Yellow Jacket Battalion
West Virginia State University
Army ROTC
Upcoming Events:
~ Commander’s Corner

Land Nav

M-16 Range

FTX

CULP

Leadership Development and
Assessment Course

Leaders Training Course
In this Issue:
Check us on the web!
http://armyrotc.com/edu/wvastate/index.htm
Page
Commanders Corner
1
Making Headlines
2
People to Watch
3
Hall of Fame
4
Seniors Corner
5
Where they are now
6,7
At long last, we’ve resurrected the “Yellow Jacket
newsletter”, with a plan to publish new volumes at the end of each
semester. I look forward to Cadets, Cadre and alumni providing photos
and feedback to connect with the current students and faculty at WVSU,
GSC, UC and WVUIT.
With another successful semester completed, I am excited to
provide a synopsis of the many accomplishments that abound within our
Battalion formation. This past Summer, we’ve deployed Cadets across
the world, with four attending Operation Warrior Forge at Joint Base
Lewis-McChord, WA, one Cadet attended the Leader Training Course at
Fort Knox, KY, and yet another traveled to Slovakia with the Cultural
Understanding and Language Program (CULP) – an international exchange program with 43
nations around the globe. Two students attended and earned their Airborne and Air Assault
badges at separate locations, while Cadre facilitated instructional learning at LDAC, LTC, and
CULP.
During the Fall 2012 semester, we’ve pushed our Cadets to excel and overcome the
inherent challenges of communication and planning, with multiple events at remote locations,
while coordinating their efforts to achieve great results. I offer a solid “round of applause” to
the masterful work of our Cadet BN CDR, Ashley Bish (WVSU), CDT SGM Hannah Pilcher
(WVUIT), the Operations Officer (S3) John Smith (WVSU) and our Admin/Logisitician (S1/S4)
Nicole Himes (GSC). Together they organized the Combined Fall FTX at Point Pleasant with
Marshall University ROTC, executed combat water survival training at multiple locations,
hosted the first Ranger Challenge Scrimmage on WVSU campus, facilitated small arms ranges
at both Glenville campus as well as vicinity WVSU at the State Police range, conducted two
world-class homecoming events with the M1A1 PAC 75mm howitzer, hosted the 33rd annual
Hall of Fame ceremony, and placed 9th (among 20 similar schools) in the Ranger Challenge
competition at Fort Pickett, VA. This has been a truly busy semester, with eleven color guard
events in 16 weeks, and each of the Senior Cadets maintaining a GPA over 3.10!
In the face of military draw down, the Yellow Jacket Battalion can finally boast a
100% manning level, with the arrivals of our Senior Military Instructor, MSG Johnathon Shank,
our Executive officer, MAJ Charles Beirne, and CPT Jonathan Judy, Assistant Professor of
Military Science.
We look forward to continued support, classroom presentations, drill and ceremony
competitions, and Raider Challenge meets with our local JROTC service programs at the
following High Schools: George Washington (Army), Riverside (Army), Capital (Army), St
Albans (USMC), Sissonville (USMC), Nitro (USAF), and South Charleston (USAF).
I encourage faculty, friends, and Cadets to refer young and aspiring students to try
Military Science classes. There is no initial commitment, and we offer a variety of
experiences towards achieving their academic goals and a professional career. We continue
to offer several scholarships (2, 3, & 4 year) along with monthly stipends ($300 to $500/mo)
and some housing scholarships at GSC and WVSU.
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Yellow Jackets Led
The Way
West Virginia University State
Army ROTC
~Making the Headlines
2012 RANGER CHALLENGE TEAM
Ferguson-Lincoln Building
PO Box 489
Institute, WV 25112-0489
Ranger Challenge Cadets work together to construct a
One Rope Bridge at FT A.P. Hill, VA
Tel: 304-766-3108 / 3109 / 3295
Fax: 304-204-4019
E-mail: [email protected]
Ranger Challenge Scrimmage at WVSU Campus
LTC Taylor tosses a coin to determine which team will
start the competition
Cadets prepare to launch a Zodiac Boat during Ranger
Challenge Scrimmage
Cadets Fire the cannon after a score at Glenville State
University Home Coming
Cadets Smith and Bish
Color Guard for Home
Coming
King and Queen
Staff Ride at Droop Mountain Battlefield Pocahontas
County, WV
ROTC Home Coming King and Queen
CDT Halstead in the dorm
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~People to Watch
Yellow Jackets
Check us on the web!
http://armyrotc.com/edu/wvastate
West Virginia University State
Army ROTC
Ferguson-Lincoln Building
PO Box 489
Institute, WV 25112-0489
Tel: 304-766-3108 / 3109 / 3295
Fax: 304-204-4019
E-mail: [email protected]
2LT John Brabender
“Ladies and gentlemen may I present to you the newest second lieutenant
in the United States Army, 2LT John Thomas Brabender.” This statement was
made by COL (R) Warner on December 14, 2012 at Twelve hundred hours. This
statement brought a smile to Brabender’s face but an even bigger one on the
faces of his parents John and Edith Brabender.
December 14, 2012 closed a chapter in 2LT Brabender’s life. The chapter
coming to an end was that of a student and a Cadet. As a student, Brabender
excelled in the classroom earning a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Sociology.
Now begins another chapter in 2LT Brabender’s life and that is the life of
an officer serving in the United States Army. Brabender’s first stop once leaving
the friendly confines of West Virginia State University is to attend Basic Officer
Leader Course Phase B at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Upon completion, 2LT Brabender
will serve as a Signal Officer for the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in the 1112th Infantry.
2LT Brabender with his Parents
COL (R) Warner and 2LT Brabender
2LT Brabender and Family
Cadet Pilcher
Cadet Hannah Pilcher of West Virginia University Institute of Technology
continued her tradition of physical fitness excellence by capturing a first place
finish in Armed Forces division of the 9th Annual Marshall University Half Marathon.
Having already established herself as an outstanding athlete by scoring a 336 on
her APFT at the Leadership Development and Assessment Course and by scoring the
game winning goal in the final game of her collegiate soccer career, the Yellow
Jacket Battalion’s Cadet CSM took it up a notch by besting the field with a time of
one hour and 54 minutes in the 13.1 mile course.
Losing no momentum, Cadet Pilcher now plans to challenge herself by competing in the 25
kilometer Frozen Sasquatch Run in Charleston this coming January. What are her words of wisdom to
the underclassmen? “Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you
that is greater than any obstacle.” Given her athletic accomplishments and her combined talent as a
scholar and leader, Cadet Pilcher continues to set a profound example for her peers to emulate.
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Yellow Jackets Led
The Way
West Virginia University State
Army ROTC
Ferguson-Lincoln Building
PO Box 489
Institute, WV 25112-0489
Tel: 304-766-3108 / 3109 / 3295
Fax: 304-204-4019
E-mail: [email protected]
~Hall of Fame
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Don Cornell Carter was born
March 3, 1955 in Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was a 1977 distinguished
military graduate from West Virginia State University, where he
earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice.
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Carter earned his Master of Science Degree
from Central Michigan University in Public Administration.
His military education consisted of the Officer Basic and
Advance Courses, Military Police Corps, the Combined Arms Services
Staff School, CAS3 , and the Command and General Staff College.
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Carter’s assignments include duty
in Baumholder, Germany from 1985 to 1988, where he served as the
Company Commander for the 92nd Military Police Company, 709th
LTC (Ret) Don C. Carter
Battalion. Provost Marshal, Fort Eustis, Virginia, Command Provost
Marshal, Fort Clayton, Panama from 1996-1999, and Embassy Security Liaison, Sanna, Yemen in
2005. He also had tours of duty at Fort Monroe, Virginia; Fort Meade, Maryland; Fort Riley, Kansas,;
Ansbach, Germany and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Among Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Carter’s awards and decorations are: Legion of Merit,
Meritorious Service Medal (4th award), the Army Commendation Medal (2nd award), Army Superior
Unit award, National Defense Service Medal (2nd award), Global War, Army Meritorious Service
Medals and many others.
LTC Carter so enjoyed his military experience that after retirement he continued his
association as a JROTC instructor at Smithfield High School, Smithfield, Virginia from 2005-2008.
The students became special to him as he worked to teach them respect, citizenship, and goal
setting.
Some of LTC Carter’s community activities are: Ruritan Club, school representative; NAACP,
member and local supporter; World Victory Church & Life Center, nominated for deacon board,
participant for three years in the stage productions, and church school teacher; York High Reunion
Planning Committee; Relay for Life fundraising/relay events; Smithfield High & Middle School, Parent
teacher Association; National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers; Board of Directors,
Gatling Point Housing Association; and Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, Inc.
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Carter was married to Renee , and they were blessed with two
children; daughter, Charisse D. Carter, and his son, 2LT Bryce S. Carter. Lieutenant Colonel (Ret)
Carter’s life spanned the years of 1955-2008.
EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT
The Yellow Jacket Battalion is excited to announce the revival of our newsletter.
The goal of our newsletter is to keep you better informed about what’s going on
with your ROTC Program and to draw attention to our accomplishments and successes at the end of each semester.
Our newsletter will be published twice annually attempting to capture the important events throughout the year. The newsletter will primarily be delivered
via the Internet with e-mail accounts. Alumni and community members will receive a hard copy delivered to them courtesy of the United States Postal Service
if they do not have access to the Internet. Of course, we will attempt to keep
the cost of our newsletter to a minimum so we persuade our readers to provide
an e-mail address.
The success of our newsletter not only falls on the Cadre and Cadets but to our
Alumni. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated along with any success
stories you would like to submit. If you wish to make a donation to the WVSU
Army ROTC please send a check or money order to the Charles C. Rogers Fund
and mail to PO Box 489, Institute, WV 25112.
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~Senior’s Corner
Yellow Jackets
Check us on the web!
http://armyrotc.com/edu/wvastate
West Virginia State University
Army ROTC
Ferguson-Lincoln Building
PO Box 489
CDT Smith
Active Duty Infantry
CDT Bish
WVARNG Ordinance
CDT Himes
Active Duty Adjutant
General
CDT Pilcher
Tel: 304-766-3108 / 3109 / 3295
Fax: 304-204-4019
E-mail: [email protected]
Active Duty Quarter Master
CDT Gregory Hott
~ WELCOME NEW CADETS
To meet graduation and commissioning goals, the Cadre pledge to provide the
best possible instruction and realistic training while offering one-on-one interaction. As new members of the Yellow Jacket Battalion it is your duty to attend and
participate in classroom instruction as well as physical fitness training and labs.
With the combined efforts of the Cadre and Cadet Battalion leadership we are
confident that the Yellow Jacket Battalion will continue to produce effective and
productive junior officers.
We would like to welcome the following Cadets to the “Yellow Jacket” Family.
CDT Darin Cook—University of Charleston, 2014
CDT Nathan Bolin—Glenville State, 2016
CDT Kyle Hartleben—Glenville State, 2016
CDT James Hubbard—Glenville State, 2015
CDT Gregory Hott—Glenville State, 2015
CDT Shrewsberry takes aim on the
hand grenade assault course
CDT Chevelle Raines—Glenville State, 2015
We would like to congratulate CDT Hott for being awarded a $5,000 ROTC scholarship after completing Leaders Training Course at Fort Knox, KY.
5
~ Where they are now
Currently serving as an Ordinance Officer in the West Virginia National
Guard. While waiting on a school date, she has been serving as Officer in
Charge of a joint reconnaissance team conducting preliminary damage assessments from Hurricane Sandy.
2LT Hibberd
Currently training at Fort Lee, VA. Has completed Modern Combatives
Program level 1 and FBCB 2. He was awarded the Gold German Armed
Forces Proficiency Badge and also awarded the Army Achievement Medal for
shooting 40/40 on weapons qualifications.
2LT Ferrebee
Currently serving in the West Virginia Army National Guard as a Military
Police Platoon Leader. He is scheduled to attend Basic Officer Leaders
Course Phase B at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.
2LT Wormley
Currently assigned to the West Virginia Army National Guard serving as a
Platoon Leader with the 119th Sapper Company. He is also enrolled in Marshall University’s Graduate Program obtaining a Masters Degree in Exercise
Physiology. 2LT Cottrill will attend Basic Officer Leaders Course Phase B at
Fort Leonard Wood, MO
2LT Cottrill
6
~ Where they are now Cont.
Currently assigned to the West Virginia Army National Guard serving as a Ordinance Platoon Leader. He will attend Basic Officer Leaders Course Phase B
at Fort Lee, VA in January 2013. 2LT Rowsey is expecting his first born child
this summer.
2LT Rowsey
Currently assigned to the West Virginia Army National Guard serving as a
Military Police Platoon Leader. He is attending Basic Officer Leaders Course
Phase B at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.
2LT Kiser
Currently serving in the U.S. Army Reserves and training at Fort Sam Houston, TX for Medical Services. Once she completes Basic Officer Leaders
Course Phase B, she will reside in Florida with her three children and husband.
2LT Watson
Has branch Active Duty Chaplain and currently on an education delay attending Liberty University working on her Master’s Degree in Divinity. Once
completing her Master’s Degree, she will attend Basic Officer Leader Course
Phase B at Fort Jackson, South Carolina
2LT Douglas-Smith
7
West Virginia State University
Army ROTC
Check us on the web!
http://armyrotc.com/edu/wvastate/index.htm
Ferguson-Lincoln Building
PO Box 489
Institute, WV 25112-0489
[email protected]
The Yellow Jacket Battalion
Mr. Gordon Ramey
SSG Bernard Pates
MAJ Charles Beirne
SFC Steven Doolittle
304-766-3295
304-550-7651
540-589-0281
304-766-3297
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
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