spring 2021 - nrotc.nd.edu

UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME

NAVAL RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS

SPRING 2021

Irish Pennant | Spring 2021

Battalion,

Congratulations on the successful completion of yet another strange and unique aca-demic year. I hope this issue finds you safe as we wind down from the COVID-19 pandemic. As I come to the end of my fourth and final year in command of NROTCU Notre Dame, I con-tinue to be impressed by your accomplishments and involvement in the community. The past semester was highlighted by an outstanding Naval Leadership Weekend (NLW), with excel-lent work put in by MIDN 2/C McCann and Ralph. Continuing our close relationship with the Notre Dame International Security Center, our MIDN participated in a Small Unit Leadership Exercise with completely positive feedback. Unfortunately, due to the shutdown of the University and social distancing considerations, we had to modify our annual 1/C Din-ing In as well as Warrior Night. We look forward to reinstating those traditions next year. Well done to the outstanding leadership demonstrated by the Senior Class through the year. I fully anticipate your success as you transition to the Fleet. Good luck to the incoming lead-ership from the Junior Class as you take over Battalion Operations. I look forward to a safe return to campus for 2021 – 2022, and the continuation of Battalion Reconstitution in prepa-ration for the upcoming academic year. Good luck to your new Commanding Officer, CAPT Lance Thompson, who will report over the summer and take over in Mid-August.

I can honestly say this has been one of the most rewarding tours of my career, helping shape the future leaders of the Naval Force. Fair winds and following seas to all as I retire from active service, but I will always be an email or phone call away.

Stay safe, make good choices, and Go Irish, Go Navy, and God Bless the United States of America.

Captain Mark A. Prokopius,

US Navy, Commanding Officer


Another outstanding academic year has ended and the active duty staff could not be prouder of the accomplishments of the Irish Battalion of Midshipman during the past year. You, the Midshipmen of Notre Dame, have continued to excel in all your endeavors – academic, military, and physical – during a difficult and challenging world-wide pandemic. From my vantage point, it is apparent that the local community and the University administrators have taken notice of your accomplishments as they are continuously reaching out to us to leverage your involvement and leadership within the University and the community. They, like your parents, are so proud of and humbled by your dedicated service as mid-shipmen and as student leaders.

To the underclassmen, your summer training will soon commence. Embrace the fantastic oppor-tunities with which you will be presented and gobble up every morsel of professional information and training that you possibly can. “Pick the brain ” of the Sailors and Marines whom you will encounter and cherish the camaraderie and esprit de corps that they will undoubtedly want to share with you. As you fly naval aircraft, embark on submarines and warships, and train with America's elite war fighters, recognize the fantastic blessings and opportunities you have, and realize that many of your fellow Amer-icans can only dream about doing what will soon become routine to you and your Naval ROTC peers. When you consider the typical summer jobs and mundane internships that many of your fellow classmates will endure this summer, I am certain that the exciting adventures upon which you will soon embark will motivate you and furthermore, will cement the belief that you have chosen a noble, worth-while, and exciting career. Although the core component of your summer training is to develop your pro-fessional skills and expose you to the “real” Navy and Marine Corps, don't forget my most important rule – have fun! Make friends with midshipmen from other NROTC units and you will certainly form manybonds and memories that you will cherish for the rest of your lives.

To the seniors who will soon be commissioned as Navy and Marine Corps Officers, I have seen you develop from timid and wide-eyed third class midshipmen to phenomenal battalion leaders and soon -to-be fantastic junior officers. You will undoubtedly leave your “Irish” mark upon the Fleet, and we are all sure we will hear great things about you and your accomplishments. You might be sad to depart thisgreat institution but you are beginning the most exciting career one could possibly imagine for young 22-year-old Americans. You will encounter countless occasions to excel, many demanding physical and mentalchallenges, and an infinite number of leadership opportunities. I will give you just a few pieces of advice:If you always lead with integrity and a moral compass, you will not fail; embrace with vigor the opportunitiesthat have been given, and never forget that your role as aleader is really that of a servant. You serve not only theAmerican people and our nation, but most importantly,you serve the Sailors and Marines who are under yourcharge. You must strive to always mentor, train, andchallenge them while personally looking out for theirwell-being and professional growth. As you are constantlyreminded, it is not about you - it is about them! Take careof your shipmates and be a selfless leader, and you will bepersonally rewarded by succeeding in a fulfilling andmeaningful career. Fair Winds Class of 2021!

FLY NAVY! GO IRISH! Commander Jason D. Thompson

US Navy, Executive Officer


What an exciting chapter it’s been! I checked into the unit in the summer of 2017, and only a few weeks later, I met my first midshipmen. One group consisted of 1/C billet-holders frantically planning the last details of NSO, executing tasks as quickly as they were delegated. It was impressive. The other group was made up of ridiculous blue polo shirts, ill-fitting khakis, and a collective inability to ac-complish even the most basic of tasks. Four years later, those freshmen are now ready to commission as leaders themselves, in the world’s finest naval force.

To those seniors, congratulations. You are about to do incredible things, building on the relationships you formed here as well as creating new ones in your future assignments. Know that I will be watching each of your careers closely, and that I will take it as a personal affront if you do not keep in touch with me.

To the sophomores and juniors: Hold one another accountable, and don’t let each other complacent. Time goes quickly, so use it wisely and learn as much as you can. PT hard, read often, and ask questions of your upperclassmen and staff.

To the freshmen: Out of my many duties and responsibilities these past few years, one of my favorites was my time as the 4/C advisor. Your enthusiasm is in-fectious, and your potential is limitless. Carry that motivation forward when you return in the Fall; each of you are now charged with leading the next class of freshmen students.

I’ve been very fortunate in my Marine Corps career. I’ve deployed often, discovered incredible mentors, and served alongside some of the finest men and women to ever wear the cloth of our Nation. Know that I count each of you among those fine men and women, and after 15 years of active duty, I’m proud to hand the baton over to you. Now get to work: your Marines and Sailors are waiting for you. Semper Fidelis! Capt. Brockelmeyer, USMC


Battalion, As this semester closes, it marks the end of a school year defined by the pandemic.

It has made it an extremely difficult year and in a difficult semester, but it has been humbling to see how all the MIDN faced those challenges and supported each other. While we begin to return to “normal” with the vaccine and MIDN now being able toreturn to their summer training, I hope that the lessons learned this year will not be forgotten. The most important lesson of which was how to be adaptable. This was shown at all levels of the battalion with the active-duty staff finding ways new ways to develop the MIDN, such as leveraging zoom to give the battalion the opportunity to hear from speakers including Gen. Mattis, Kyle Carpenter, a Medal of Honor Recipient, Gen. Berger, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Sen. Todd Young, among others. In any semester, this would be unbelievable list of speakers and I speak on behalf of all the battalion when I say that the lessons we have learned from them will stay with us through-out our careers. The MIDN leadership continually impressed me in their ability to adapt and overcome. This includes finding new ways to plan events such as executing the first ever virtual Navy Leadership Weekend or just adapting to the plans that would change at any moment because of the environment we were in with the pandemic. Finally, all the MIDN remained flexible with their schedules and to the all the changes that had to be passed down to them.

As my time at Notre Dame and ROTC comes to an end, I just want to say I am thankful for everyone in ROTC and all the effort it took to make this a successfulsemester. I hope everyone takes the time to reflect on all the lessons we learned this semester and are thankful for what we wereable to have this semester.

GO IRISH! MIDN 1/C Joseph Tanaka, USNR Battalion Commanding Officer


After a 10 week break away from campus, and returning amidst heavy pandemic induced restrictions, the Unit formed up for the first time in 2021. Instead of the Jordan Hall of Science, in compliance with Notre Dame policy, drill was held in Stepan Center.

The Battalion formed up in NWU’s and MARPAT’s with a white, winter backdrop of about 6 inches of snow. After reporting for accountability in the cold, the Unit filed into Stepan for the first Drill period of the new year. BCO Johnston and his staff came down in front of the Unit to offer parting words and ad-min information. They were followed by Captain Prokopius, offering a welcome back to campus. Follow-ing the CO, Gunnery Sergeant Triebell called for the attention of the Battalion, and set to organizing Midshipman in order of last name and graduating class, with the 4/C at the front and the 1/C in the back. Each Midshipman was then recognized for one (or multiple) of four awards: two academic awards for High GPAs in the previous semester (3.5 and 3.75 respectively); a fitness award for those who scored above the threshold of 90 points on the PRT; and a class leadership award, which was determined by the receiving midshipman’s peers in their respective classes. After all the recipients had been acknowledged, the Drill period continued on to the Change of Responsibility. The obvious big transition was the outgoing BCO Johnston and his staff being replaced by the incoming BCO Tanaka and his staff, however other billets received a public change of responsibility, specifically each of the three Company Commanders (With the Outgoing sitting on the left side of the room and the incoming on the right). The official order that authorized the change of command was issued, and MIDN Johnston and MIDN Tanaka traded places. With the new staff in place, all that was left was for the incoming Commander’s first speech.

While Outgoing BCO Johnston had rounded out his command with his well known motto, “Work Hard, Have Fun, and Don’t Be Stupid,” Incoming BCO Tanaka had some words of his own that he wished to impart on his MIDN. In his first address to the Unit, BCO Tanaka stressed certain key points that he wished for us all to consider over the next few months. Two of these points were Unit Adaptabil-ity and a Bias Towards Action. He recognized that this is an unprecedented year, with the world gripped by a global pandemic, but more than an obstacle, the new leader saw this as a challenge. As such the Unit was tasked to consider these key points BCO Tanaka had brought up, with him specifically sug-gesting that we ponder the answers to three questions: “What are we doing? Why are we doing it? How do we know we are done?”

MIDN 4/C David Curry, USNR


On February 17, the Notre Dame Navy ROTC staff had organized a very special guest to speak to the battalion. This guest was Corporal William Kyle Carpenter. Corporal Carpenter is the youngest living recipient of the Medal of Honor, the United States’ most prestigious and highest military honor awarded to individuals that distinguish great acts of valor.

Born in Jackson Mississippi in 1989, Corporal Carpenter joined the Marine Corps in the delayed entry program at the age of 19. After graduating from the School of Infantry, he was deployed in 2010 to Afghanistan with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines in support of Operation Enduring Free-dom. On November 10, 2010, Lance Corporal Carpenter (at the time) and another Marine were manning a rooftop, when the enemy started a daylight attack with hand grenades. One grenade landed inside their position, and “without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own safety” Lance Corporal Carpenter shielded his fellow Marine from the blast. Lance Corporal Carpenter miraculously suffered his injuries from the blast, and was medically retired as a Corporal in 2013. Corporal Carpenter received the Medal of Honor on June 19, 2014.

Corporal Carpenter spoke to the battalion about his experiences and lessons that he has learned. One lesson Corporal Carpenter taught the unit about is the importance of caring for your Marines and sailors, and leading by example. Corporal Carpenter said that officers are the example for their enlisted, and that you have to take time to tell your Marines and sailors what they did wrong and how to improve on it. But Corporal Carpenter warned about yelling for no reason, and he told stories about how people lose respect when they yell with no reason. Another lesson Corporal Carpenter talked about was having the mental attitude to take everything one step at a time. When he was in the hospi-tal involved with many surgeries, Corporal Carpenter made a challenge for himself that he will run a marathon. After many surgeries and physical therapy, not only was he able to run one marathon, he has run three marathons! He told the unit that he was able to do this because he compartmentalized his mind; he focused on doing one thing at a time. At first this was getting through surgery, then physical therapy, and eventually to running again. And this mindset of focusing on one thing at a time, allowed Corporal Carpenter to recover and go on to run three marathons. Corporal Carpenter told the midshipmen that being humble is very important and he used the quote, “I’ve done more than some, less than others” to emphasize it.

Having a living Medal of Honor recipient speak to the Notre Dame Navy ROTC unit is an extreme honor and the midshipmen will be able to learn from his story and lessons.

MIDN 4/C Ryan Rybinski, USMCR


An advantage to having all branches of military ROTC (Navy/Marine Corps, Air Force, and Army) at the University of Notre Dame is that the branches are able to compete in high stakes sports tournaments. Due to COVID-19, the Commander's Cup was in fear of being cancelled for the year, but as future military officers, the Midshipmen and cadets here at Notre Dame were able to adapt the competition to the COVID restrictions. This year’s tournament consisted of golf, tennis, and volleyball.

In the golf tournament, Midshipmen 1/C Spencer Bindel captained the Navy/Marine Corps team as they faced off against Army and Air Force. While the Navy/Marine Corps team gave their best efforts, at the end of the day Army was able to secure the victory. Midshipmen 4/C Matthew Walsh stated, “Navy had a couple good scores but it just wasn’t enough to catch Army” when asked about the day.

While the golf tournament did not end how the Navy/Marine Corps team wished, the volleyball team was able to secure the victory. Captained by 4/C Nate Nash, the volleyball team was able to make light work of both Army and Air Force by defeating both in two sets each. Nash had this to say after the first game against Air Force where Air Force was defeated 21-19 and 21-18: “Both sets were hard fought come-from-behind victories.

Big serving runs from Vu in the first set and Mountford and Walsh in the second got those much needed points back. Huge blocks and swings from big hitters Tanaka, Galvin, and Ralph in the front row kept the energy up. Nash held the team together after some bickering from the opposition until Holl took the game into her own hands with two big points at the middle of the net to seal the victory. Thank you to LT Chung for supervising and refereeing.” After defeating the Air Force, the Navy/Marine Corps just needed to beat Army to secure victory in volleyball. They did more than just secure the win; they destroyed their opponent winning two sets easily. Nash stated, “Army stood no chance. Got everyone in the game, beat them with Yanni and Nash on the bench. Good team win, army couldn’t even hit with a sagging net. Absolute destruction” after the good team victory over Army.

MIDN 4/C Ryan Rybinski, USMCR


On 10 April, the Notre Dame’s NROTC faced off against the Notre Dame National Security Center (NDISC) at Sherwood Paintball Facility. This has been a tradition within the battalion for over a decade, and MIDN look forward to it every year. The small unit leadership exercise (SULE) allowed MIDN and NDISC students to showcase their capacity to lead. The NROTC team was mostly comprised of and lead by Marine Option MIDN. MIDN 1/C Casamassina, MIDN 1/C Muller, and MIDN 2/C Gannon lead fireteams Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie, respectively. Under the guidance of GySgt Triebell, MIDN created a plan of action, briefed their fireteams, and executed. MIDN employed flanking maneuvers, utilized suppressive fire, and exploited weaknesses whenever possible. NDISC put up a great fight, but NROTC managed to come out on top!

A total of 3 game modes were played. The first game mode was attack and defend. One team would defend Sherwood Castle (bottom left), while the other team attempted to take the fortress. Each round, teams switched sides. The games were fast-paced and intense, often going down to the last man. However, the castle provided a colossal advantage to the defenders. Not once did the attacking team successful take the fortress. In the second game mode, each team scrambled to take the fortress and ring the bell inside. Whichever team rung the bell first won. Team started on opposing sides of the castle and rushed the fortress. Although NDISC quickly secured the first victory, NROTC managed to win the next two rounds. This game mode displayed the importance of speed and intensity. Taking the opportunity as soon as it presents itself often lead to a victory. After the game, the players pushed deeper into the forest. Now, the terrain played a bigger role in how the teams will maneuver. The last game mode simulated rescuing a downed pilot. However, this game mode required NROTC and NDISC to mix. The new teams needed to find and return the “pilot” to the “safe zone”. To make it harder, the pilot tried to hide in the forest. The teams set up defensive perimeters and combed the forest for the “pilot”. Usually under enemy fire, they had to transport him back to the safe zone. The team that utilized the terrain the best was able to secure the victory. The teams returned to the main building exhausted after a long day of paintballing.

The biggest take away: “Never stay married to one plan”. A good leader is one who can adapt to any situation. At the end of the day, each team chose someone who exemplified that willingness to adapt. MIDN 3/C Escamilla (NROTC) and MIDN 1/C Brady (NDISC) were selected by their peers for showing an aptitude for leadership throughout this exercise. After a short brief on the history of challenge coins, GySgt Triebell awarded one to each of the MIDN. Thank you to the Notre Dame National Security Center for giving the battalion this amazing opportunity!

—MIDN 4/C Lance Hartley, USMCR


Despite a challenging year of ovid related difficulties and logistical issues, the battalion was geared up for its first ever virtual naval leadership week. The week was filled with presentations and discussions over zoom and involved midshipmen from ROTC units across the country both listening to the speakers and asking questions to the speakers. Although different from years past, NLW 2021 was a week not to be forgotten!

On Monday of NLW, Admiral Chris Grady (USN) spoke about toughness, resilience and the warrior ethos. He described toughness as the product of an equation consisting of fitness multiplied by belonging multiplied by identity squared. The purpose of this was to convey how toughness is dependent on many aspects of a warfighter’s character. If one aspect is low, so is toughness. If one aspect is high, it raises toughness. Admiral Grady also spoke about what it means to be resilient and the warrior ethos. He explained resiliency as the ability to embrace adversity and to always look to move forward. After this, Admiral Grady answered questions for the audience of midshipmen about preventing the victim mentality and learning to grow from failure.

On Tuesday of NLW, Fleet Master Chief Richard P. O’Rawe shared his mentality on humility, leading through adversity, and how to understand the challenges and difficulties of day to day life in the Navy. He explained that the ultimate test for a warfighter isn't always in combat. Challenges of every sort can be thrown at a warfighter at any time and being prepared to rise to the occasion is paramount no matter the circumstances. He also spoke about the hallmarks of a good leader, and how to lead through your subordinates. After his speech, Fleet Master Chief O’ awe fielded questions from midshipmen about building trust with your enlisted sailors and how to be a decisive decision maker.

With the first two days of Naval Leadership Week in the books, the battalion was looking forward to the presentations to take place in the next few days, and glad that in such a challenging year, the beginning of the week had gone off without a hitch, and had already been an informative and growth-promoting experience

MIDN 4/C Bernard McCabe, USNR


This year’s virtual rendition of NLW continued with the battalion gathering in person Wednesday evening in the Stepan Center to accommodate for the limited participant capacity on the Google Meet platform. The talk was given by General David H. Berger, USMC, who has been serving as the Commandant of the Marine Corps since July 2019. General Berger imparted several valuable nuggets of wisdom to an especially attentive battalion, tracing his career path all the way back to receiving his commission as an infantry officer via NROTC at Tulane University in 1981 (since then, General Berger has held roles as a rifle platoon commander, battalion commander, and commanding general of 1st Marine Division, among many others, before being nominated by President Donald Trump to become the Corps’ 38th Commandant). Perhaps the best advice General Berger gave was to never allow yourself to have three bad days in a row. Bad days are inevitable, and they often come about due to circumstances out of your control. But everyone has the ability to respond positively to those circumstances, which can help prevent a “difficult” day from becoming another “bad” day. In addition, much of General Berger’s talk centered around the qualities that comprise effective leadership, and he repeatedly emphasized the incalculable value of humility in any leader (though he made sure that we did not conflate it with a lack of confidence). The best leaders take no credit when things go right, but assume all the blame when things go wrong. They never let their ego take precedence over anything else they do; leaders have a responsibility to always listen to and responsibly entertain what others have to say.

The next night, NLW reverted back to the Zoom format, and the battalion did not gather together in person. Nevertheless, Thursday’s talk proved just as engaging and informative. It was given by Rear Admiral Yvette M. Davids, USN, who is currently serving as the Chief of Staff of the United States Southern Command. USSOUTHCOM is “responsible for providing contingency planning, operations, and security cooperation in… Central America, South America, and the Caribbean”. Before reporting to her current command in June 2020, Rear Admiral Davids notably was the first Hispanic American woman to command a Navy warship, commanding the frigate USS Curts from April 2007 to November 2008. In her talk, Rear Admiral Davids spoke of the tight-knit and communal nature of the Navy, which allows its sailors to feel comfortable with each other and turn failures into learning opportunities. In addition, she offered insight on effective techniques for crisis management, like always retaining a store of energy for especially stressful situations and focusing on solutions instead of fixating on the obstacles right in front of you. Rear Admiral Davids also advised her audience to never overlook the basics of human interaction as a leader; something as simple as telling good stories will resonate with your sailors.

service. —MIDN 4/C Brain Szipszky, USNR


On the final day of NLW, the Battalion’s opportunity to engage went up a notch. For the first time that week, every Midshipman had full Service Dress Blues on, and had the opportunity for face-to-face connection, albeit virtually (due to COVID). Additionally, the last day was special because there were multiple speakers. Here to pass down their Junior Officer wisdom to the attending Midshipmen was LT Evelyn Rios, representing the Submarine community, LT David Silver, a SEAL in the Navy Special Warfare community, LT Michelle Yao, a Nuke Surface Warfare Officer, LT Alex Francher, a Naval aviator, and Capt. Jeff Phaneuf, a US Marine (bottom right).

The afternoon began with an open panel session with all officers offering their answers to questions asked by the large group of attendees. Many invaluable lessons of experience were given by the gathered officers, but there were certain points which all of the officers emphasized. First, they each spoke of the importance of caring for and getting to know those you command. Second, they told the Midshipmen that it is crucial to be willing to ask questions when you need to know something, especially of your Non-Commissioned Officers. Finally, they all agreed that trust is built by listening to your enlisted sailors’ ideas and advocating for them, while remaining strong in your decisions for the group. Following the panel portion of the day, the officers broke off into smaller Zoom calls, and the assembled Midshipmen had the opportunity to choose which community they wanted to talk more about. This allowed the Midshipmen to ask more specific questions about what it is like in the first few years as an officer in the community they are looking to pursue. Stories were told and advice was given, and the Midshipmen all learned a lot more about what they hope to be doing very soon.

Day five of NLW Week was an exciting end to a great week. Notre Dame Battalion Commanding Officer Joey Tenaka described how “getting to hear, face to face, about what our lives will be like as JOs was a great way to end off NLW.” There was definite value in being able to see and be seen, after a very difficult year dealing with the challenges of COVID. The significance of the Battalion, and Midshipmen all over the country, getting the chance to hear from service men and women so accomplished in their perspective fields, despite the challenges of COVID, cannot be overstated. This truly irreplaceable

that we were all able to gain is sure to help us in the remaining years of college and especially as we commission and enter into the fleet. Then, it will be our turn to continue the traditions these young JOs have helped to pass down to us.

MIDN 4/C Brian Scherer, USNR


Contributors: Staff Writer—MIDN 4/C Brian Szipszky

Staff Writer—MIDN 4/C David Curry

Staff Writer—MIDN 4/C Caleb Cannon

Staff Writer—MIDN 4/C Brian Scherer

Staff Writer—MIDN 4/C Ryan Rybinski

Editor in Chief– MIDN 4/C Lance Hartley

Acknowledgements: Alpha Company Commander—MIDN 1/C Joseph Casamassima

Alpha Company Advisor—LT Austin Chung

Alpha 2 Platoon Commander—MIDN 3/C Jack Mansfield

Photo Squad Leader—MIDN 3/C Kathleen Pala


“Just be a good dude” - Capt. Brockelmeyer, USMC

spring 2021 - nrotc.nd.edu

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