Monday, July 18, 2011



Dear Friends,


It has been about 15 days since I last blogged with you. They have been very busy and productive.

Please let me try to bring you up to date.

On Friday July 8th in a special night-time ceremony outside of Allen House, the following officers were recognized for their outstanding service to the USAC with promotions as indicated.

Andrew Chen to Lt. Col., James Pease to Major, Clay Hammer to Captain, Beth Szydzik to Captain, Paul Cutter to 1st Lt., William Smith to Chief Warrant Officer 2 and David Puryear to Warrant Officer 1.

Each of these officers represents the very best the USAC has to offer. Whether you are a technical specialist, a senior staff officer or a commander of a local Company the USAC appreciates and recognizes service with incentives like promotions and awards.

During the day our Cadets took their written and physical exams.

The written test is a 90-question test of the materials presented to the recruits including, drill and ceremonies, rank recognition, customs and courtesies, USAC history and organization and general military subjects.

The physical test is the Army Cadet Physical Fitness test (ACPFT). It has three events, push-ups, sit-ups and a 2 mile run. These Recruits earned the maximum score of 300 points on the test:

Osei Avril, Benjamin Clarke, Tobias Dublin, Samson Finch, Luke Fleck, Jonathan Jimenez, Jacob McDonald and Jordan Okdie

On July 9th 100 Recruits became Cadets at a graduation ceremony. This ceremony marked the graduation of our first Basic Cadet Training Course and of the Cadet Ranger Challenge.

The Cadet Company led by Major Campbell formed in front of Allen House (USAC Headquarters), before Brig. Gen. Tornow and his distinguished visitors including retired US Army Reserve Brig. Gen. Charles Hanrahan, and Chairman of the USAC Board of Directors, Brig. Gen. Santiago Sanchis.

During the ceremony the recruits took the Cadet Oath and officially became “Army Cadets.”
"I do solemnly promise to give true faith and allegiance to the United States of America; to be faithful and loyal to the Corps of Cadets; to obey the orders of the Officers appointed over me; and to conduct myself so as to be a credit to my Unit, the U.S. Army Cadet Corps, the Armed Forces and my Country."

Over the last 2 weeks I have observed that our new Cadets have changed. This change is more than the superficial (uniforms, haircuts), I think that they are different people. They have that confident stride and eager look that marks a person who has completed a challenge and is ready for much more.

Today they became Cadets.

USAC is unique in that youth that join us do not automatically become Cadets. We have a long tradition in that the title of “Cadet” must be earned thru training and orientation. This is currently accomplished by having all recruits completing Basic Cadet Training here at the NCTC.
In addition to becoming Cadets several members of the BCT Class and the CRC were recognized as honor cadets and granted a meritorious promotion as indicated:

Battalion Honor Graduate: RCT Dewayne Patterson, promoted to C/PFC
1st Platoon Honor Graduate: RCT Olivia Golden
2nd Platoon Honor Graduate: RCT Richard Liao
3rd Platoon Honor Graduate: RCT Natalia Correa
Cadet Ranger Challenge Honor Graduate: C/PFC Michael Long, promoted to Cadet Corporal

In addition to this recognition the Battalion Commander has the authority to grant meritorious promotion to up to ten percent of each BCT platoon and the CRC. The following Cadets were promoted to Cadet Private. (PV2)

1st Platoon RCT William Johnson and RCT Jacob Schwager
2nd Platoon RCT Copeland Whitney and RCT Sarah Winger
3rd Platoon RCT Richard Gray and RCT William Moses

C/PV2 Lee Anderson of the Cadet Ranger Challenge was promoted to C/PFC.

The ceremony was well attended by many of the Cadets family members and USAC supporters from the local community.

After graduation we said good bye to about 50 of our new Cadets and CRC Cadets and spent the rest of the day getting ready for over 50 new BCT and Cadet Ranger School participants!

Many pictures of the ceremony were taken by 2nd Lt. Joseph Land and Warrant Officer Steve Biggers.

These are available on the National Cadet Training Center’s Facebook. Please check our Facebook for the latest pictures and video from Annual Training

Link: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/National-Cadet-Training-Center-Official/350329073135

Thanks and have a great Army Cadet day!


AL PABON
Civilian Executive, USAC
Annual Training Battalion
Public Affairs Officer
Headquarters, U.S. Army Cadet Corps
"ADVENTURE BEGINS HERE!"

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