Academy Exercises Take Military Focus
May 22, 2008
Associated Press
The all-day physical exercises that mark the end of a midshipman's first year at the Naval Academy were never exactly fun. But this year, they've gotten even more serious.
Dodgeball is no longer on the program. Parents aren't allowed to gather on bleachers anymore to cheer. And each stop of the exhausting day is dedicated to a fallen service member.
The academy has put greater emphasis on wartime sacrifices, hoping to inspire plebes - the term the academy uses for freshmen - to think about what they are doing behind the academy's walls on the picturesque Severn River.
"You are here to be tested and to learn how to be leaders of our magnificent sailors and Marines out there in the fleet," Col. Mike Shupp told about 1,000 midshipmen last week in a chilly, pre-dawn gathering on Rip Miller Field. "You are here because we are still fighting the war on terror."
For the next 13 hours, upperclassmen pushed them through challenges of body and mind - obstacles scattered between miles of running around the academy's campus and the neighboring Naval Station Annapolis.
From the start, things looked different. T-shirts and colorful headbands that in the past gave the event the feel of a college ball game were banned.
The event - called the Sea Trials - have become "more military focused," said Stephanie LaLiberte, a third-year student from Orlando, Fla.
For the first time, the day's events included a simulated improvised explosive device or IED, the weapon of choice for Iraqi insurgents.
While plebes jogged toward two stations, they came across an area with props made to simulate an ambush. The goal was to make plebes think about how they would react and aid fallen colleagues.
"When we hit them, we're just looking for their reaction, and what we're really looking for them to do is keep their wits about them," Lt. Shaun Lieb said.
The IED drill is a big step beyond the dodgeball game and other light aspects LaLiberte recalls from past Sea Trials.
"It's more focused on the squads and the company, making sure that they can get through as a class and as a team," said LaLiberte, who talked plebes through a crawl in a muddy trench under barbed wire.
Plebe Bradley Maa, of Colorado Springs, Colo., said he was taking the experience to heart, as the repeated dedications to fallen troops put the training in perspective.
"In everything that we're going through, as uncomfortable as it is or as painful as it gets at times, it's nothing compared to what everybody else is going through in Iraq or other war zones," said Maa, who took part despite a fracture in his foot that kept him from finishing.
For many the day wasn't uncomfortable; it was painful. Faces tightened during team sit-ups in the cold Severn waters. Then, it was right into the mud trench. Later, a log hoist made one plebe vomit. Then came an obstacle course.
From the course's rope climb, plebes walked over to a small wooden ring with a sandy floor for some one-on-one padded stick fighting. Once football helmets and mouth guards were in place, two plebes swung at each other.
"Get 'em! Get 'em!" a fight supervisor, whistle in hand, yelled to a charging plebe.
"Come on," an observer shouted after one plebe withdrew from the day's exertions, blaming cramps. "It's not dance lessons."
When it was all over, after some 30 challenges, the plebes gathered for hamburgers and hot dogs in the academy's cavernous Dahlgren Hall. Many of the spent plebes sat on the floor.
But Plebe Rachel Manning, of Haddon Township, N.J., was on her feet, talking to another midshipman. She said the day's events and dedications made her think about the "bigger picture out there."
"In three years, I'm going to be leading sailors, and I need to put them always before myself and that's what these great people did that we learned about today - put others before themselves," she said.
Blue and Gold
Naval Academy - Annapolis
Zachary Martens, an former Aerospace Engineering Freshman and AFROTC Cadet at Embry Riddle is a now a member of the USNA Class of 2009. Zach is the son of an active duty USAF officer stationed in Washington, and as a Riddle student was assigned to By Byington as Blue and Gold Officer.
Although he had a full USAFROTC scholarship, he aspired to be a Naval Aviator and applied to the USNA. I was impressed with him from the start and predict he'll do well at USNA His fall GPA was 3.8, so he went in well equipped academically. He was also a standout baseball catcher in HS, and is fit and trim.
Naval Academy Information Program Support
This progam is dedicated to the support of the U. S. Naval Academy recruiting effort. Support is provided to central Florida by performing recruiting and supervisory duties, as directed by the Naval Academy. This support extends to four counties, twenty high schools and ten volunteer Naval Academy Information Officers.
Various forms of financial and moral support are provided to prospective Midshipmen and to the local support organizations.
NAVY LEAGUE OF THE UNITED STATES
DAYTONA BEACH AREA COUNCIL
Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting
November 5, 2009
The minutes of the last meeting were accepted as read and the secretary's report was presented. The Treasurer's report was accepted, and the Board voted to renew our membership in the Chamber of Commerce.
There was some confusion about re-writing the Board job descrtiptions, so they won't be turned in until next month. Walt Thrush spoke about the flower arrangement we sent for Brandon Porthouse's father.
By Byington presented the Nominating Committee's proposed slate of candidates, and it was approved by the Board.
Coming events and the speakers for November, January and February were discussed. Don Wix reported that for November we will have both the Captain and the Gunny from ERAU.
Ray Huther reported that he has volunteered to be a one-man speakers' bureau and will be speaking to some civic organizations.The Board discussed the public's perception of the Navy League and concluded that what we're doing doesn't give the public the wrong idea about our mission and purposes. They also approved re-imbursing Walt Thrush for monies spent for the Home Show and the Veterans' Day parade.
The Marine recruiter of the year will be honored at our next luncheon. The Sailor of the Quarter at Ponce was awarded that morning to BM3 Will Bollenback, and he will also be at our next luncheon.
The meeting was adjourned at 1730.
DRAFT BOARD OF DIRECTORS SLATE FOR 2010
PRESIDENT: HARRY MUNNS
RECORDING SECRETARY: GARY HARTMAN
CORPORATE SECRETARY: GARY HARTMAN
TREASURER: CHAS FOLCIK
CHAPLAIN: BOB MORRISON
JUDGE ADVOCATE: PHILIP ELLIOTT
VICE PRESIDENT – MEMBERSHIP: RAY HUTHER
DIRECTOR OF RETENTION: BOB MORRISON
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS HAL BUTTS
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS TERRY O’DONNELL
BOB TRAETTA
VICE PRESIDENT – EVENTS: WALT THRUSH
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS: LEWIS SLAUGHTER
WEB MASTER: BETTY KNOLL
DIRECTOR OF MEETING ARRGMTS: ED D’HONDT
SPEAKERS COMMITTEE: ADVISORY BOARD*
DIRECTOR OF RESERVATIONS: LOUISE CATALANELLO
DIRECTOR OF HOSPITALITY: BILL DALE
VICE PRESIDENT – LEADERSHIP DEVELOP: MIKE MARNANE
DIRECTOR OF NROTC/ERAU: DON WIX
DIRECTOR OF BLUE/GOLD TEAM: BY BYINGTON
DIRECTOR OF NAVAL AVIA. CLUB: RICK GALLUP
DIRECTOR OF SEA CADETS: MIKE MARNANE
VICE PRESIDENT – MILITARY AFFAIRS: JANET MARNANE
DIRECTOR OF ADOPTED SHIP: JACK STIMIS
DIRECTOR OF COAST GUARD AFF: HARRY MUNNS
DIRECTOR OF RECRUITING: BOB LEBLANC
VICE PRESIDENT OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS: PHILIP ELLIOTT
ADVISORY BOARD* (PAST PRESIDENTS)
BOB MORRISON
LEWIS SLAUGHTER
PHIL HARMAN
BY BYINGTON
JACK STIMIS
