Spring 2015

THE
BEARTIMES
TIMES
THEBLACK
BACK BEAR
University of Maine Army ROTC











Letter from LTC Charles X. Rote

Letter from MSG Banister

Airborne School, Ft. Benning, GA

Nurse Summer Training

Program

Ranger Challenge
Competition

Color Guard

The 20th Maine Honors

Society

From the eyes of an MSII

Letter from the Battalion

Commander

11

Faces of the Battalion

Spring 2015

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Greetings Black Bear Nation! We have had another
strong year.
I am especially pleased with the outcomes of this years
accessions board. Every MS IV was able to get their top
choice. This result is unprecedented, but not without
reason. When you factor in their performance at Cadet
Training this past summer, on the APFT, and (most
importantly) academically, it should be no surprise when
we do so well. They continued to do well by the Cadets
junior to them. Congratulations to them.

Our Ranger Challenge Team, Color Guard, and 20th
Maine Honor Society completed numerous activities
throughout the semester. Along with the sporting events
at Husson and UMaine, the Color Guard highlights
included events with the University of Maine President,
Senator Angus King, and Senator Susan Collins. The
20th Maine Honor Society continued its philanthropy
efforts and visits to the Veterans home (that I know they
enjoy immensely). Ranger Challenge did well in New
Jersey and took a few trophies at this years 1stLt
Zimmerman Fitness Challenge. Our Cadets continue to
represent the program in a positive way on campus and in
the community.
In one engagement this year, some of our Cadets briefed
the student life directors. The Vice President for Student
Affairs and Dean of Students stated in a note to me,
Wow! They are perfect examples of the impact and
importance of our ROTC program. They were bright,
engaging, personable, and poised. Very impressive. I see
this too, but it is awesome to hear it from others.
The University
to to
support
ourour
efforts
as we
The
Universitycontinues
continues
support
efforts
ascontinue
we
our
area
improvements.
New
workspaces
and
bathrooms
continue our area improvements. New workspaces
radically improve our environment. Additionally, new
and
bathrooms radically improve our environment.
furniture and air conditioning units are in place and our Alumni
Additionally,
new furniture
air
conditioning
are
Room is completely
refinished.and
I am
excited to units
see the
endplace
of jack
hammering
in our
areais(but
if I find the
money the
in
and
our Alumni
Room
completely
refinished.
hallway
is
next).
In
the
end,
it
has
been
worth
all
the
hassles.
I am YHU\ excited to see the end of jack hammering
in our
area (but if I find the money the hallway is next). In the
end, it has been worth all the hassles.

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Academically, we have a few initiatives. Most
of our upper level classes now count towards
more general education credit (take advantage
of this!). We have a proposal at UMaine and
Husson to make CLC, CTLT, and CULP worth
three credit hours (the latter counting also as a
GEN ED). We also have proposed the addition
of an independent study class to enable us to
request continuation of benefits.
Have a great summer and come back from
break more fit than when you left (especially
you MS IIs).
You should be proud of what you have done!
Black Bears!
Lieutenant Colonel Charles X. Rote
Professor of Military Science

Spring 2015

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The fall semester has provided a remarkable
milestone here in the Black Bear Battalion. We have
over 80 Cadets in the ranks and its certain to grow
with the start of the spring semester. I tip my hat to
the Cadets of this battalion. I have always said, and it
remains true today: Cadets are the best recruiters.
You recruit quality, and you retain quality. The
atmosphere within the corridors of the Armory is that
of a professional organization which practices
discipline. I believe we have the best Cadets
throughout Cadet Command right here in the Black
Bear battalion. This belief was again confirmed this
past summer while at FT Knox Kentucky.
Many accomplishments have been achieved during
the fall semester. The reception and integration
program, the program which you receive and
integrate new Cadets, is flourishing. The mentorship
program is very successful, as proven by the
development of all Cadets involved, the mentor and
mentee. Seeing the motivation of our new Cadets is
exhilarating. Knowing they learn from the example
of the older, more experienced Cadets is confirmation
the process is working. It is said this is a Cadet run
battalion. I most certainly agree. The work of the
MSIVs is amazing. From planning and executing
labs, facilitating and overseeing FTX and STX, to
running the battalion on a daily basis. The Cadet
Battalion leadership is performing at a very high
standard.
The leadership positions within Alpha Company are
designed to develop and challenge the MSIIIs. Every
Cadet that steps into a leadership position exits a
more proficient leader. From the start of the semester
to now a fast improvement has occurred in regards to
the Operations Order process and tactical squad
leadership. The preparation for FT Knox is well
underway for the MS IIIs.

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This group of MSIIs is one of the

strongest I have ever seen. They
continue to show leadership attributes in
every aspect of their behavior. They too
are on track to accomplish all that is
waiting in summer 2015. They have
assisted the MSIIIs while conducting
tactical lanes, during Physical Readiness
Training, and providing an example for
the MSIs, while performing the duties of
a Team Leader. Excellent work.
The MSIs are persevering and moving
forward at a rapid pace. It is truly
challenging to grasp the college life AND
the ROTC life at the same time, but our
lil hooahs are doing just that. They are
learning about tactics, character and
presence. They are experiencing
leadership in action from the more senior
Cadets and they are quick to accept a
challenge. They are motivated, eager,
enthusiastic, excited and above all,
trusting. They trust the Cadets that
have come before them. And the
keystone of a profession is trust.
MSG Thomas P. Banister
Senior Military Instructor
3

Spring 2015

Army Airborne School, Ft. Benning Georgia

While staring at a dark open abyss, a blaring red light was
gearing to switch to green. I had an overzealous
jumpmaster to the side of me, yet all I was thinking was 1
thousand, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, check canopy. I was about to make
my night jump as the first person in the chalk (line of
personnel to jump). Repetitive Army training has an
impeccable ability to allow soldiers to conquer feats, such
as jumping from a perfectly good aircraft. The first step in
training is to pass the physical fitness test, and Airborne
school is famous for their 41 club- one pushup away from
passing. However, I did not witness that, the Sergeant
Airbornes in Alpha Company worked hard to get everyone
that deserved wings to pass the three weeks at Fort
Benning. That being said, almost a quarter of the personnel
did not make it through due to various reasons including
injury, heat exhaustion, or inability to demonstrate good
technique. The first week of training was physically
vigorous with a lot of pull-ups and practicing parachute
landing falls. You also get introduced to the thirty four foot
tower, in which you jump attached to a harness and glide

Repetitive Army
training has an
impeccable ability to
allow soldiers to conquer
feats, such as jumping
from a perfectly good
aircraft

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Nurse Summer Training Program



  


 


 



 

 

 

   

 



Having the opportunity for a nursing internship

through the U.S. Army ROTC program was an honor.
Getting to spend it at one of the most desired locations for
nursing students made it that much more of an experience.
At Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) in Hawaii, I
was assigned to the Orthopaedic/Neuro/Vascular floor and
worked alongside an Army Nurse Corps officer. My
hands-on assessment and clinical skills, as well as my
critical thinking, were challenged, developed, and
improved. While on my assigned unit, I was able to
practice skills that nursing students generally do not get to
practice until they have graduated. Some of these skills
included bedside glucose monitoring, blood draws,
insertion of an intravenous (IV) catheter, and hanging
blood transfusions.
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Spring 2015

The Ranger Challenge Competition

 




For most college students the weekend of October 10th marked their annual fall break. However for
nine cadets at the University of Maine's Army ROTC program, it was not a time for rest and relaxation. It was
this weekend that marked the annual Army ROTC 2nd Brigade Ranger Challenge Competition. For one
weekend, ROTC programs from schools all over the north-east met at Fort Dix, New Jersey, to compete in
series of rigorous challenges. The purpose of the competition is to put cadets into challenging situations where
they must push themselves to both their physical and mental limits. In the end, all the cadets learn the true
meaning of resiliency, and they are better prepared to be leaders because of it. It is also a good opportunity for
seeing which schools produce the toughest cadets, as winners are named by the end of the weekend. While the
nine cadets that represented the University of Maine did not bring home any silverware, they did truly
exemplify what it means to be resilient leader. The cadets competed in total of 10 events. The events ranged
from carrying a 2000 lb log over a long distance, to pushing a full sized Hummer around a track, to
assembling various military weapons while blindfolded.

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Spring 2015
The Ranger Challenge
Competition (Continued)

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Airborne School, Ft. Benning

Georgia (Continued)

along a zip-line. Once that is

accomplished you get a
weekend to recover from the
falling before moving onto
tower week. Luckily, the
weather was in favor for the
250 foot tower and I was able
to experience the lift of a
parachute before actually
jumping from a plane. I also
learned that lucky for me, the
lighter you are, the softer you
land. Being brought up to
250 feet and peering across
the Fort Benning landscape,
nerves nearly vanish by the
time the Sergeant Airborne
releases you and you drift to
the ground. Finally, jump
week comes along. To
complete Airborne school,
five jumps must be made. In
my case the jumps were three
Hollywood (with a T10 and a
T11), an equipment drop, and
a night jump. The training
made my jumps a breeze
even when I did find myself
tangled and before I knew it,
graduation day was upon us.
Cadet Amanda Wood

Acknowledgments

Cadets that Contracted

Cadet Morris
Cadet Dunham
Cadet Gibson
Cadet Wilson
Cadet Anderson
Cadet Gray
Cadet Chiu
Cadet Cooper

Cadets of the Month

April:
Cadet Kamara
Cadet Dunham

Spring 2015
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I had opportunities to have alternate experiences in the

post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), the operating room
(OR), and to spend a day with COL Jennifer Bedick
the Deputy Commander for Nursing at TAMC and the
Regional Nurse Executive for Pacific Regional Medical
Command who is in charge of at least five hospitals
within the Pacific Region. While in the operating room,
I had the opportunity to see four orthopedic surgeries as
well as help the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
(CRNA) in intubating a patient. These experiences
enhanced my clinical development and competency
while also providing me
with a more vast
understanding of all the
opportunities Army nurses
have available to them.
One of the other students
even had the chance to
deliver a baby while
following a nurse midwife!
While at school, nursing
and ROTC are very
much separated. I
discovered; however,
that by being enrolled in
the two programs, you
develop skills in leadership, time-management,
and critical thinking that can be utilized in both
fields of practice. My time at TAMC not only
developed me as a nurse, but it also developed my
interpretation and understanding of how wellmarried the Army and the Nurse Corps actually
are. Upon completion of this internship, I now
envision the two as inseparable. I feel confident in
my abilities to provide safe and effective patient
care while also incorporating the seven Army
Values into my work ethic.
Cadet Kelsey Rosebeary

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The University of Maine Army ROTC
Color Guard team is a group of cadets that
performs drill and ceremony at Army ROTC
events such as the Dining In, Military Ball,
and Commissioning Ceremonies. Along with
performing at Army ROTC events, the Color
Guard can be seen at many University of
Maine athletic events and special events held
on campus. Led by Color Sergeant Cadet
Henry Gibson, the Color Guard team currently
consists of about twenty-five cadets, ranging
from freshman to
juniors.
This year the
University of Maine
Army ROTC Color
Guard had the honor
of presenting the
Nations Colors at the
University of Maine
Veterans Day Opening
Ceremony to kick off
a week of Veterans
Day events on
campus. The Color
Guard was also asked last year to present the
colors at Frozen Fenway on the field in
Fenway Park, before a heated rivalry ice
hockey match between the University of
Maine and Boston University. If you wish to
see them perform, come support them at any
of the University of Maine athletic events, or
by following the University of Maine Army
ROTC Facebook page where you will be able
to find pictures and articles about the team.
Color Sergeant Cadet Henry Gibson

Spring 2015

The 20th Maine Honors Society

President Cadet Mikael Heikkinen

The 20th Maine Honors society is comprised of

cadets who excel academically and possess a drive to
serve the community. The Honors Society meets once a
week to discuss events, fundraising, and community
projects. The planning and coordination that goes into
these events allows cadets to hone leadership skills that
are crucial as an Army officer. The 20th Maine Honors
Society's primary objectives are to serve the community
and coordinate large-scale ROTC events.
Our society has coordinated and collaborated on
several community projects both on campus as well as
off campus. In the past we have been involved in Red
Cross blood drives, the Black Bear Mentor Project, visits
to the local veteran's home, and involvement in various
races around campus. This fall we volunteered at the
Red Cross blood drive as well as visited the local
veterans home. We are currently pursuing a more
consistent visiting rotation to the veteran's home. This
drive is spurred by the importance that such an event
holds. During the event we send five cadets, armed with
donuts, to sit down and simply to talk to veterans. These
veterans have served in conflicts abroad from World War
Two to Vietnam. They possess unique experiences that
can serve as lessons to future officers and leaders. Upon
completion of our past visits the nursing staff has
consistently remarked that our presence at the home is
appreciated more than we know. It is for this reason that
we will be increasing our partnership with the local
veterans home.

Over the course of the year we work to raise

funds for the Battalion's two main ROTC
events: Dining-in and the Military Ball. The
amount of money raised dictates how
elaborate we are able to make the events.
For example, this year for the dining-in
event we were able to purchase an Officer's
Saber as a gift for our guest speaker.
Fundraising is a year long process that is
primarily directed at funding the Military
Ball in the spring. The Military Ball event is
an opportunity for cadets as well as their
dates to experience a formal military event.
During the event, traditional military
customs are observed and practiced. The
20th Maine Honors Society is responsible
for coordinating all aspects of the event
including how the event is paid for. As such,
we spend a majority of the year raising
funds for this event.
As the fall semester draws to a close
our society takes stock of what worked and
what didn't in the accomplishment of our
goals. Moving into the spring semester we
have high expectations for ourselves as a
society. It is our goal to continue to raise
funds for the Military Ball. We also hope to
coordinate more community projects on and
off campus. It is my sincere hope that the
performance of the MSIII leadership this
year will serve as a standard for the future
MSII leadership. I challenge the future MSII
class not to simply replicate our projects
next year, but to develop new and more
creative projects for the 20th Maine Honors
Society to partake in. However future
classes decide to conduct future projects, I
ask that they remember these words that
speak to the nature of our profession,
"




Spring 2015

Through the Eyes of an MSII

Entering my MSII year I viewed it as a
transition year before entering, in my opinion, the
most crucial year of the program is the MSIII year.
This year as an MSII, I feel that I was faced with
responsibility for the first time since entering the
program. Towards the beginning of the school year
I was given the responsibility to act as a team
leader during our leadership labs as well as help
explain various aspects of the program to the MS1s
when I had the ability to do so. Now that the end
of the year is coming upon us, I feel more
responsibility slowly being added. I am starting to
see cadets in my class being given the opportunity
to lead PT, practice leading squads and/or
platoons in marching, and with the transitional lab
coming up - all MSIIs will be given the chance to
take over various MSIII positions such as XO, CO,
1st Sergeant, squad leader, platoon leader, etc.
There is no doubt that I am nervous to enter
into my MSIII year due to everything I will be held
responsible for throughout the year. However, if
last year I had been asked how I felt about entering
into my MSII year, I would have had the same
reaction. Throughout this past year, as an MSII, I
felt challenged. Every time a new milestone was
reached, I feel as though the bar was raised a little
higher which continuously pushed me to become
not only a better cadet but also a better person.

CDT Hernandez, CDT Andreotti, and CDT Morris

The MSIV Experience

When I entered ROTC in 2011 as a
Freshman I was unsure of what to expect in
the years to come. Many Cadets who enter
the program fear that they will be constantly
yelled at and that it would be more of a basic
training environment and that they will not
be able to experience the college life. It soon
became apparent that this was not the case
by any means.

In all, it is nerve racking when beginning

something new, and that goes for anything in life.
The ROTC program here at the University of Maine
has continued to push me out of my comfort zone
and in the direction of success and has
undoubtedly given me all of the recourses I would
need in order to keep moving forward. Looking
back on my MSII year it makes me feel
accomplished seeing how much I have grown since
day one and I look forward to what the future
holds.

I have been able to experience the

college life like any other student while
training and doing things that your average
student will never be able to do. Throughout
my four years I have built a relationship with
my fellow Cadets that I will carry with me
for many years. Going through ROTC has
been the best decision I have ever made and
has shaped me, not only into a better person,
but an excellent leader. I will be able to
apply the tools I have learned here into my
career as an Officer in the Army and civilian
Law Enforcement Officer.

Cadet Cassandra Andreotti-MSII

Cadet Patrick Flanagan-MSIV

9

Spring 2015

Pictures from Spring Semester



10

Letter from the Battalion Commander

Hello, Black Bears, family, and friends!
This year has been full of outstanding training, leadership, and
development. We began with the MSIV class (Cadets in their senior year)
coming back from Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC)
in Fort Knox, Kentucky. All passed, and 5 out of 10 earned excellent
(E)
ratings. Upon our return, we immediately began preparing for the
upcoming semester, knowing it would take multiple efforts as a Staff, and
coordination with Brigade and Company leadership, to execute successful
training and prepare the Cadets for their future roles as leaders.
Training this year was aimed at developing leadership within all Cadets.
The Battalions focus was on tactical and garrison operations, maintaining
Battalion strength, and increasing our presence on both of our campuses.
We completed 35 training events to include tactical labs in the Demerritt
forest behind the University of Maine Recreational Center, two situational
training exercises, and two field training exercises.
Our final event of the year
the military ball
was a success, as always.
It provided the Cadets with a chance to socialize and reflect upon all that was accomplished during the course of
the year, increasing the Battalions morale and esprit de corps. This event also included our awards ceremony,
where Cadets were recognized for their individual achievements through the presentation of awards and
scholarships.
Our Color Guard team proudly represented our Battalion in numerous events this year. They performed at
events throughout the year, to include sports games at both the University of Maine and Husson University; a
Veterans Day tribute to the fallen Soldiers of the University of Maine; the installation of UMaines 20th
president, Susan Hunter; and at the Margaret Chase Smith Public Affairs Lecture, where U.S. Senator Susan
Collins was the speaker. Our 20th Maine Honor Society also continued to gain an active presence on campus and
within the community. They conducted visits to the Veterans Home in Bangor, raised money for a local charity,
and held a representative position at the University of Maines Student Government meetings.
On May 8, 2015, we will be commissioning 10 second lieutenants into various branches and components of the
Army. We are very proud of their successes and are looking forward to witness all they are able to accomplish.
In the meantime, the MSIII (junior) class will be headed to Fort Knox, Kentucky for Cadet Leader Course. We
wish them the best of luck and are confident they will make us proud.
Thank you, Black Bears, for all of your hard work and making this year one of the best that I have had the
pleasure of experiencing! I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for all of you!
c/LTC Kelsey Rosebeary
COMMANDING




 


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University of Maine

5750 Armory, Room 114

Orono, ME 04469-5750

ROTC Military Science Excellence Fund

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