Fall 2016 Volume 1, Issue 3

IIT NROTC Unit

The Crow’s Nest

MESSAGE FROM THE CO: A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE

Greetings IIT NROTC Family and Friends,

Wow! Another busy semester is rapidly winding down. Just a few months ago, we kicked it off

with New Student Orientation at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes for a second consecu-

tive year. On 29 October we conducted the Chicago Consortium Drill Competition and Endurance

Team Challenge at Illinois Tech. Our NROTC Consortium Flag Officer Sponsor, RADM Lisa

Franchetti (a 1985 graduate of Consortium) was there to present opening remarks and stayed for

the squad and drill team events. Moreover, yours truly competed in the Endurance Challenge,

causing his team to finish last of the five teams in the competition. Two days later, our Color

Guard was standing tall at Soldier Field to present the colors during the National Anthem at the

Chicago Bears-Minnesota Vikings game on Monday Night Football.

The Consortium Field Exercise was conducted at Camp Marseilles, IL, during the first week of

November. It provided our Marine-option and other aspiring Marine midshipmen with valuable

core competencies needed to prepare them for OCS. This event was followed closely by the quad-

rennial NSTC Inspector General Assist Visit on 07-10 November. The Consortium performed

very well during this detailed review and assessment of 33 NROTC programs from financial,

property, and student records to Naval Science instructor requirements, physical readiness as well

as progress on managing other Navy programs. We earned an “outstanding” overall, which is a

testament to the care and dedication of the NROTC Staff as steadfast process owners. Finally, we

held our Annual Navy and Marine Corps Birthday Ball on 18 November at the Union League

Club of Chicago. RADM Mike White, Commander, Naval Education Training Command, (my

boss’s boss) was our guest of honor.

The unit also provided selfless volunteer hours locally by working to feed the less fortunate

through the St. James Parish Soup Kitchen ministry and serving as judges in the Chicago region

NJROTC physical readiness competition hosted by the Westinghouse College Preparatory School.

Our midshipmen have performed superbly and earned the privilege to recharge their batteries by

spending time with family and friends during the upcoming Winter Break. It will be a great op-

portunity for them to forget about school work and early morning NROTC unit events in the

windy cold of Chicago (at least for a little while).

With Veterans Day still fresh in our minds, let us not forget the men and women who have gone before us, especially those making the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. The Navy and Marine

Corps team has been at this for 241 years, and we will continue steadfast in the service of our

Nation. You, too, are part of the legacy in the Profession of Arms. We are looking forward to

your visit back to Chicago soon!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

New Staff Members .................2

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

Consortium Drill Meet.............4

FEX ..........................................5

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

MIDN BATCOM ......................8

St James Volunteering ............9

New Unit Staff Biographies

Commander Vosler was commissioned through the Naval Aviation Cadet (NAVCAD)

program. Following flight training in Corpus Christi, Texas and Pensacola, Florida, he

was designated as a Naval Aviator in 1992. He graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronauti-

cal University with a Bachelor and Master of Science in Aeronautics.

Fleet assignments include: Antarctic Development Squadron 6 (VXE-6); Helicopter Anti-

Submarine Squadron Light 37 (HSL-37); Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 42

(HSL-42); USS BELLEAU WOOD (LHA 3) and USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74) with

LAMPS deployments on USS CHOSIN (CG 65), USS YORKTOWN (CG 48), and USS

ANZIO (CG 68).

Staff assignments include: Washington D.C. Placement Officer, Navy Personnel Com-

mand; Deputy Chief in the Command Center and Continuity Branch Chief, Contingency

Operations Division, US Northern Command; Executive Officer, Naval Air Station

Sigonella, Italy; Commanding Officer, Navy Operational Support Center Tulsa; and cur-

rently assigned as Executive Officer and Associate Professor of Naval Science at the

NROTC Chicago Consortium with staffs located at Northwestern University and Illinois

Institute of Technology.

Commander Vosler has more than 3000 flight hours in various military aircraft and his

awards include: Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two

awards), Air Medal (1st Strike/Flight Award), Joint Commendation Medal, Navy and

Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement

Medal (three awards), National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star and various oth-

er service and campaign awards.

AMOI: MASTER SERGEANT DONALD HUGHES

XO: COMMANDER ERIC VOSLER

Master Sergeant Hughes serves as the

Assistant Marine Officer Instructor

within the Department of Naval Science

at Northwestern University and Illinois

Institute of Technology.

MSgt Hughes is a native of Toledo, Ohio

and enlisted in the USMC in Sept.

2000.

After enlisting he completed Recruit

Training at Parris Island, SC and Ma-

rine Combat Training at Camp Lejeune,

NC and then on to Artillery Cannoneer

school at Ft. Sill, OK earning the Can-

noneer military occupation special-

ty, and was assigned to 1st BN,

12th Marines in Kaneohe Bay, HI. After

being re-classed to Fire Support Man he

reported to 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liai-

son Company (ANGLICO) in Okinawa,

Japan in Jan. 2005. He completed 2

combat tours in Iraq in support of Op-

eration Iraqi Freedom. In April of 2008

he reported back to Parris Island to

attend Drill Instructor School. During

this tour he served as a Drill Instructor,

Senior Drill Instructor, Chief Drill In-

structor and Quality Assurance Evalua-

tor. In March of 2012 he reported to

2nd BN, 11th Marines aboard Camp

Pendleton, CA as a Fire Support Liaison

Chief, four months later he was individ-

ually augmented to the 7th Marine Reg-

iment in 29 Palms, CA in order to de-

ploy as a Regimental Targeting Chief to

Afghanistan in support of Operation

Enduring Freedom. In August 2014, he

reported to his current duty serving as

the Assistant Marine Officer Instructor

for both NROTC units.

His personal awards are 3 Navy and

Marine Corps Commendation Medals,

Army Commendation Medal, Navy and

Marine Corps Achievement Medal, 5

Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals.

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NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION WEEK

By MIDN 4/C Helpisis Genao

On 16AUG16, the new 4/C Midshipmen

began their journey to becoming future

officers in the United States Navy and

Marine Corps. It started with a meeting

with Captain Brasek and our parents as an

introduction and on what the general

overview of the week would be like. As soon

as the meeting had finished we had to be

locked on and we were to be silent unless

spoken to and refer to oneself as a midship-

man. We learned quickly how to greet the

upper classmen and active duty staff

members. As soon as we changed into our

uniforms and received everything we

needed, we headed out to Northwestern to

meet with the other 4/C midshipmen as

well as the rest of the staff. We were to

recite and read knowledge. Then we

traveled to Great Lakes Naval Station where

we would be staying for four days learning

and experiencing life in the military. Upon

arrival, we were to always sound off, move

with speed and intensity, and execute

proper customs and courtesies.

Throughout the week we experienced and

learned things about the Navy and Marine

Corps that we should know. We learned

about sexual assault and how to prevent

them, the importance of diet and exercise,

ranks and insignias, and much more. These

were essential to learn about fleet and how

to take control of situations that would be

sometimes hard to handle. We were also

taught how to properly wear our uniform.

We were taught how to roll our sleeves,

blouse our boots, and other simple but

much needed things like how to shine our

shoes. We also learned how to march.

During the nights we would hold one-hour

fire watches and must report in with the

accountability and security of the area. In

the mornings, we would have PT sessions

and PRT sessions to experience the intensi-

ty physical fitness. We were also brought

into a confidence chamber in which we

would be gassed so we could gain confi-

dence for the future in knowing that we

could overcome it and stay calm. We also

were taken to a weapon training facility

where we learned how to properly holster,

hold, and shoot a weapon. The weapons did

not contain live ammo but it was being

connected to a pressurized tank that gave it

a slight recoil. On the last day before our

departure we were taught how a vessel

docks and undocks, then debriefed by

Captain Brasek. We learned how to lay the

rope, tie it, hook it, and throw it. This was

also a very important learning experience

because of its life like simulation that could

benefit us in the future.

This experience was fun and eye opening. I

did not know what to expect exactly but

once the yelling and intimidation started I

knew it got serious and fast. I am sure I am

not the only but I was very flustered,

stressed, nervous and tired. Physically

drained because I was not physically

prepared, but through this, there was a

sense of commitment and pride because I

could be part of something bigger. My

favorite parts of the week were the confi-

dence chamber and weapon training

because it was thrilling and my first time

doing anything of that sort. The experience

was great because of it being eye opening

and educational and I would do it over

anytime.

3

Fall 2016 Events

Following the drill competition was the color guard competition. This time, IIT’s color guard team

went first with MIDN Hunt and the color guard commander. Next went Northwestern’s color guard

team with Midn Peters as the color guard commander. Both teams performed exceptionally well, with

no clear winner to the audience. Once all was completed, the scores for the color guard teams were

added up with IIT coming out on top. Although it was a close call, it was a much-needed victory for IIT

to tie the score.

After all drill and color guard equipment had been stowed away, the endurance teams began getting

ready to kick off the race. The race comprised of 5 stations. At each station, the teams were required to

complete a certain set of workouts. Once the teams reached the 5th station, they would turn around

and continue back to the starting point, completing more workouts along the way. The endurance race

also included challenges such as carrying a stretcher with a dummy too and from two stations and also

a submersion in the lake before running the last 1-mile stretch to the finish line. During the entire

race, which was about 5 miles in length, the teams were required to carry two 35 lb. packs. IIT’s team 1

came in first only a few minutes before Northwestern’s team 1, securing the drill meet victory for IIT.

The drill meet concluded with an award ceremony at IIT’s Bog, where Midshipman from both IIT and

Northwestern enjoyed food and drinks. Although IIT won the drill meet, both NROTC Units were

successful in demonstrating

their abilities in close order

drill, through the drill and

color guard competitions, and

physical fitness, through the

endurance race, while also

strengthening the camaraderie

and cohesion of the Chicago

area consortium.

CONSORTIUM DRILL MEET

By Midn 3/C Michael Garcia

On October 29th, midshipmen from both

units competed in the 2016 Chicago area

consortium drill meet. The drill meet was

held at IIT’s Keating Gym and along the

Chicago lakeshore path for the endurance

race. The purpose of the drill meet was to

allow the Midshipmen to demonstrate the

lessons and skills taught by unit instructors

pertaining to close order drill and physical

fitness by competing against each other in

the events of drill, color guard, and an

endurance race. The drill meet also helped

to build camaraderie and cohesion between

the two Chicago area consortium NROTC

units.

The drill meet was ordered with the drill

meet first, then color guard, and lastly the

endurance race. The drill and color guard

events were held inside Keating gym with

the endurance race starting at Keating gym,

looping too and up the Chicago lakeshore

path, and finishing back in front of Keating

gym. The school that won two of the three

drill meet events would be declared the

winner. The IIT

NROTC unit was the

winner of the 2015

Chicago area consorti-

um drill meet and was

eager to keep their title

while Northwestern

was determined to

redeem themselves this

year.

After getting accounta-

bility, staging all neces-

sary gear, and grabbing

some breakfast chow,

the drill meet began

with the drill competi-

tion. Northwestern

went first, with Midn

Placek as the drill com-

mander. IIT’s drill team followed North-

western’s performance with Midn Garcia as

the drill commander. Once the scores were

tallied and compared, the Northwestern

drill team was determined the winners of

the first event.

ENDURANCE RACE

4

FIELD TRAINING EXERCISE

By MIDN 4/C Steven Pohl

On November 4th midshipmen from the NROTC Chicago Consortium participated in the Fall 2016 FEX (Field Exercise) held by the

Army National Guard Reserve Base in Marseilles, Illinois. Approximately 28 active duty staff, and midshipmen participated in the FEX.

The training consisted of the confidence course, a 9-mile hike, briefs by MECEPS, and 1/C midshipmen, a PT session, and small unit

leadership exercise during the day and a half stay.

Upon arrival, all midshipmen were instructed to unpack their ILBE packs which consisted of a 3-part sleeping system, ISO mat, Camel-

bak, an assault pack, and personal gear. From that point on, M16 service rifles were assigned to the midshipmen for the duration of the

FEX. Shortly after, the midshipmen put their ILBE packs on and carried their rifles while getting in a two-column formation to start the

hike. Some midshipmen were given billets that had responsibilities of reporting accountability to the active duty staff members and OCS

graduates. Two, short 5 minute breaks were given at the end of each 3-mile mark of the hike; the midshipmen had the opportunity to eat

a light snack and fix their feet before stepping again. Once the 9-mile hike was completed, the midshipmen were instructed to change out

of their uniforms and make brief head and hygiene calls before classes began. The prior-enlisted Marines spoke to the midshipmen about

the importance of leadership as an officer leading and setting the example for subordinates. Questions were asked pertaining to personal

stories and experiences. The midshipmen got into their sleeping bags around 2300 while 3 others stood a rotational one-hour fire-watch.

Midshipmen on watch stayed warm by a fire once they completed their roving watch.

The next morning the midshipmen changed over into their respective uniforms in preparation of PT led by Capt. Cartica. The PT session

lasted no more than an hour which consisted of a full-body workout and short sprints. Shortly after, the midshipmen prepared to be

transported to the confidence course where they would be given a safety-brief and walkthrough of each obstacle. Once every midshipmen

completed each obstacle 3 times they were given a short break before they ran through the entire course once more. Fortunately, none of

the midshipmen were injured or hurt throughout the duration of the confidence course. Once Midshipman returned to the original loca-

tion, they were given a brief by Midn George about Marine Corps tactics and formations. Following the brief, the midshipmen had the

opportunity to get into fire teams to conduct these formations and get certain objectives completed. Then, a squad was briefed on a

training mission in which leadership was tested by the squad leader to efficiently pass on the orders. Active duty staff and OCS graduates

acted as the enemy and tried to prevent the midshipmen from completing their mission. Both squads were debriefed on their perfor-

mance as a whole and what they did right and wrong (mostly wrong!). From that point on, midshipmen packed their items and prepared

to depart to their respective universities. On the 2-3 hour ride back, most of the midshipmen were dead asleep in the duty vans trying to

recover from their experience of the FEX.

As a 4/C Navy option, I did not really know what to expect of the FEX. All of the participants seemed to be highly motivated and every-

one wanted to get the job done. I remember Capt. Cartica explaining that not everything in NROTC is supposed to be fun, and that some-

times you just have to do what you have to do. I realized that can also be an important life lesson; if an individual continues to complain

about their situation, then not only do they lose motivation, but they also bring down the morale of everybody else involved. The FEX

was an informational and challenging event that I am glad to have experienced.

5

CLASS OF 2017

Northwestern University

MIDN 1/C Akira Crabdree, USNR

Midn 1/C David Filippini, USMC

MIDN 1/C Jenna Garces, USNR

MIDN 1/C Sarah Garces, USNR

MIDN 1/C Lauren Kearney, USNR

MIDN 1/C Philip Kulas, USNR

MIDC 1/C Ryan Pattullo, USNR

MIDN 1/C Michael Yi, USNR

NAVY & MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY BALL

By MIDN 4/C Dominique Thompson

On November 18th, 2016, Midshipmen from

the NROTC Chicago Consortium gathered at

the Union League Club in downtown Chicago

for the Navy and Marine Corp Military Ball.

Those Midshipmen involved in the ceremony

arrived an hour earlier for rehearsal for

Sword Escort, Color Guard, Cake Detail as

well as the graduating 1/C Midshipmen.

Master Sergeant Hughes did a great job of

preparing the Midshipmen for their respec-

tive roles in the ceremony just as he had for

the Drill and Color Guard Competition earli-

er in the semester. All Midshipmen gathered

at 1900 dressed in their Service Dress Blues

ready to celebrate the Navy and Marine

Corp’s birthday. The ceremony began with

the Sword Escort from Northwestern and

Loyola Universities raising their swords for

the Graduating Seniors, and the Command-

ing Officers and the Guest of Honor, Rear

Admiral Michael S. White, the Commander

of Naval Education and Training Command.

Following the Sword Escort, was the posting

of the Colors by the Color Guard. Then the

cake detail emerged from outside to the Ma-

rine Corp’s Hymn, The Halls of Montezuma.

While the cake detail stood at parade rest, the

Commanding Officer, Captain Brasek, Guest

of Honor, Admiral White, and the youngest

(MIDN Alvarado) and oldest (Staff Sergeant

Victa) in the battalion proceeded to cut the

cake and take the first bites. This symbolizes

a Navy and Marine Corp passing of tradition

from the oldest in the battalion to the young-

est.

Dinner at the Union League Club was fantas-

tic and consisted of perfectly cooked chicken,

asparagus, salad, and bread. The atmosphere

had turned from a serious and ceremonial

one for the actual ceremony to a much more

relaxed and easygoing one for dinner. After

dinner, Captain Brasek thanked everyone

participating in the ceremony and for all the

Midshipmen’s hard work put forth this year

and wished everyone a well-deserved winter

break. Admiral White was then introduced as

a successful and accomplished Naval Aviator

and leader with over 3800 flight hours as

well as commanding the Carrier Strike Group

11. Admiral White spoke about how you

should be willing to take on any challenge

that’s put in front of you for you to overcome.

For example, getting a selection that you

might not originally want, but making the

best of it and hopefully even coming to enjoy

and excel at it. Afterwards, we began to make

chants such as “to the President!” or “to the

Navy!”, which fostered a sense of unity

among all of us, from me as a 4/C Midship-

man to Admiral White.

Having not yet completed a full semester as

an NROTC 4/C Midshipman, being able to

listen to Admiral White speak with each and

every Midshipman made me feel very wel-

come and valued within the Naval communi-

ty. I even worked up the courage to ask him

for a group picture with the 4/C Midshipmen

so that we could all look back at our night

with the knowledge that we were on our way

to joining the same organization as such a

successful man. It was an amazing experi-

ence to be surrounded by a whole battalion of

others who had gone through similar events

and will continue to support one another as

we walk our own paths.

6

7

CLASS OF 2017

Illinois Institute of Technology

MIDN 1/C Jordan Adelman, USNR

Midn 1/C Xavier Aragon, USMC

Midn 1/C Benjamin Frank, USMC

MIDN 1/C Benjamin Jones, USNR

MIDN 1/C Erin Myong, USNR

MIDN 1/C Ignatiy Orlovskiy, USNR

MIDN 1/C Sharon Wehmeyer, USNR

MIDN 1/C Gabriel Wolstenholme, USNR

MIDSHIPMAN BATTALION COMMANDER

By Midn 1/C Benjamin

Frank

As the Fall 2016 semes-

ter comes to a close, I’d

like to reflect upon the

semester as a whole,

including our challeng-

es, triumphs, and de-

velopment. It’s been a

pivotal semester for the

IIT/UIC unit, and I’m

grateful for everyone’s

efforts in striving to

become the best unit

anyone has ever seen.

Over the summer, an

exciting unit change

took place that trans-

ferred all ROTC units

(Navy/Marines, Army,

and Air Force) to the

15th floor of the IIT

Tower. In addition, the

unit staff adjusted to

our new XO and AMOI,

CDR Volser and MSgt

Hughes, who both help

oversee the Chicago

Area Consortium. The

changes required ad-

justments and brought

some growing pains.

However, with the help

from both unit staff

and midshipmen, we

adapted and overcame;

something we all must

do in our future careers

as Navy and Marine

Corps officers.

The unit hit the ground running with NSO week, which developed and trained our future freshmen midshipmen. We didn’t look back from there as the unit was packed with activi-ties. We volunteered at a JROTC unit drill meet, ran the PRT, WON the consortium drill meet, performed hikes and the FEX, and went to our annual Military Ball. On top of that includes our other various ROTC, aca-demic, and personal obligations. I am very proud and would like to congratulate each and every one of our midshipmen in the successful completion of this semester.

It has been a pleasure in overseeing the unit’s operation, watching our underclassmen develop and grow as a leader. I cannot wait for the opportunities the future holds for us and what we will ac-complish, both within and outside of the unit. Si Vis Pacem, Para Belum.

8

By MIDN 4/C William Nicholson

On November 20th, midshipmen from the NROTC Chicago Consortium volunteered for

the Saint James food drive. The midshipmen walked from the IIT Tower to the Saint

James food drive with the toiletries that had been collected prior to the event. Upon arri-

val, midshipmen signed in and began organizing cans of food in the food storage. Once

members from other organizations arrived to volunteer, pizza was served and a brief was

given on the purpose and importance of the food drive. Following that, Midshipmen and

other volunteers worked together to organize and store food in the food storage center.

Full trash bins of food continuously came through the door as everyone searched for the

right spot on the shelf for the food in their hands. Over time, midshipmen and outside

volunteers began to work efficiently until the end of the food drive. During the organiza-

tion and storage of food, bags of nutritionally diverse foods were put together for many

different programs, from the homeless program to the elderly program.

The importance of the food drive is much bigger than it may seem. When there is a com-

munity where families can afford food, elderly can’t pick up groceries, and food stamps

that don’t cover toiletries, food drives like the St. James are there to help. The gloomy

appearance of a person who walks in Saint James in need of food can be depressing, but

the smile of appreciation on their face when they walk out with a bag of food is what made

volunteering at St. James a great experience for the midshipmen.

SAINT JAMES FOOD DRIVE VOLUNTEERING

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________________

________________

________________

PLEASE PLACE STAMP HERE

IIT NROTC

10 W. 35th Street Chicago, IL 60616

Phone: (312) 567-8963

E-mail: nrotc@iit.edu