a day. On the pediatric ward I was able to care for children rang-ing from 1 week old to 20 years, and also cared for patients with a wide range of illnesses. On our days off, the group of Cadets and I explored the island and spent a lot of time hanging out on the beach. NSTP allowed me to see a snapshot of what my life will be like as a future Army Nurse, and also allowed me to hone my skills as I go into my last year of nursing school.

Congratulations to the 2011 Warrior Forge Graduates

Our chapter is named in honor of Jeremy Norberg, a Cadet who tragically died in a car accident two months shy of receiv-ing his commission. He was a fine example of the seven Army values and was posthumously appointed a Second Lieutenant. Your membership would be a great way to show your support to us and our Army. You would receive a subscription to a great magazine that educates and informs, whether you are a veteran or new to the Army family. You would also receive all member benefits. Annual, tax-deductible dues range from $20 for Cadets to $33 for Field Grade officers and civilians. See the Minnesota chapter’s website at www.vessey5401.org/ or call to learn more.

Voice of the Army Support for the Soldier

Consider joining one of the largest sub chapters of AUSA. Since 1950, the Association of the United States Army has worked to support all aspects of national security while advanc-ing the interests of America's Army and the men and women who serve. AUSA is a private, non-profit educational organiza-tion that supports America's Army - Active, National Guard, Reserve, Civilians, Retirees and family members. AUSA pro-vides our Cadets numerous Professional Development Oppor-tunities at a variety of events both local and national.

Nurse Summer Training Program By Cadet Francesca Levine

CDT Gretchen Leyendecker

CDT Ryan Miller

CDT Sam Mock

CDT Jacob Morris

CDT Matthew Mullet

CDT Rachel Stobb

CDT John Thompson

CDT Ben Zilka

CDT Francesca Levine

CDT Gregory Lentz

CDT Chris Boisjoli

CDT Marissa Daly

CDT Brad Down

CDT Ed Githiora

CDT Terence Glommen

CDT Maggie Gregg

CDT Patrick Heagel

CDT Ben Johnson

CDT Jakob Reding

LTC Jay A. DesCamps is one of the new Fighting Saints Battalion Assistant Professors of Military Sci-ence. LTC DesCamps joined the Army Reserve in 1981 and commissioned in 1985 as an Engineer Officer. He has

served for over 30 years in the US Army Reserve and Active duty. He deployed to Ramada, Iraq as a budget advisor to the provincial governor where he helped the province develop and execute their budget. LTC DesCamps’ last assignment was sta-tioned at the Pentagon as a CENTCOM Desk Of-ficer responsible for briefing senior leaders on events in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has held a vari-ety of leadership positions in his 30 years of ser-vice to include Engineer platoon leader, Company Executive Officer, Company Commander, Battal-ion Operations Officer, Division Liaison Officer, and Intermediate Level Education Instructor.

Welcome Our Newest Cadre Members CPT Michael S. Lohrenz is the other new Fighting Saints Battalion Assistant Professor of Military Science. CPT Lohrenz is a native of Glen-dive, Montana and enlisted in the Army in 1995 as an am-munition specialist. He at-tended college through the

Army Green to Gold program and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Engineering Tech-nology from Montana State University and a Master's Degree in Construction Engineering Management from Montana State University. His military education includes the Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic Course and the Air Defense Artillery Captains Career Course. He has held a variety of leadership positions to include Platoon Leader and Company Commander. CPT Lohrenz deployed in 2004 to Operation Iraqi Freedom and served as the Aide de camp to the Com-manding General of Multi-National Brigade Northwest in Mosul, Iraq.

CPT Richard W. Martin-son is the Fighting Saints Ranger Challenge Team advisor. He graduated from Saint John’s Uni-versity and commis-sioned in 2004 and is pursuing his Master’s Degree as a Physician Assistant. His military education includes the

Armor Officer Basic course, Airborne School, and Combat Diver Qualification Course. He was first assigned as a platoon leader with C / 1-34th Armor Battalion, 1st Infantry Division. He then did a Branch Transfer to the Infantry and was assigned as a Platoon Leader in the historic Bandido Charlie company, 1-16th Infantry Regt and then to Compa-ny Executive Officer for Bushmaster Company and deployed to Iraq in 2006 and 2007. Upon returning from deployment in September 2007, CPT Martin-son was re-assigned as the Commander of the 1st ID Horse Detachment until March 2009 when he left Active Duty, moved to Minnesota and is currently serving in the MN Army National Guard.

Cultural Understanding and Language Proficiency By Cadet Lucas Wuebben This past summer 400 US Army ROTC Cadets had the op-portunity to travel abroad as part of the Cultural Understanding and Language Proficiency (CULP) program. Cadets were sent abroad to over 40 countries, and each received a different experi-ence abroad depending on the mission of the trip. Some CULP groups studied foreign culture and language, some groups did humanitarian work, especially in Africa, and others were sent on military-to-military exchange trips. Ten Cadets including myself, were selected to travel to Cam-bodia and teach English and American Culture for three weeks at the Cambodian military’s National Defense University (NDU). It was an honor and a privilege to be a representative of the US Army to the Cambodian Soldiers. The trip was both fun and challenging as I had very little teaching experience, but the Cam-bodians were very energized and motivated by our being at NDU, and that enthusiasm only pushed the US Cadets to try as hard as we could to be effective teachers. Outside of the class-

Air Assault School By Cadet Vince Gonsior

The first phase is designed to familiarize students with various helicopters and their capabilities. Students also must pass a timed, six-mile ruck march to remain in the course. The second phase teach-es students how to conduct sling load operations so that supplies, personnel, and other assets can be transported by helicopter across the battlefield. Then third, and most popular phase, is the rappelling phase. During this phase, students can finally rappel out of a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter hovering over 100 feet off the ground. The final test on graduation day is the grueling 12-mile ruck march that must be completed in less than three hours.

Air assault school is a very rewarding course to complete. Be-cause it is so physically and mentally demanding, one can feel truly proud to wear a brand new set of air assault wings on their uniform. I graduated and returned to Saint John’s University very proud of what I had accomplished, and am a better trained Cadet for the experience.

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Half way through my sophomore year of college and my second year of participa-tion in the ROTC program here at Saint John’s Uni-

versity, I was thrilled to learn that I would have the opportunity to attend one of the most sought after schools the Army has to offer, Air Assault School, held at Camp Rilea, Oregon. Air Assault School is administered in three phases. The school first starts with the infamous zero day. Students must pass a two-mile run followed by a very physically demanding obstacle course in order to remain enrolled in the course. Upon completion of zero day, students are then officially enrolled into the course.

room, we did PT and played sports with our Cambodian students, and outside of NDU we had the opportunity to tour the country-side and visit the temple complex of Angkor Wat, or tour the killing fields of Pol Pot’s regime. This program was very helpful in developing my intercultural skills, as I’m sure it did for the other Cadets sent abroad for CULP. It is im-portant for future offic-ers and Soldiers to de-velop these types of skills.

Leaders Training Course By Cadet Tanner Petersen

This summer I had the opportunity to travel to Fort Knox, Kentucky, to spend a month with two hundred strangers and some very loud drill sergeants at LTC (Leaders Training Course). The experiences students encounter at LTC are meant to challenge prospective Cadets physically, mental-ly, and emotionally in order to get them ready to join the Re-serve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program after their sophomore year of college. As it turns out, it was one of the most fulfilling experiences I have ever had in my life. LTC allowed me to acclimate to the Army’s climate, and gain some military bearing. Between the exposure to marksman-ship, land navigation, physical training, marching, and

sleeping very little, I was challenged on many different dimen-sions to reach levels I never thought I could. By the end of LTC I had learned many new valuable things that I was now able to take back to my school, a Cadet that will help make me a better Cadet, and eventually a more knowledge-able 2nd Lieutenant. Most importantly I learned that the Army can help anyone to reach his or her full potential. LTC taught me that I can be a good leader only if I am an obedient follower and most im-portantly, that I, as leader, need to lead from the front and not expect my troops to do anything I would not do myself.

Cadet Wuebben in Cambodia.

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Sights from Summer 2011

CDT Stobb inspects her equipment at the Warrior Forge Central Issuing Facility.

CDT Wuebben assists CDT Huseth dur-ing summer land navigation training.

CDT Gonsior during Air Assault training.

CDT Daly and CDT Leyendecker prepare to head out on the Night Land Navigation course during Warrior Forge 2011.

2LT Gregory Lentz Commissioning at Warrior Forge 2011.

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FSB Cadet during pool Physical Training

Combat Water Survival Training during Initial Week.

CDT Thompson grades the APFT during Initial Week.

Sights from Summer 2011

Cadet Gresback at the High Ropes Course.

Cadets Hamand & Hillyer at the SCSU Challenge Course.

2nd Annual FSB5K Run/Walk

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If you are interested in ROTC or have any questions

please feel free to visit our office either at St. John’s or St. Cloud University campus. At SCSU we are located

downstairs Stewart Hall room 11 and at St. John’s we are located downstairs Guild Hall room 20.

This issue was compiled by:

CDT Marissa Daly, C/S-5

Fall Calendar

Fall FTX September 16-18

FSB 5K Run/Walk October 1

Army Ten Miler October 8-11

October Lab October 8

Ranger Challenge October 14-16

Dining In November 4

November Lab November 5

Veterans Day Parade November 12

Winter Commissioning December 17

Do you know a future Cadet?

If you know a young person who has the potential to be an Officer, tell them about us!

They don’t have to be from Minnesota!

We have great opportunities for Green-to-Gold; two/three/or four year scholarships

(CSB/SJU/SCSU may even pay for room & board);

and the Simultaneous Membership Program. Call 320-363-2717 for more info.

Department of Military Science Guild Hall, Room 020

FIGHTING SAINTS BATTALION ST . JOHN’S UNIVERSITY,

COLLEGE OF ST .BENEDICT & ST.CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY

Phone: 320-363-3218 http://armyrotc.com/edu/mnstjohns

E-mail: rotc@csbsju.edu

Please join us in our 2nd Annual Military Science Department (ROTC) 5K Run/Walk

ROTC 5K Run/Walk

A Team Building Event For All Ages

This event is brought to you by the Cadets of

St. Cloud State University, St. John's University & College of St. Benedict.

Army ROTC Department

When - Saturday – October 1st, 2011

7:45am - 8:45am – Late Registration/Check In

9:00am – 5K Run/Walk Start

11:00am - 11:30am – Award Ceremony

Where - St. John’s University Arboretum (Trail) System

George Durenberger Soccer Field, (Adjacent to the Palestra)

St. John's University, Collegeville, MN 56321