Fall 2015 Volume 1, Issue 1

IIT NROTC Unit

The Crow’s Nest II

MESSAGE FROM THE CO: A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE

After 28 years of service at 13 different commands, this is definitely the best job in the

Navy. I am humbled by the privilege in helping to prepare you, our future leaders in the

Navy and Marine Corps, in the Profession of Arms. There is not a more dedicated,

uniquely talented team of midshipmen at any of the 63 other NROTC units/consortia and

USNA -- because they’re all here in the NROTC Chicago Consortium -- especially at IIT

and UIC!

In August, we welcomed the five new fourth-class midshipmen into the unit during New

Student Orientation at the Navy’s Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes. It was

there that our upper-class midshipmen staff launched their leadership skills into action

by conducting small arms familiarization, sailing and swim qualifications, close order

drill, marching, military indoctrination and many, many PT sessions. You interfaced

regularly with your Fleet counterparts and observed a “capping ceremony” in which the

enlistees make that emotional transition from “Recruit” to “Sailor” towards the end of

boot camp.

In October, we held the Chicago Consortium drill competition with Northwestern and

Loyola universities this quarter, and the IIT/UIC team won both the Color Guard and

Endurance Team competitions. These were resounding successes and came close to

breaking some team records!

We held our Fall Military Ball at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Chicago. Retired USMC

Major General Mel Spiese, the IIT Marine Officer Instructor from 1983-1986, was our

guest of honor. The General’s experiences as a NROTC graduate and young Marine of-

ficer resonated clearly with all of you, not just the MECEPs and Marine Options in the

crowd.

The door is always open to our IIT/UIC NROTC alumni. If you know them, then please

let me know so I can invite them back home to share their knowledge and wisdom with

us.

I am proud of your achievements at school, in the unit, and out in the community. I know

each and every one of you will make a very positive difference in the Fleet/Field following

commissioning. Looking forward to seeing you around campus.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

NSO Week ...............................3

CAPT Stancy ............................4

CAPT Duncan ..........................4

LCS Shipyard ...........................5

Birthday Ball ............................6

IIT Drill Competition ...............7

SULE Lab .................................8

Endurance Lab.........................9

New Unit Staff Biographies

Captain Tom Brasek of Medford, NJ, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical

Engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 1987. He is presently assigned as

the Commanding Officer and Professor of Naval Science at the NROTC Chicago Consorti-

um with staffs located Northwestern University and Illinois Institute of Technology.

Following nuclear power and warfare specialty training pipelines, Captain Brasek served

in various engineering division officer jobs in USS FLYING FISH (SSN 673) and USS

BAINBRIDGE (CGN 25). His next sea duty assignment was Combat Systems Officer in

USS HAWES (FFG 53). Following this first department head tour, he transferred to USS

ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) and served as Electrical Officer. Captain Brasek’s next sea tours

were Executive Officer in USS LABOON (DDG 58) followed by Operations Officer in USS

KEARSARGE (LHD 3) and Commanding Officer in USS GUNSTON HALL (LSD 44).

Ashore, Captain Brasek was the Inner Range Officer at the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Train-

ing Facility in Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. He served as the Executive Assistant to the

Deputy Director for Naval Reactors (NAVSEA 08) in Washington, DC. He also completed

a tour at the Pentagon as the lead military strategist for developing warfare planning

scenarios in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Captain Brasek was

assigned to Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic as Officer-in-Charge of the Surface

Nuclear Propulsion Mobile Training Team, which readied aircraft carriers for safe, effec-

tive nuclear propulsion plant operations. Most recently, he was the Director of Inspec-

tions at the Board of Inspection and Survey ensuring Fleet material readiness through

periodic equipment/systems inspections and ship trials.

Captain Brasek holds a Master of Science Degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the

Naval Postgraduate School (1994) and in Engineering Management from Old Dominion

University (2012). He is a licensed Professional Engineer (Mechanical Engineering) in

the State of California.

MOI: CAPT DANIEL T. CARTICA

CO: CAPT THOMAS P. BRASEK

Captain Daniel T. Cartica, originally from

Pleasant Valley, NY, was commissioned

into the United States Marine Corps in

March 2011 through the Officer Candidate

Course. He is currently the Marine Officer

Instructor/Assistant Professor of Naval

Science at the NROTC Chicago Consorti-

um. Captain Cartica served as the Mainte-

nance Management, Motor Transporta-

tion, and Assistant Logistics Officer with

1st Battalion 5th Marines in Camp Pend-

leton, CA. During his time in Camp Pend-

leton, he deployed with the 31st Marine

Expeditionary Unit and Marine Rotational

Force-Darwin, respectively. Captain Car-

tica also served as the Headquarters Com-

pany Executive Officer with 5th Marine

Regiment.

Captain Cartica holds a Bachelor of Busi-

ness Administration in Finance from

George Washington University, MBA from

Norwich University, and is currently pur-

suing an Executive Certificate in Leader-

ship from the Kellogg School of Manage-

ment, Certificate in African Studies, and

also studying the Swahili language. He

teaches Evolution of Warfare and Am-

phibious Operations.

2

NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION WEEK

By MIDN 1/C Xavier Aragon

New Student Orientation is designed to welcome new members to the battalion, which

included and transform them from civilian college students to NROTC midshipmen. It is

fully planned and ran by midshipmen, emphasizing from day one the importance of peer

leadership within the program. Orientation requires students to focus and promote disci-

pline, as they receive information from their instructors immediately.

The week’s program involves physical training, classes orienting the students with the

Naval Service and its constituent parts and their missions, and instruction in discipline

and drill movements. Morning workouts encourage the new class to work together and

motivate each other in preparation for their first physical fitness assessment, conducted

at the end of the week. Topics ranging from basic Navy and Marine Corps knowledge to

uniform wear and proper customs and courtesies are taught every day. Moreover, the

students are at a civilian university, so much guidance is provided on time management,

class scheduling, and general tips on student life. It is an intense week, intended to inte-

grate the freshmen into their new role as members of the student Battalion and the Unit-

ed States Navy and Marine Corps.

The first day of NSO week begins as soon as new midshipmen arrive at their respective

units and are given a presentation welcoming them to the program. Once they have been

welcomed, students say goodbye to their parents and begin their check-in and adminis-

trative paperwork. The students are issued their uniforms and gear for the week. Once

everything is accounted for, they load up in the vans head to RTC Great Lakes for the

week.

Upon arrival at RTC they are instructed to get accountability of their gear and begin their

in house procedures. Around 1715, they experience the chow hall for the first time. After

chow they are given classes that cover uniform regulations and midshipmen regulations

as well as customs and courtesies. By 2000 it time for hygiene time and prep for the next

morning. (See Outline of NSO for continuation of NSO schedule of events.)

OUTLINE OF NSO

Day 2: Reveille begins at 0445. The mid-

shipmen PT by 0515. At 0730 the midship-

men take a tour of the Battle Stations

training area where they get to witness a

real capping ceremony of enlisted sailors.

Later on that day the midshipmen are put

through a swim qualification to determine

their level of experience of being in the

water. Once they have returned from their

swim quals midshipmen are given a SAPR

training (Sexual Assault Prevention and

Response). They are also taught rank

structure and the basics of the chain of

command. They then begin their first

close order drill practice. Close order drill

the most basic leadership-follower rela-

tionship that teaches both the importance

of knowing how to lead and knowing when

to follow.

Day 3: The midshipmen PT and get chow

to start the day. Their first event of the

day is seamanship training. Here the

midshipmen learn the basics of sailing like

how to tie specific knots. Then they go to

the SAMT (Small Arms Training). Here

the midshipmen learn gun safety and how

to fire a small arms weapon properly.

Once they’ve completed the SAMT train-

ing they are given classes that emphasize

the importance of fitness standards, drug

and alcohol abuse, and prevention of

hazing. They finish the day off with

another close order drill practice.

Day 4: By this time the midshipmen are

developing good habits and are displaying

proper customs and courtesies. They begin

the day with a mock PFT/PFA now that

they know what the fitness standards are.

They have another close order drill prac-

tice so that they begin to understand the

importance of discipline and attention to

detail. They spend the majority of the day

at the marina where they learn how to sail.

Learning how to sail involves classroom

time as well as hands on learning on how

to sail a small boat. The midshipmen are

given information and are required to take

a test the next day in order to have their

sailing qualifications.

Day 5: All day the midshipmen are out on

the water sailing. Once they return from

sailing they are given the opportunity to

speak with RADM Evans. Upon returning

to the living quarters the midshipmen

have a field day to clean up the area and

prepare to leave the next day.

Day 6: The midshipmen pack up all their

gear and make their way to the ACU

(Assault Craft Unit). Here the midshipmen

learn about the reserve units and go

underway on the small craft boats. To

complete NSO week they are put into

formation and are officially sworn in as

United States Navy Midshipmen. All

hands then have a BBQ and build camara-

derie so that the new midshipmen inte-

grate into the battalion.

MIDN 4/C performing a fire safety drill during the later part of NSO Week.

3

Active Duty Officer Visits

By MIDN 4/C Kyle Luciu

Captain Duncan visited the IIT NROTC unit on to share his success story as the Commander of

an SSN with the NROTC Midshipman. CAPT Duncan covered many specifics involving the

making of and career path of an Unrestricted Line Submarine officer. The initial part of his

presentation covered the different types of submarines and each of their specialties and mis-

sions. Later in his presentation, CAPT Duncan discussed the “pipeline” that a commissioned

naval officer must go through in order to officially become a nuclear submarine officer. The first

phase is Naval Nuclear Power School or NNPS where students will spend 24 weeks learning the

knowledge necessary to operate a nuclear reactor. Next students attend a 26 week hands on

learning period, on everything in submarines, called prototype. Finally students will be sent to

their different schools to learn additional advanced information on their specific submarine

class. But the work isn’t over once a submarine officer completes school, he or she will have to

manage a department of highly trained enlisted personnel for three years before obtaining their

“dolphins” or unrestricted line qualification. CAPT Duncan concluded that the submarine com-

munity is a very difficult yet rewarding community that most officers strive to someday take

command of their own submarine.

EDO: CAPT STANCY

SUBS: CAPT DUNCAN

By MIDN 3/C Kasie Braun

This past October the midshipmen at IIT and UIC had the chance to

hear about a unique opportunity for surface warfare officer selectees.

U.S. Navy Captain Stancy and a lieutenant came to discuss the duties

and perks of becoming an engineering duty officer, including exactly

how to get selected for the job. An engineering duty officer has many

unique responsibilities in areas of fleet maintenance support, acqui-

sition program management, and research and development. These

duties may include the design, acquisition, construction, repair, and

disposal of ships, submarines, aircraft carriers, and the systems on

these platforms. The captain and lieutenant explained that to be-

come an engineering duty officer after completing the NROTC pro-

gram, the midshipman must first select the surface warfare commu-

nity as his or her main choice for service selection. Once a surface

warfare officer, the young officer will opt to become an EDO

(engineering duty officer) after completing his or her warfare qualifi-

cation and, at minimum, a sea tour.

The presenters suggested that the engineering duty of-

ficer community is a small, but elite community of intelligent and

focused members. They stated that the community only makes up

about 1.5% of the active-duty commissioned officer pool. Further,

engineering duty officers have broad experiences and gain a vast

amount of technical expertise.

In order to connect to present experiences of the midshipmen as

students, the captain and lieutenant both emphasized the im-

portance of planning and having several back-up options if life

doesn’t quite work out the way one would have liked. Especially in

regard to becoming an EDO, the presenters focused on planning for

the future in order to fulfill the goals that one may have.

In all, the midshipmen enjoyed the opportunity to hear from a

unique part of the fleet and to discuss one of the many opportunities

available to them.

3 TYPES OF SUBS

In a brief rundown, these submarines

are: Fast Attack Submarines (SSNS),

Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBN),

Guided Missile Submarines (SSGN).

All of these sleek submarines are

equipped with the latest and greatest

implements of stealth, surveillance,

and destructive capabilities, causing

them to be the most feared weapons

in the world. Each of the three classes

have different capabilities and there-

fore missions. Attack submarines, or

SSNS class, were constructed as ship

hunters, with powerful strike capabil-

ities SSNS are able to take out a wide

variety of targets including other

submarines. The silent defenders of

our nation, the SSBN were built for

the sole role of nuclear deterrence.

The elite SSBN can operate underwa-

ter for months on end while carrying

nuclear strike capabilities, therefore

it’s absolutely necessary that its crew

can operate together in any given

situation. Finally, SSGN, Ohio class,

or “Boomers” are the most potent of

the three classes of submarines, they

can carry a payload of over 150 nucle-

ar capable tomahawk missiles allow-

ing an attack at great range on multi-

ple targets.

4

LCS SHIPYARD VISIT

By MIDN 2/C Ignatiy Orlovskiy

A group of IIT, NU, and Loyola Midshipmen recently went to visit the small town of Marinette, Wisconsin. It is home to the Freedom

Class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), where 3 have already been built and 9 more are on the way.

The LCS platform is designed to operate in shallow waters for mainly the purpose of counterpiracy and counternarcotics missions.

There are several factors that make the LCS class unique: they are designed to work with mission modules; they have a very reduced

crew compared to other US Navy vessels; they sail at about 50 knots; they are designed to operate alone, but could possibly be part of

a group of LCS ships.

One of the design concepts of the LCS class was to be able to completely change mission type in a matter of two days. To facilitate

this, the ship has a cavity that fits a mission package, and this package can be interchanged with moderate ease. Packages include

surface warfare (where a 5 inch gun is loaded into the module bay and a RHIB is loaded into the aft), counter mine warfare, and

others. Even housing and additional computers are modular; a box resembling a freight container with housing to accommodate five

can be added when additional contractors or sailors are needed for a particular mission type.

The reduced crew is due to the size of the vessel. Some departments have only 3 sailors (compared to 60 or so on a Destroyer). The

engine bay, for example, has no watchstander – there are CCTV cameras and sensor arrays to monitor the space for fires or hazards.

A sailor only goes into the space when necessary. Cuts such as these mean sailors have many more collateral duties on the LCS class

compared to other surface ships. This leads to a very fast advancement rate, although making Chief tends to be difficult because the

achievements are hard to quantify on paper.

The incredible speed of almost 50 knots is due to the ship being designed almost as a giant jet ski. In the Freedom class, two of the

four engines have the ability to direct their thrust in any direction, giving the vessel the ability to dock or pull off complex maneuvers

without the assistance of tug boats. When why the pain job on a recently completed LCS ship looks incomplete (the entire super-

structure was unpainted), the site director explained that by deciding not to pain the superstructure, 4 tons of weight are saved. It is

through these kinds of cuts to the weight that the vessel is able to reach such speeds.

The bridge also suffers from personnel cuts. The Helmsman and Lee Helmsman positions were completely eliminated, for example.

The Officer of the Deck himself goes and adjusts the speed and direction of the rotors at the control panel (which looks like the throt-

tle of an airplane, but also rotates from side to side).

One of the completed ships will undergo shock testing in the following months. This entails conducting controlled explo-

sions at distances from the vessel with the crew on board in order to observe how the structure handles the shock wave stress.

The future is looking bright for junior surface warfare officers, as the LCS platform is proving to be a challenging but

lucrative career option.

The group that ventured off to Marinette, and some sights from the LCS Shipyard.

5

CLASS OF 2016

The graduating, class

of 2016 1/C

midshipmen walked

under the sword arch

with their dates:

From Northwestern

University’s unit

were MIDN 1/C Han-

nah Brachfeld,

USNR, MIDN 1/C

Ethan Ernst,

USNR, and Midn

1/C Craig Sabath,

USMC.

From Illinois Insti-

tute of Technology’s

unit were Midn 1/C

Blake Manuel,

USMC and MIDN

1/C Watts, USNR.

We wish the Class of

2018 the best in all

they do. They will

surely become able,

inspiring leaders of

our beloved U.S.

Navy and Marine

Corps!

NAVY & MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY BALL

By MIDN 3/C Genelle Arandia

The ballroom held a quiet, professional re-

serve embedded within its obvious sophisti-

cation. Lit in a soft yellow glow, midship-

men, officers, and enlisted alike, quite dapper

in their SDBs, entered the ballroom with

their equally elegant dates: They were seated

according to designated name cards in round

tables covered in richly blue cloth spread

around the room, and engaged in excited

chatter about the annual NROTC Chicago

Consortium event that was about to unfold.

The venue was beautiful, the honored guest

was well-accomplished and highly admired,

and both Chicago NROTC units were joined

together for a night of heritage, camaraderie,

honor, and celebration marking the 240th

birthdays of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

The U.S. NROTC Chicago Area units held the

annual Navy and Marine Corps Birthday Ball

on Friday, November 6th, 2015, and was

organized by MIDN 2/C Orlovskiy. The

Guest of Honor was greatly decorated Major

General Melvin, G. Spiese, USMC. Major

General Spiese commissioned via the NROTC

program at University of Illinois, Urbana-

Champaign, and during his lauded military

career served as the Marine Officer Instruc-

tor at the IIT NROTC unit. At the height of

his military career, Major General Spiese was

assigned as Deputy Commanding General, I

Marine Expeditionary Force, and Command-

ing General, I Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

Following the reception, the sounding of

Adjutant’s Call began the customary schedule

of events, beginning with the invocation and

sword escort leading to the procession of this

year’s graduating seniors. After the senior

procession was the arrival of the Midshipman

Battalion Commanders and, most notably,

the arrival of the Guest of Honor, Major

General Melvin, G. Spiese, USMC, followed

by the Commanding Officer, Captain Thomas

P. Brasek, USN.

The posting of the colors proceeded under

the narration of Midn 4/C Nicholas Busalac-

chi, and afterwards followed the POW/MIA

Table and Honors Ceremony narrated by

MIDN 1/C Leana Osmer. The Joint Birthday

Cake Cutting Ceremony ensued, with the

oldest and youngest members of the consor-

tium playing key roles, being Sgt Gerald Victa

and MIDN 4/C James Schuller, respectively.

Before dinner, the reading of the services

birthday messages occurred via videos from

each respective service.

After a very delectable dinner, the Com-

manding Officer’s remarks followed and then

Major General Spiese commanded everyone’s

attention with a concise, yet incredibly mov-

ing speech regarding the true impact and

importance of leadership. The night ended

as the floor opened for dancing and general

festivities.

This year’s Birthday Ball, like every year’s

before and every year’s to come, was filled

with fun, inspiration, and perhaps most

importantly of all, the honor and tradition

that makes the Navy and Marine Corps great-

ly admired and respected. It reminds every-

one who took part in such grand celebration

who we are as the Navy and Marine Corps:

The inspiring members of the past and pre-

sent, as well as the youthful, eager officers of

the future.

6

“You really push yourself to the limit of what you can do.”

By MIDN 3/C Jasmyn Maier

The annual Consortium Drill meet took place on October 24th, a day of classic roller-

coaster Chicago weather. The day began early with IIT Midshipmen gathering gear and

clearing the drill deck. After a customary opening speech from the unit staff, this time

from Commander Holihan, and a brief from MIDN 2/c Adelman, IIT’s color guard team

performed with MIDN 3/c Newberry commanding, while Gunnery Sergeant Williams and

Master Sergeant Hughes began judging. Following IIT’s performance was Northwestern

University’s color guard team, commanded by MIDN 1/c Ernst.

Next up were the drill teams. First to go was NU, commanded by MIDN 3/c

Palamountain. After, MIDN 2/c Adelman commanded IIT’s drill team around the drill

deck. MIDN 4/c Hunt, a member of the drill team described his first drill meet as “a ton

of fun.” He said, “I was nervous, but getting to compete against our fellow Midshipmen

was a lot of fun. My favorite part was the E-team race, where you really had to push your-

self to the limit of what you could do.”

After a quick downpour of rain, the Endurance Race began with the KIM game (a

memory game that marks the beginning and end of the endurance race). The endurance

race was approximately 5.2 miles, with nine events, including pull ups, relays of bear

crawls, crab walks, wheel barrels, 100 team sit ups, 100 flutter kicks, and stretcher carry,

250 yard ammo can carry, 200 burpees, 400 ammo can lifts, firemen carry, and finally, at

the end, a 75m tire flipping race. To wrap it all up, E-teams finished the KIM game by

trying to recall items they viewed at the beginning of the race.

At the end of the drill meet, midshipmen and unit staff changed into civilian

attire and had lunch in the IIT Bog while XO announced the results of each competition

and overall victor of the IIT Drill Competition. IIT’s color guard came in first, drill team

came in second, and E-team 1 came in first. In all, IIT won the Consortium meet, and

Midn 1/C Manuel accepted the trophy.

CHICAGO CONSORTIUM DRILL MEET

7

SULE LAB

By Midn 4/C Nicholas Busalacchi

On 17 Nov 2015, we held our IIT/UIC NROTC SULE lab. The

small unit leadership exercise is a small group interactive activi-

ty intended to build leadership skills, evaluate peers, grow cama-

raderie within the unit, and gain valuable team working experi-

ence. Led by Midn 4/C Busalacchi and organized by the battal-

ion operations officer, Midn 2/C Frank, the SULE lab was a

great way to kick off the battalion activities for the fall semester

following new student orientation week.

Thankfully, the weather turned out for us and we

were able to complete all four of the lab stations we prepared

for. Each station had a 10 minute time guideline: one minute for

strategizing, eight minutes for completing the task at hand, and

one minute at the end for the station evaluators – consisting

primarily of MIDN staff – to de-brief the groups on how well

they did, and in what areas they could improve. At the end of the

10 minute cycles, each group had to hit the pull up bars and

every MIDN completed a max set of pull ups. Small unit leader-

ship and physical fitness, a winning combination. For each sta-

tion, groups had to switch who was their lead MIDN, giving all

members a chance to be evaluated on leadership and teamwork.

We kicked the lab off by getting into boots-and-utes after the

brief and splitting into small groups. The first station was called

gutter ball: MIDN had to get as many ping pong balls from one

bucket to another, standing in a line side by side, using only note

cards and their short minute of planning to complete the objec-

tive. The station proved to be quite easy, so midway through the

first group’s attempt, MOI Capt Cartica ordered that MIDN

complete 20 push-ups for every 20 balls transferred. Again,

adding the crucial and essential factor of physical fitness. In the

end, the station was a great example of the importance of effi-

ciency within a small sized group to prudence maximum results.

After gutter ball, MIDN maxed out their pull ups and headed to

landmines. The most technical station of the four, landmines

utilized a 20sqft area, littered with landmines (Gatorade bottles)

left and right, front and back. In this station, one MIDN would

stand blindfolded on one side of the minefield, and one other

MIDN – the group’s lead MIDN - would stand alongside and

direct the blindfolded MIDN verbally to the other side without

stepping on a mine. Landmines was host to many trials, tribula-

tions, and laughs, and in the end had the least number of groups

to complete the objective than any other station. It was a great

way for MIDN to be put at a disadvantage and learn to adapt

and overcome.

The difficulties of landmines was near paralleled with station

three, the shrinking blanket. At the shrinking blanket, MIDN

were tasked with their entire team keeping two feet firmly plant-

ed on the blanket for 15 seconds at a time, broken up by folding

the blanket in half. This proved great for MIDN of all sizes, as

the larger MIDN acted as immoveable objects for the smaller

MIDN to take hold of and stay on the blanket, consistently halv-

ing in size. The shrinking blanket showed MIDN how to utilize

all members of the group to the best of their abilities while stay-

ing as time a spatially efficient as possible.

Lastly, the station combining all traits of leadership, teamwork,

physical fitness and strategization, was islands. Islands was the

largest scale station consisting of three islands of different shape

and size, and two narrow wooden planks for transport. MIDN

had to get their entire team from one island to another, showing

complete control at each stop. Some groups went to the lengths

of removing their boots to reduce consumption of surface area

and more effectively assemble onto the islands. In the end, the

group with the most trips from island one to three had some

serious bragging rights.

In the end, the lab was a very successful activity, bringing MIDN

together in adverse situations to complete the end objective of

winning the greatest amount of stations, and gain some valuable

and necessary knowledge that will lead to prepared and engaged

officers out in the fleet.

8

By MIDN 4/C Michael Garcia

On November 3rd, 2015, the midshipmen of IIT/UIC NROTC unit conducted an endur-

ance lab. The goal of the endurance lab was for Midshipman to receive additional physical

training during lab time while also challenging and building their teamwork skills in a

physical and stressful environment as well as promote and practice leadership within the

two teams competing against each other.

The endurance lab kicked off at 0830 and did not conclude until 0930. It was held in the

Keating field of the IIT campus. The lab consisted of two teams racing against each other

in the three stations. Throughout the exercise, the teams were timed and also observed to

ensure that rules were followed while completing each station.

Station One was a tire flip in which two tires, one for each team, were flipped a distance

of 75 meters by the entire team. Every 75 meters, the midshipman team would receive a

point and would begin to flip the tire back to score another point. The midshipman team

with the most points after ten minutes would win the event. Team one suffered a casualty

when the tire was flipped and fell on team members leg. After the swift action of lifting

the tire off the injured midshipman and attending to their downed teammate, Team one

continued on with the event, with another midshipman stepping in as their replacement.

After team two won the event, both teams hydrated and continued to the next station.

Station Two was an Indian run around the Keating track. The two teams scored points

each lap ran doing Indian runs while staying together. They were given ten minutes to

complete as many laps possible. Each Midshipman was required to carry one of the two

ammo cans, one jug of water, and one backpack. While running, Midshipman worked

together by communicating and trading off each item. Team one won this event and both

teams hydrated and continued to the final station.

The endurance lab concluded with Station Three which was a circuit that both teams ran

through at the same time. It was a relay style event in which both teams sent one Mid-

shipman at a time and could not send the next Midshipman until they completed the

course. The first team with every Midshipman having completed the course would win.

Team one finished first, winning the event and the endurance lab. After hydrating and an

afterword from the observing Unit staff members, the endurance lab was concluded at

0930.

The endurance lab was a great experience for Midshipman to build camaraderie and test

their physical and mental strength while competing in a stressful environment. By moti-

vating and working together with their teammates, both teams successfully completed

each station and excelled in taking this opportunity to improve their physical and mental

readiness.

ENDURANCE LAB

9

________________

________________

________________

PLEASE PLACE STAMP HERE

IIT NROTC

3300 S. Federal Street Chicago, IL 60616

Phone: (312) 567-8963

E-mail: nrotc@iit.edu