THE WILDCAT
In This Issue:
• Page 2: Injured Marine
5K Run
Midshipman 2/C
Wilkinson on the
USS Ronald
Reagan during
his 2/C summer
cruise.
• Page 2: Words from
the Colonel
• Page 3-4: 2010
Summer Cruise
• Page 4: India
Company –Staff
Perspective
India Company 2010 – From Candidate to Midshipman
On August 14, 2010, twenty three high
school seniors, young college students
and I filed into John Barry Hall to begin
the five day long O-Week that kicks off
Villanova NROTC’s India Company.
After a brief goodbye to our parents,
we were taken into a classroom and
told to sit silently and study basic
knowledge about the Navy and
Marine Corps. Once the parents were
on their way to a brief in another
building, the whole room exploded
with our India Company staff. The next
few hours were an intense blur of
military
haircuts,
scrambling
candidates, gear issue, and a bus ride
to Fort Dix, New Jersey.
Continued on Page 5
Below: Cake Cutting Ceremony
“Even after O-Week I
started to see myself
as different from the
rest of the ‘Nova
freshman, I think we
all did.”
Fall Ball 2010
The evening of November 13, 2010
marked the celebration of the annual
Birthday Ball of the U.S. Navy and
Marine Corps. The location for this
year’s event was the Camden
Aquarium located on the Delaware
River in sight of downtown Philadelphia.
The event, organized by Midshipman
2/C Honeycutt, head of the
Midshipmen Society, was another
flawless evening in a long tradition of
enjoyable celebrations. The evening’s
ceremony, lead by Midshipman 2/C
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Saukulak, was executed perfectly and
carried the Battalion through the
traditional cake cutting ceremony. The
guest of honor was Colonel Julia
Paparella (Ret.) who inspired many
Midshipmen with her stories and
moving words about caring for the
wounded soldiers of World War II and
her descriptions of the European
Theatre – Continued on Page 5
India Company Staff 2010 –
Faces the 4/C can’t forget.
From left MIDN 2/C
DenBleyker and MIDN 2/C
Burke.
THE WILDCAT ● VILLANOVA NROTC ● FALL 2010
Commanding Officer:
Col. Stephen Marchioro, USMC
Executive Officer:
CDR Tim Barkdoll, USN
Battalion Advisor:
LT Brian Pultro, USN
Wildcat Advisor:
LT Kyle Sampson, USN
Battalion Commander:
MIDN 1/C Megan Walsh, USNR
Public Affairs Officer & Wildcat Editor:
MIDN 2/C Dan McElwee, USNR
Words From The Colonel
It has been an exciting few months
since I took command of the
Philadelphia Consortium in July.
Having not been previously involved
in NROTC, I was amazed as I
watched our incoming freshman
transformed from talented but green
high school graduates to
outstanding young Midshipmen that
readily embraced our core values of
Honor, Courage, and Commitment.
Their emergence as the future
leaders of our Naval Forces was
assisted greatly by the cadre of
upperclassmen, who taught them
everything from the basics of
standing at attention to the time
honored traditions and history that
make our Navy and Marine Corps
the finest fighting forces in history. As
I watched the “midshipmen
candidates” dressed smartly in their
summer whites at the Fall Review
and be formally brought into the
Battalion as Midshipmen, I knew the
future of the unit was in good hands.
They Orientation Week staff
provided an outstanding
Injured Marine 5K Run
In Iraq and Afghanistan, heroes of the United States
Military are being hurt mentally and physically on a
daily basis. When a Soldier, Sailor or Marine is injured
the road to recovery can be a very freighting
experience for the hurt warriors and their families and
friends. Fortunately, American forces now have the
Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, a not-for-profit
organization established in 2004, to help assist the
families of injured Soldiers, Sailors and Marines during
their recovery.
On October 26, 2010, Villanova
University’s Naval ROTC Unit did its part by sponsoring a
run to raise money for the Injured Marine Semper Fi
Fund. The Tuesday afternoon of the 26th was perfect
for an exciting autumn run that brought numerous
runners form the Battalion, Villanova club sports
leagues, and local high schools, including Valley Forge
Military Academy. The 5 kilometer run organized by
Midshipman 2/C Novak was an exciting and affective
way to raise money for the Semper Fi Fund. The event
T-shirts and snacks after the race were a big hit with the
participants and were a great way to attract runners.
Following a brief statement by Colonel Marchioro the
runners took off for three laps around Villanova’s main
campus. Following the race prizes were given out to
the top three male and female runners of the event.
After the race the runners were happy to rest and know
that they had done good for the families of injured
warriors of the United States Military.
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example of what midshipmen should
aspire to be like. I also want to single out
in particular the outgoing Battalion CO,
MIDN 1/C Megan Walsh, and her
exemplary staff. MIDN Walsh has passed
the torch to MIDN 1/C Toomey and his
staff, and I have the utmost confidence
that they will carry on the proud traditions
that are the hallmark of the Villanova
NROTC unit. I look forward to the
upcoming Spring Ball, several MECs and
sailing regattas, and, the highlight of the
year, commissioning week. I also look
forward to continuing to meet the Alumni
of the Villanova NROTC.
The winners of the Injured Marine 5k Run. 1st place
MIIDN 3/C James Mulski, and Rose Borday, in 2nd place
MIIDN 3/C Matthew Cutts and Carrie Rose, and in 3rd
place MIIDN 4/C John Dickmann and MIDN 3/C Alex
Andrakakos.
THE WILDCAT ● VILLANOVA NROTC ● FALL 2010
Summer 2010 -2/C Nursing Cruise
MIDN 2/C Honeycutt on board USS Makin
Island.
July 1 2010 marked the first day of the 2/C Nursing Cruise
for MIDN 2/C Lauren Honeycutt. With orders to the USS Makin
Island (LHD-8), a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, stationed
in San Diego, California Honeycutt set out for a month long
cruise. NROTC Midshipmen on their second class nursing cruise
are given the opportunity to spend time with and learn from
Navy Corpsmen. Experiencing life with the corpsmen is a great
way to get hands on training and experience as a future nurse.
While most nursing students at Villanova do not learn how to
give shots, place IVs or change dressings until late in their junior
year, Midshipman Honeycutt was learning and teaching other
midshipman how to perform these procedures before her junior
year had even started.
During her time spent with the
Corpsmen, MIDN Honeycutt learned what the enlisted medical
staff look for in the Navy Officer nurses and doctors. In addition
to preparing herself to be an officer Honeycutt also gathered
practical nursing knowledge and training. “Returning back to
Villanova for my junior year I was way ahead of all the other
nurses in clinical, because I had already learned most of the
procedures on the USS Makin Island” recalled Honeycutt. From day
one, the training started and the Corpsmen were more than happy to
give Midshipman a chance to practice many different types of
procedures. While only under way for four days MIDN Honeycutt will
remember the wide range of her lessons and experiences whether it
be how to improve as a future officer or as how to give a flu shot,
Honeycutt will look back fondly at her time spent on the USS Makin
Island.
MIDN 2/C Honeycutt placing IVs
with corpsman.
.
Villanova Special Olympics
On Saturday November 5 2010 Villanova University organized and hosted the largest student run Special Olympics
competition in the country. For Villanova, the Special Olympics is an annual gesture from the school to the community that
provides a great opportunity for students to make a direct impact on people of all ages with special needs. Students are
given the opportunity to volunteer on their own or participate with groups as they help with events and make sure
everything runs smoothly all weekend. Every year, the midshipmen here at Villanova help out with the award ceremonies—
MIDN 2/C Honeycutt and MIDN 3/C Andrakakos, and MIDN 4/C Skrynecki, Maston, Hellendall, Pike, and I all volunteered to
go to Shipley School and assist the awards ceremonies for the bocce competition. Though the ceremony itself was not a
complex procedure, the Villanova students in charge were more than grateful for our help as we led the athletes on and off
stage, making sure they were all standing where they were supposed to, and placing the medals around their necks. Many
people enjoyed the fact that we were in uniform—a couple of the athletes asked us about them, as did the parents and
coaches, and a couple people noted how sharply things ran while we were there.
The real reward was not in helping put a medal around someone’s neck, but was seeing how excited the athletes
were and how much fun everyone involved was having throughout the entire day. It truly was a nice day for everyone
involved: everyone was smiling, laughing, and having a good time. Continued on Page 6
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THE WILDCAT ● VILLANOVA NROTC ● FALL 2010
2/C Enlisted Cruise- Summer of 2010
On June 1 2010 MIDN 2/C Sinon Bennett set off for his
2/C summer cruise on the USS James E. Williams. The USS
Williams a (DDG-95) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that
was due to leave New York on a 27 day cruise to Norfolk
Virginia. The 2/C cruise, also known as the enlisted cruise,
provides Midshipmen with an opportunity to follow various
enlisted personnel throughout their daily routines on the ship.
MIDN Bennett was given the opportunity to learn from enlisted
Gunners Mates whose main responsibilities included the
cleaning and maintenance of the tomahawk missile launch
tubes within the ship. The cruise provided lots of great
opportunities to get involved in the daily routine of the ship
and to learn a lot about what enlisted men and women look
for in a good officer. Following the cruise, Midshipman Bennett
knows he is now more prepared to be a successful officer
when he joins the fleet. MIDN 2/C Sinon Bennett
The USS Sterett (DDG 104) launching
tomahawks cruise missiles.
India Company 2010-Staff
Perspective
2010 marked the second year in which incoming 4/C
midshipmen participated in a combined freshmen
orientation program with incoming midshipmen from the
University of Pennsylvania NROTC unit. This is a radical
change from the previous orientation program, India
Company, during which all training was conducted at
Villanova once the fall semester commenced. This year
Orientation Week took place at Fort Dix, New Jersey, a
change from last year’s site, Fort Indiantown Gap.
The daily schedule at Orientation Week was
grueling, as candidates participated in exercises and
learned skills necessary to be successful as midshipmen in
the Philadelphia Consortium. From dawn to well past
dusk, each day provided new challenges for the
candidates to tackle, including rigorous physical training,
hours of drill practice, and even the base’s Obstacle
Course and Confidence Course. Following the week-long
training evolution, the midshipmen candidates and staff
returned to Villanova to build on the foundation that was
laid in close order drill, physical training, and professional
military education during Orientation Week.
For the five weeks leading up to Fall Review,
candidates participated in India Company three
mornings each week, and during the Naval Professional
Lab period on Tuesday afternoons. During this time, they
polished the skills and traits first introduced to them during
Orientation Week and received helpful mentoring from
upper class midshipmen on study skills, physical training
programs, and facing situations that will be encountered
as members of Villanova’s NROTC battalion. Conducting
a training evolution that brought together candidates
and staff members from Villanova, Drexel University,
Temple University, and the University of Pennsylvania
required a significant amount of planning and
Continued on page 6
Page | 4
LT Michael
Knickerbocker
assisting with the
haircut of MIDN
4/C Kwasnik prior
to leaving for
Fort Dix.
Description
MIDN 4/C Valerie Zetts jumping an obstacle on her
third day at Fort Dix.
THE WILDCAT ● VILLANOVA NROTC ● FALL 2010
Candidate to Midshipman Continued
Ca
Once the candidates from Villanova, Penn, Temple and Drexel
had settled in, we prepared for the next four days. The days
began at 0530 with morning PT followed by showers, a march to
breakfast, several run-throughs of the Obstacle Course,
Confidence Course, and Leadership Response Course, drill, an
MRE lunch, several briefs, more drill, and plenty of blisters, yelling
and knowledge quizzes in between, all while keeping our
canteen life-lines and Gouge books on our bodies at all times.
“The realization of what we had signed up for really hit after the
first night; this was preparation for a military life.” said MIDN 4/C
Lewis.
O-Week seemed like chaos but the unfailing
accountability and guidance of the India Company staff kept
everyone safe while still pushing us harder than most of us had
ever been pushed before. On the final night, some of the
candidates were allowed to sleep while the watch became the
Candidates braving the obstacle course at
India Company staff’s security door as a little gag, making noises
and motions like something out of Star Trek. The last morning
Fort Dix.
began with breakfast and a seemingly endless bus ride back to
Villanova, a swim qualification, and final gear issue. When asked
Fall Ball 2010 Continued
about the transition from O-Week to the beginning of life as a
following the invasion of Normandy. After a rendition
student, MIDN 4/C Zetts said “Even after O-Week I started to see
of “Anchors Aweigh” and a delicious dinner,
myself as different from the rest of the ‘Nova freshman, I think we
Midshipman and their dates filled the remainder of
all did.” After a week of university freshman orientation, India
their night with dancing, pictures and desert. The
Company began in full with five weeks of drill practice at 0615
aquarium’s exotic fish and view of Philadelphia made
every Monday, PT every Tuesday and Thursday, and OCS prep
the evening fun for all and one that will be
class for Marine Options on Friday. We were to be in proper
remembered for the rest of our years at Villanova.
civilian attire when on campus and dreaded to be the
candidate who failed to greet India Company staff around
school. Soon, though, the toughest moments from O-Week
became hilarious stories that we have told time and time again
as we started to become tighter as a unit. “It’s funny, they all said
we’d find our best friends here and it’s already starting to
happen. It feels good to see people come together like we
have.” said MIDN 4/C O’Donnell. Even some of the Unit Staff
have remarked at how close the freshman class has become.
India Company ended with an inspection and, ultimately, Fall
Review in which we were finally sworn in as midshipmen in the
United States Navy. Despite all of the reasons we decided to
come through the NROTC program at Villanova, the desire to
From left; MIDN 4/C Mills, MIDN 4/C De Lannoy, MIDN 4/C
improve ourselves and serve others has brought another class of
Conner, MIDN 4/C Hellendall and MIDN 4/C Maston
midshipmen together to continue the proud Villanova NROTC
gathering for a picture at the Camden Aquarium.
legacy. MIDN 4/C James Mills
Candidates
enjoying their
time at Fort Dix.
Page | 5
THE WILDCAT ● VILLANOVA NROTC ● FALL 2010
Special Olympics Continued
In between ceremonies, MIDN Maston, MIDN Hellendall, and I got the
opportunity to talk to some coaches and parents on the sidelines of the
bocce games—the true spirit of the Special Olympics shone through in these
people, how much they genuinely enjoyed working with the athletes and
watching them succeed, and how overwhelmingly thankful they were for us
and all the rest of the volunteers taking time out of our schedules to
participate. The Special Olympics provides a unique opportunity for all
involved—not just the athletes. Whether it was a conversation with an athlete,
parent, or coach, the Special Olympics certainly marked a weekend here at
Villanova that had a little something in store for everyone. MIDN 4/C John
Dickmann
Runners listen to the words of Colonel Marchioro
before commencing the 5K run.
Special Olympian athletes preparing for
competitive weightlifting
India Company 2010-Staff Perspective Continued
preparation in order to ensure the best possible training environment was
available. While this training evolution is primarily for the benefit of incoming
midshipmen, the midshipmen staff members learned valuable lessons in
planning and conducting operations from Unit Staff advisors that will serve
them well in the fleet. Staff meetings were held as early as March to
commence and complete planning before each Midshipman participated in
their respective summer cruise, whether it be at CORTRAMID, with fleet units, or
Officer Candidate’s School. A great deal of teamwork and communication,
as well as an immense time sacrifice, ultimately made Orientation Week and
India Company a great success. MIDN 1/C Matt Walsh
4/C Midshipmen moments after their
completion of India Company.
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THE WILDCAT ● VILLANOVA NROTC ● FALL 2010
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
Commanding Officer
NROTC Unit
Villanova University
800 Lancaster Avenue
Villanova, Pennsylvania 19085
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
If you have an address correction or any comments to help us improve this publication,
please mail us at the address below. Additionally, if you would like to make a tax deductible
donation to the Villanova NROTC Unit, please fill out the following form and mail it along
with a check made out to “P.J. Harrington Memorial Fund” to the address listed below.
Your support of our Nation’s future Navy and Marine Corps leaders is greatly appreciated.
P.J. Harrington Memorial Fund
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Comments___________________________________________________________________________________
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This tax deductible donation should be made payable to “P.J. Harrington Memorial Fund” and mailed with this reply to:
NROTC Unit Villanova University
800 Lancaster Avenue
Villanova, PA 19085
Attn: Alumni Officer
Veritas, Unitas, Caritas
Veritas, Unitas, Caritas
GO NAVY BEAT ARMY!
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THE WILDCAT ● VILLANOVA NROTC ● FALL 2010