Alumni, Family, Supporters and

Gateway Battalion, thank you all

for reading this year’s first issue

of the Gateway Gazette. The

Gateway Battalion is committed

to creating officers that exceed

the standard and excel above the

rest not for themselves but

rather for the soldiers they

serve.

There are five tenets, “The Gate-

way Big Five” which have helped

shape Gateway Battalion and

served as a foundation for the

development of our leaders:

Discipline, Pride, Academics,

Fitness, and Accountability.

We train our Cadets to maintain

discipline both on and off duty.

We recognize that military bear-

ing is essential for any leader and

that when our Cadets put on the uniform

they not only represent the Army but are

a part of the Army. Values must help our

leaders shape their decisions to always do

what is right.

Pride is the second tenet in which our

Battalion promotes. We have pride in our

unit, heritage, and team. Our Cadre have

instilled in us to have pride in what we are

achieving and to recognize that we are a

part of something bigger. This pride unites

the schools in our Battalion and creates

long lasting friendships.

Academics are the third tenet that we

stress at Gateway Battalion. Graduating

from college with under a 2.0, no 2nd LT.

Our cadets understand the importance of

a strong knowledge base. Always taking

the step to further one’s education is im-

portant to future success.

Fitness is the fourth tenet. Our cadets

know the importance of exceeding

the standard when it comes to

Physical fitness. We never focus on

the minimum PT standards, instead

we shoot for excellence. We are

taught to lead from the front and

model the standard.

Accountability is the importance of

always being on time, in the right

uniform, and at the right place, and

taking responsibility for one’s ac-

tions. We teach that leaders are

accountable for everything their

soldiers do from the good acts to

the bad ones.

The Big 5 stressed here at Gateway

will help set a strong foundation for

our future Army leaders. Thank you

for reading the Gateway Gazette

and invite you to continue to stay in

touch with our program. -Trent

Farmer, Gateway CDT BN CDR

Welcome from the CDT Battalion Commander

G A T E W A Y A R M Y

R O T C B A T T A L I O N Gateway Gazette

N O V E M B E R , 2 0 1 2 V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 1

INCLUDED

IN THIS IS -

SUE:

A welcome

from the Cadet

Battalion Com-

mander

Plenty of

Photos!

A Cadets Ex-

perience at Air

Assault School

Other accounts

from cadets on

their summer

activities

Gateway MSIV

Branching Re-

sults

Gateway cadets on color guard for the Rams vs. Packers game at the Edward Jones Dome.

P A G E 2

Keep in Touch!

Gateway Cadet Works at the Pentagon

CDT Bryan Ciccarello’s Air Assault Experience This summer I was given with

the opportunity to attend The

Sabalauski Air Assault School

conducted by Mobile Training

Team #2 of 101st Airborne

Division in West Point, New

York. For ten and a half days

180 cadets from various ROTC

battalions and West Point as

well as soldiers from active

duty and National Guard units

were instructed and tested in

the skills and proficiencies

required to earn the Air As-

sault Badge.

This experience was unfor-

gettable in terms of the skills

learned and the relationships

built. Air Assault school begins

with a 0215 wake up on "Zero

Day", a day in which all stu-

dents must successfully pass

inspection of the prescribed

packing list for the day and

completion of the obstacle

course with a two mile run.

There were 197 cadets/

soldiers present but only 180

would make the cut for the

course. The first encounter

with the Air Assault sergeants

was a terrifying experience.

These were professional NCOs,

who were determined to up-

hold the standard and prestige

of their beloved course.

Days one through three fo-

cused on the rotary wing air-

craft of the United States

Army, combat assault opera-

tions, and pathfinder opera-

tions. In order to make it to

the classroom elements, the

class was required to complete

a 6-mile ruck march containing

all of the equipment dictated

by the packing list. Each stu-

dent was allowed to accrue 45

penalty points before being

dropped from the course.

Most infractions were worth

five or ten points meaning that

in any given day cadets could

not commit more than one or

two graded penalties or they

would risk being dropped ad-

ministratively. This portion of

the course included both class-

room lecture sessions and

practical outdoor lessons from

which students were expected

to apply the knowledge

learned throughout the day.

Days four through six are

focused on sling load opera-

tions of the US Army rotary wing

aircraft. This portion required

the creation of note cards in

order to study for the written

section, however the true stress

lay within the practical exam

which required cadets/soldiers

to inspect and identify three of

four defects on four different

sling loads laid out in the field.

This required much practice

since the key was attention to

detail.

The final phase of the course

from days seven through ten

focused on rappelling operations

under a variety of conditions.

The capstone of the experience

was a rappel from a UH-60L

Blackhawk helicopter 120 feet

above the ground.

Finally, the class was required

to successfully complete a

twelve mile foot march with

packing list and following inspec-

tion on graduation day. The class

then had their wings pinned on

in the ceremony and officially

graduated, having had the ex-

perience of a lifetime and leaving

as Air Assault qualified soldiers.

-CDT Bryan Ciccarello, MSII

vide advice and expertise con-

cerning matters of the Reserve

Components of all the services

directly to the Secretary of

Defense. The experience gave

me an opportunity to see the

daily workings of the world’s

largest bureaucracy. As a ca-

det joining the Army Reserves,

I was given a great chance to

work with higher-ranking offi-

cers in the Reserves and Na-

Over the summer, finishing

just days before leaving for

LDAC, I was given the opportu-

nity to intern with the Depart-

ment of Defense at the Penta-

gon outside of Washington DC.

I was offered an intern posi-

tion with the Reserve Forces

Policy Board within the Office

of the Secretary of Defense.

The RFPB is a federal advisory

committee established to pro-

tional Guard and was given

invaluable advice. Any cadets

interested in interning with

the RFPB please let me know.

The staff is more than willing

to accept ROTC cadets for

intern positions and asked me

to forward names of those

interested.

-CDT Paul Kellerman, Gateway

MSIV

Do you know other

Gateway alums that we

can keep in contact with?

If so, please forward

their contact information

to CDT Jamison at

christjami-

son@yahoo.com

G A T E W A Y G A Z E T T E

Cadet Kellerman working

diligently at the Reserve

Forces Policy Board

A Word from LTC Jim Craig, Gateway PMS

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 1

Alumni, friends, supporters and

members of the Gateway Battalion,

It was a great summer and it has

been a great start to the new

school year for Gateway Battalion.

First and foremost, I am proud to

report that Gateway Battalion com-

missioned 20 new Second Lieuten-

ants for our Army. These new 2LTs

came from 7 different universities

and accepted commissions in the

Active, Reserves and National

Guard. There is no other program

in the Midwest (maybe in the coun-

try) that can claim that level of

success with the same level of di-

versity. A former battalion com-

mander once told me there is noth-

ing scarier and nothing more

scared than a new 2LT. I am not so

sure with the class of ‘12. These

new leaders are trained and ready!

I would proudly serve with any one

of them in my next assignment.

Next, Gateway Battalion cadets

travelled the world (literally) during

this summer’s Army sponsored

training exercises. Maybe you saw

them on your post or in your town?

I am so proud of all of their accom-

plishments; you can read about

many of their experiences in this

newsletter.

The school year is already in full

swing and we are very busy. Our

freshmen scholarship class was not

as large as we had hoped, but

thanks to our student presence we

have already found nearly a dozen

new freshmen who want to join

our ranks. Our cadets are proud

young men and women who want

to serve a cause greater than the

next college fashion or fad.

My personal thank you goes to all

alumni and family members who

have contributed to the Gateway

Battalion both financially and with

your time. Graduates, if you have-

n’t contacted our alumni affairs

officer, please consider doing so

and offering to share your experi-

ences with our cadets. If you don’t

have time or resources to donate,

at least consider simply “friend-

ing” our Facebook page and joining

the conversation

Finally, no good PMS letter is

complete without a small plea for

financial support. In your end-of-

the-year giving plans, don’t forget

the Gateway Battalion. Your dona-

tions are tax deductable if donated

through Washington University’s

processes (see the last page for

details). 100% of your support goes

to fund cadet activities, travel and

training opportunities. Nothing is

taken “off the top” for Wash U. We

could not be as successful without

your continued support. Thanks.

LTC Jim Craig

work.

During my time at Schofield I

also got to done a lot of training

with the soldiers. We did physi-

cal training every morning, we

went to the .50 cal range, and

participated in a few other

training events as well. I think

CTLT is a worthwhile experience

for all cadets. Cadets get a first

hand look at what they will be

doing once they commission

and arrive at their units.

-Cadet Flege, Gateway MSIV

This summer I had to opportu-

nity to spend three weeks at

Schofield Barracks in the great

state of Hawaii.

During this time, I followed

around three different officers:

a warrant officer, a platoon

leader, and a company execu-

tive officer. All three officers

that I followed aught me vari-

ous lessons about leading sol-

diers, being an effective leader,

and building good rapport with

the non-commissioned officers.

These are all things that have

been drilled into us since our

very first year in ROTC, but now

I was finally getting to see it at

Cadet participates in CTLT in Hawaii

Cadet Flege visits with fellow Cadet

Morgan Kimura, a Hawaii native, in

some free time during CTLT

LTC Jim Craig

314 935 7200

Jim.craig@wustl.edu

“...there is nothing

scarier and nothing

more scared than a

new 2LT.

I am not so sure

with the class of ‘12.

These new leaders

are trained and

ready!”

- LTC Jim Craig

P A G E 4

Left: Newly contracted cadets

are sworn in by Gateway PMS

LTC Craig, at the Edward Jones

Dome before the Rams-

Packers game. What a great

way to commemorate such a

milestone!

G A T E W A Y G A Z E T T E

Right: MSIII Instructor, Captain

Derek Martin, instructs a cadet on

the proper form for firing an AT-4

at Fort Leonard Wood during

Gateway’s Fall FTX

Left: Cadet Battalion Com-

mander Trent Farmer leads the

Battalion on a run at the begin-

ning of the semester at Forest

Park

P A G E 5 V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 1

Right: Cadets participate in the

beloved Gateway tradition of

Halloween PT. Cadets arrived

at WashU athletic center

dawned with an assortment of

costumes. The Cadets then

played in a tournament style

basketball game.

Left: Gateway MSIVs earn their

branch results during Branch

Day PT at Forest Park. After a

6:00 AM team building workout

(carry heavy objects, up large

hills, in the dark and cold),

Gateway MSIVs were served

breakfast at the visitors center

and were notified of their

branches.

Right: LTC Craig gives final

instructions to CDT Shannon

Custer as she steadies herself

before negotiating the 60 foot

rappel tower during the Rap-

pelling super lab this past Sep-

tember.

P A G E 6

“I spent most days

of the week

working in an

“office” writing

proposals for

funding with 1

other cadet and 4

locals, 2 of which

had been living with

HIV for more than

8 years”

-CDT Andrew

Zahn

Above: Cadet Zahn en-

joys some time with the

Tanzanian locals

Cadet Zahn’s CULP trip to Tanzania I can still remember, almost one year ago, last fall, when I was running at PT with an older cadet who kept pestering me to apply for this so-called “CULP” thing. I was hesitant because at the time I really had no idea what I was going to do the fol-lowing summer but I knew I probably didn’t want to spend it teaching English or volunteering in some random country. I was honestly holding out for an Airborne or Air Assault slot, something I was sure I would enjoy and that would directly benefit my career and resume.

Because I wanted this older cadet to stop bugging me, I decided to check out the appli-cation. Just because it was very brief and took about 30 min-utes, I went ahead and applied for the program. It said it would still need a note from my PMS and I decided I would let the fates decide if I would get ac-cepted. So I didn’t tell anyone I applied and just waited, figuring if LTC Craig got a notice and put in the letter, I would see what would happen, but if he didn’t get a notice, then I wouldn’t have to worry about making a decision about it.

Looking back, I’m glad LTC Craig is always on top of every-thing, because CULP gave me an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life. I spent the first 3 days of my CULP trip in Ft. Knox, going through Soldier Readiness Processing, filling out paperwork and getting blood drawn. It was one of the most miserable places I’ve ever been, mostly because the heat was pretty unbearable. After leaving Ft.

Knox, we flew across the Atlan-tic to Amsterdam, then down to Dar es Salaam, one of the capi-tals of Tanzania. We were picked up by the volunteer or-

ganizations we were traveling through and drove about 2 hours up the east coast of Africa to a small fishing town called Bagamoyo.

The next 21 days were the both eye-opening and life-changing for me. While most of the 28 other cadets in m group taught English to kids in school, I worked with an HIV/AIDS organi-zation in the community. I spent most days of the week working in an “office” writing proposals for funding with 1 other cadet and 4 locals, 2 of which had been living with HIV for more than 8 years. One day of the week, I got to conduct home visits with another HIV/AIDS organization and visit people of the community living with this deadly virus. The conditions people lived in were astonishing. 99% of the community was living without electricity and nobody had running water.

Poverty was rampant; about a third of the country is living on less than $2 U.S. dollars per day. Many had little more than corru-gated sheet metal and mud walls for houses. Despite these conditions and the hardships these people were living with, I met some of the happiest peo-ple I will ever meet in my life. De-spite the language barrier, I could have spent days just sitting with these people and interacting with them.

For the 21 days I was there, I got a much better understanding of the world outside of the bubble that is the United States and I realized that despite what we might see on TV or on the inter-

net, it is easy to

passively sympathize with the poor situations other people are living with.

Bagamoyo, Tanzania made these situations a reality for me. So while my summer was-n’t at all what I was planning on doing a year ago, it turned out to be one that I will never forget. CULP really was a once in a lifetime experience and I wouldn’t trade it for any other summer training ROTC offers to MS I or MS II cadets. You can go to Airborne or Air As-sault at any point in your Army career, traveling across the world to experience a new culture is something that only comes around once in a life-time and there’s no reason you shouldn’t take advantage

G A T E W A Y G A Z E T T E

Cadet Zahn enjoys

some down time in

Tanzania.

Cadets Gowen (MSII) and

Cornett (MSI) representing

Gateway Battalion at

UMSL homecoming

P A G E 7 V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 1

My public speaking experiences

in the past were absolutely horri-

ble. And now I was expected to

teach new material, giving clear

instructions and deliver this con-

tent to JROTC cadets with confi-

dence? No way would I be anything

but a disaster and let down my

leaders. My first briefing pretty

much stank as I read from the pa-

per and probably looked like a

wooden soldier as I gestured this

way and that. The second run

through my station was a fraction

better. Then the third one was

done and it had gone okay. I had

reached the point where I could

relax and really enjoy the cadets

coming though my station. At one

point, I had to work in front of my

own MCJROTC instructor from my

I don’t mind hard work and am

always trying to get stronger.

Some find PT to be an obligation

and just a grind, but I do enjoy

the could out the first year be-

cause of the demands of playing

on the D1 hockey team.

In ROTC, though, I feel like

absolutely everyone knows more

than I do. I tried to convince

myself it would be a growth ex-

perience. Getting to go to JCLC

seemed like a chance to get a

little bit of experience in a lead-

ership role. It would be an op-

portunity to wake up early, run

around, help out where directed

and watching thinking what on

earth am I doing here. I was

pretty sure I couldn’t do it.

high school, Gunner Cain.

Over the course of the JCLC,

I did run. I did learn and

teach and push and mentor.

I met some amazing people;

some were already strong

leaders and some would be

future leaders. I still keep in

touch with some of them. It

brought together people

from all over and that is

something that happens in

the army.

Looking back on it five

months later, I hope to be

able to go to JCLC again.

-CDT Katherine Bogomolov,

Gateway MSII

CDT Katherine Bogomolov on JCLC

CDT Bogomolov poses for a

picture during JCLC

“I met some amazing people; some

were already strong leaders and

some would be future leaders”

On the October 19 to October 21, myself and 5 other gateway females competed in Ranger Chal-lenge at Ft. Leonard Wood. The competition consisted of 10 physically demanding events: a 10k ruck march, day and night land naviga-tion, a grenade assault course, an obstacle course, a medical evacuation lane, one-rope bridge, weapons assembly and disassembly, shot grouping, and a physi-cal fitness test. We com-peted against four other female teams in our brigade and ended up placing sec-ond overall in the competi-tion. Our team placed first in the shot grouping and medical evacuation. It was an awesome experience with 5 really great teammates. Next year we'll get that first place trophy!

Gateway excels at Ranger Challenge

Cadet Claire Henkel leads the female Ranger Chal-

lenge team on the 10K Ruck Run

How can you support the Gateway Battalion? Donations are fully tax deductible

CHECKS PAYABLE TO: “Washington University – Department of Military Sci-ence” (Memo: Acct# 11-2051-94990) MAIL TO: Washington University, Campus Box 1082, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, MO 63130.

ON LINE: Go to: https://gifts.wustl.edu/giftform.aspx Click “select giving areas,” then check “other” and enter “Department of Military Science - Acct# 11-2051-94990” in the query box.

OTHER:

To donate time, money, equipment or other resources outside of Washington Uni-versity channels, please contact the PMS. (700 Rosedale Ave, St. Louis MO 63112, 314 935 7200)

http://www.rotc.wustl.edu/

Gateway MSIVs Learn their Branch Assignments This past month, Gateway MSIVs came to the first ma-

jor milestone in their Military Careers. Each senior

learned what branch of the Army they will begin their

career with when they commission this coming spring/

summer. Gateway’s class of 2013 saw the fruits of their

tireless labor as nearly all of them received one of their

top 3 branch choices.

The results are as follows:

BROUGHAM: Finance (detailed Armor)

CHHUM: Finance (detailed Armor)

CLAYBURN : Air Defense Artillery

CORRELL: Army Nurse Corps

DOLD: Engineers

ELDREDGE: Military Intelligence

FARMER: Armor

FLEGE: Transportation Corps

JAMISON: Military Police

KELLERMAN: Adjutant General’s Corps

LILLY: Military Police

MCBAIN: Field Artillery

MCKIBBEN: Engineers

MORIN: Signal Corps (detailed Armor)

PETERS: Adjutant General’s Corps (det. Armor)

PHILLIPS: Field Artillery

PROSE: Field Artillery

RILEY: Infantry

WAGNER: Air Defense Artillery

WOODRUM: Military Intelligence

YO: Military Intelligence (det. Infantry)

Congratulations to all MSIVs and their families! There is

a bright future ahead of all of you.

Above: Gateway MSIV’s after branch reveal

Physical Training. They are pictured here, with

branching results in hand, anxiously awaiting

to discover which branch they will start their

military careers in.

Left:

first formation

from the first

leadership lab of

the school year

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