Captain's Corner
Captain Majewski
Battalion,
Aloha and welcome back from Spring Break! I hope you all took a chance to wind down and recharge your batteries before the final push at the end of this semester. You closed out last semester in great fashion and definitely hit the deck running this semester. Recently I updated the Alumni Interest Group on the battalion and couldn’t be more proud of what you accomplished in the Fall semester and how well you represented the unit and your future services.
Overall, a very solid academic performance last semester with an average GPA of 3.38 and 57 members of the battalion making the Dean’s List. Leading the way were our First Class with a 3.64 GPA and 18 students on the Dean’s List. Mid-semester progress looks like we are again on a great trajectory academically, even with all of the extra things that you do. On that note, the final number raised by OBG for THON was $26,195.20. Incredible job! It was great to see so many of the battalion out there supporting our dancers and the THON cause. Physically, we are also moving in the right direction with 45 members of the battalion achieving PFA Superstar status on the official PFT at the end of the semester.
Thank you for taking the time to complete the “Top 3/Bottom 3” notecards. I have reviewed all of the comments with the staff and will be discussing the outcome in the next few weeks. Make sure that you provide specific examples if it something that you are concerned with (thus the anonymous nature of the input). It is difficult to address a problem if the feedback is generic. If you are not comfortable using that forum, make use of the anonymous box outside of LT Robinson’s office. This is an invaluable tool in creating an environment where you have the greatest chance for success and I encourage each of you to use something like this out in the Fleet.
There are some exciting things coming up to include Ohio State MEC, Spring Ball and Commissioning. Spring Ball will be a unique experience and we are working with the Battalion Staff to make this a memorable event. Additionally, we are working to get Command Sergeant Major Joy Kitishira to speak to the battalion before the end of the semester. For those of you that don’t know, she is the first female selected as a Command Sergeant Major for a Marine Expeditionary Force. Hopefully we can deconflict her schedule in Okinawa and get her in front of the battalion to share a unique perspective on leading.
Keep up the great work as we wind down this semester. If you would like to see the battalion doing something, bring it up to your chain of command. Take care of each other and let’s finish the semester on an awesome note.
Keep charging,
CO
Midshipmen of the Month
MIDN White was selected for his exceptional professionalism and leadership ability during Battalion PTs and among his peers. Currently in his second semester at Penn State, Midshipman White studies Security and Risk Analysis and is an active member of the Aviation Club, Operation Blue and Gold, Run Club, the Battalion Recreation Committee and gives back to his community as a volunteer at Alpha Fire Co. Once commissioned, he wants to become a Naval Aviator. MIDN White has been recognized as a stand-out member of the Battalion that embodies the Navy’s core values of honor, courage, and commitment
MIDN 4/C White
MIDN Rosenthal is studying Energy Business and Finance and wants to branch Infantry. He was chosen for his outstanding leadership and involvement both for the Battalion and the Penn State community as a whole. Outside of the Battalion, he is a member of Penn State’s EBF Society, the Happy Valley VC, and volunteers at Alpha Volunteer Fire Company. He demonstrates outstanding physical performance and excels at his role as Alpha Company 1st Sgt this semester.
MIDN 2/C Rosenthal
MIDN George has shown excellent performance during the month of March, challenging himself by managing his difficult studies in Aerospace Engineering while also being a part of Specwar Club, Running Club, Public Affairs team, Battalion Recreation Committee, and the Drill Team.
Throughout the semester he has also been one of the Battalion’s top academic tutors. Once commissioned, he would like to pursue a career as a Special Warfare Officer. MIDN George has gone above and beyond his commitments, always showing his dedication toward the Battalion.
MIDN 4/C George
MIDN Mount has shown outstanding performance as a Platoon Commander throughout the month of February. He is a great counselor and always eager to recognize midshipmen for their great work. Inside the unit, MIDN Mount is a critical member of the Navy Heritage Ball Committee, dedicating significant time to planning and organizing the event.
MIDN 2/C Mount
Operation Blue and Gold is FOR THE KIDS
On the weekend of 17-19 FEB, members of the Battalion took part in the 51st annual THON! For 46 hours, MIDN stood, danced, and sang along to the entertainment in the BJC to support our dancers and celebrate our yearly fundraising efforts in pursuit of a cure for childhood cancer.
Naval ROTC’s THON org, Operation Blue and Gold, took charge this weekend as they stood alongside Army ROTC’s org, Kaizen.
This year was historic for both Operation Blue and Gold and THON itself. OBG raised a grand total of $26,195.20 For the Kids! This is a notable achievement for a few reasons, the first being that this is the second consecutive year in which OBG raised over 26k. While we did not break our all time record that was set last year, this year’s total shows that we are rising to the occasion and entering into a new tier of fundraising success to benefit THON. Nearly half of this grand total was raised between Thursday 16 FEB and 0000 on 19 FEB. Operation Blue and Gold helped kick off the final fundraising push by hosting the annual “Pie an Officer in the Face” fundraiser at Leadership Lab, which boosts spirits and raised nearly $3,200, with the highest bid reaching $1500 for the Kids!
Second, 2023 was a record-breaking year for THON itself. The student-run fundraising efforts, which began in July, culminated in a grand total of $15,006,132.46! This immense achievement surpasses THON 2022’s record by over 1.2 million dollars, all in search for a cure.
Operation Blue and Gold offered up two MIDN, 1/C Maggie McKernan and 1/C Grace Forish, as our dancers for THON 2023. These MIDN have been instrumental to the development of OBG throughout their years in the Battalion, with MIDN Forish previously serving for two years as a Finance chair, and MIDN McKernan previously holding positions of Merchandise chair and THON 2022 primary chair before dancing this year. 2023 Primary chairs MIDN 2/C Liberty Krauss and PLC Christopher Prokopchak are extremely proud of their dancers for their drive and spirit during this year’s THON weekend and for their presence as leaders in previous THONs.
The dancers were constantly visited by family, friends, and other MIDN throughout the weekend as they persevered through the mental, physical, and emotional challenges that are unique to the no-sitting, no-sleeping challenge. Foot rollers, face masks, and laps around the BJC kept minds and bodies fresh throughout the weekend leading up to the 46th hour.
MIDN Forish reflects on dancing in THON as “a once in a lifetime opportunity; it was one of the best experiences of my life. I was able to push myself to myself to my physical and mental limits (and I crushed it) while at the same time raising millions of dollars FTK!”
MIDN McKernan agrees, as her THON 2023 experience “was indescribable. Not only did it challenge me, but it brought me closer to so many people in the community around me. I was honored to dance after being involved in THON for years. If I were to describe THON in one word, I would say that THON is love.”
Operation Blue and Gold would like to tremendously thank our donors and alumni who contribute to THON long past their days as MIDN, OCs, and MECEPs. To our members, thank you for turning up the heat For the Kids and for bringing our organization into another year of exceptional fundraising to end childhood cancer.
If you would like to receive information on how to become involved as an alumni or non-student, please contact MIDN 2/C Liberty Krauss at lrk5251@psu.edu or (207) 406 – 0055.
Current Events
Class of 2023 Ship Selection
Ship selection is an experience unique to Midshipmen commissioning into the Surface community, in that while we receive training before joining the fleet proper, it is nowhere near as long an affair as that of our fellows going to Charleston or Pensacola for Nuke or Flight school. Now every SWO that Penn State will commission on May 15th will be well aware of their path toward our first tour and what the future of their time in the Navy will look like.
Early this semester, our future Surface Warriors received a comprehensive ship list, listing warships by homeport and how many billets were available on each ship. Additionally, a list of when officers assigned to a specific ship can expect to begin their four-month training pipeline was provided, something that factors into the decision process. Finally, a great list of all the future SWOs was given to us, detailing the order of merit established and thus establishing the order in which Midshipmen all across the country would select their ships.
After that, with the help of LT Roller, we worked to assemble the list of all the ships we’d desire to serve based on what we could learn about their schedules and activities from the information provided. By February 22nd and 23rd, the dates for ship selection, we all had solid ideas for where we would attempt to go, and after those ideas were affected by the selection process, we all emerged satisfied and content with our futures as Naval officers
Midshipmen take on the
Mountain
Early in the spring semester on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 4/C Midshipman took on Tussey mountain. The day was spent at the terrain park and flying down the mountain. After a quick lunch break, the midshipman focused on the terrain park. After a lot of failed attempts by Midshipman Burt he mastered the 360. Although the same cannot be said for the box jump. While the mountain condition at Tussey was not the best, the midshipmen still made it fun! We hope everyone had an amazing MLK day!
Midshipman Burt skiing in jeans
MIDN Holtzman, Miller, Turley, and Burt at the top of Tussey Mountain
Friday Rucks
Each Friday, a group of Marine and Navy midshipmen led by MIDN 3/C Benson have met to practice rucking on trails around campus. This has been a great experience for midshipmen to improve and get more comfortable rucking, especially for the marines preparing for their upcoming FEX.