UI/WSU Naval ROTC Students Shine at Competitions
Friday, April 8 2005
April 7, 2005 MOSCOW, Idaho -- The University of Idaho and Washington State University NROTC unit almost swept the awards and competitions at last month's Northwest Navy Tournament held in Utah, according to their commanding officer, Col. Bruce Barnes. Northwest Navy includes the NROTC units from University of Washington, University of Utah, Oregon State University and UI/WSU. Held each spring at one of the four campuses, events include regulation drill, exhibition drill, inspection, individual drill, color guard, rifle and pistol marksmanship, physical fitness test, physical skills competition, swimming, basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer and an academic competition conducted á la Jeopardy. Most significant is that the unit won first place in the overall competition, which for the ROTCs is the same thing as the varsity teams winning their conference. "I'm so proud of these guys and gals that I could bust," said Barnes. "I think for the first time ever, one unit swept the entire drill and color guard competitions -- and that would be us!" Drill Teams/Color guard: (Note: In the military culture, regulation drill, inspection, and color guard are the mark of a unit.) First Place: Regulation Drill; Drill Inspection; Color Guard; Exhibition Drill; Best Color Guard Commander – Christian Carlson from Spokane, Wash.; Best Drill Team Commander -- Stephanie Gabrys from Eagle River, Alaska; Best Individual Exhibition drill competition -- Kelly Bennett from Lake Stevens, Wash. Second Place: Knockout drill. Competitors make one large formation and are given commands to execute as a group. Inspectors swarm around them looking for anything executed improperly. Four of the final eight placers were from UI/WSU, all freshmen: Joshua Southerland, from Kennewick, Wash.; Jared Wada from University Place, Wash.; Sara Nash from Silverdale, Wash.; and Joshua Raymond from West Richland, Wash. Raymond finished second overall and first among freshman. Sports/Academic Teams: First Place: Basketball, Volleyball; Women's Swim Team; Best Athlete -- Richard Wagner (WSU) from Tacoma, Wash.; Second Place: Academics; Rifle Marksmanship Other NROTC news: Terry W. Triplett from Louisville, KY., was selected to receive the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Award designating him as the top graduating midshipman in electrical engineering or communications sciences in the nation. This award recognizes ROTC graduates in each service selected for their distinguished academic achievement in the command, control, communications, computers and intelligence fields. UI now joins an impressive list of universities with students who have won this award in the past including Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Cornell University, Carnegie Mellon University, Tulane University, among others. Triplett is a computer science major, who has qualified for the Dean's List every semester he's been at UI. He has held numerous assignments in the NROTC battalion and has participated on pistol, drill and soccer teams. Triplett was a Naval avionics technician in Helicopter Support Squadron Four in Sigonella, Sicily. After he graduates from UI this spring, he will go to Pensacola, Fla. to become a Navy pilot. Richard Wagner, USMC (WSU from Tacoma, Wash.) received the Armed Forces Bank Award for $500. Only two are given nationwide. Colleen Kramer, USMC from Weiser, received the Gen. John A. Lejeune Award from the Bank of America for $500. Only four are given nationwide. And, Officer Candidate Reinhart Eder, USN, from Idaho Falls, received the $500 Adm. Holloway Award from the Bank of America $500 -- only six are given nationwide. He also was listed as the No. 2 Surface Warfare Midshipman in the nation. Last semester, he passed his interview for the Nuclear Navy, which brings with it a $10,000 bonus. He now is applying to the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. to earn his master's on the way to his first ship. NROTC Scholarship awards include those given to Thomas M. Flynn (WSU) of Trabuco Canyon, Calif., who received a Marine-Option nationally controlled scholarship; Wada (WSU), Raymond and Southerland all received Navy-Option scholarships; and Matthew E. Bezold of Oak Harbor, Wash., received the PNS Leadership scholarship. Each award provides tuition, books, fees and a monthly stipend. On the alumni front, Cmdr. Chris Halton, USN and 1987 UI graduate, has just become the commanding officer of the USS SHOUP, a guided missile destroyer based in Everett, Wash. Contact: Colonel Bruce M. Barnes, USMC, UI/WSU Professor of Naval Science, barnesbm@uidaho.edu, (208) 885-6333 -30- NH-4/7/05-NROTC, ENGR
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