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Ceremony activates new Maverick Battalion cadets

Written by Nicole Luna, The Shorthorn staff

Thursday, 03 September 2009 08:25 PM

Criminal justice junior Stevie Stauffer plunges into the pool blindfolded Thursday at the Physical Education Building. Stauffer dove with three companies, Alpha, Bravo and Charlie, during the 107th Maverick Battalion Activation where ROTC members gathered for their first formation and marched through the campus to the P.E. Building. (The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran)

The tradition continued for the Department of Military Science with an activation ceremony of the 107th Maverick Battalion on Thursday afternoon.

Since becoming the Carlisle Military Academy in 1902, an activation ceremony took place on campus for the incoming battalion each year. The battalion consists of all the cadets in ROTC. The ceremony marks the start of a new training year.

All in their uniforms, the cadets lined up and bowed their heads as Kelly Lee, Dallas Baptist University Christian Studies sophomore, led the prayer. Lee said she expects the ceremony to show the history of the Maverick Battalion. Then the color guard uncased and presented the colors of the American, Texas and university flags.

Jason Robinson, Cadet Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel, commands the battalion with the assistance of Luke Saavedra, Command Sergeant Major Cadet, according to the ROTC Web site.

Nursing senior Michelle Henry salutes in her fourth year in the ROTC program Thursday in front of College Hall. Henry leads the Alpha platoon. (The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran)

It was the first time everyone was in formation, together and in uniform, said German senior Kevin Hust. Then, the 107th Battalion flag was unveiled. It was the first time any of the cadets had seen it.

“It’s like the turning of the tassels,” Hust said.

The ceremony might not be important to everybody, but to the battalion it is, he said.

“This is the introduction to everything this first semester, then you’re on your own, full speed second semester,” Hust said. “It’s very important, it’s the invocation of the battalion for the whole year.”

Mechanical engineering freshman Justin Beaird manned Alpha Company�s flag at the front of formation Thursday in front of College Hall. For many, it was the first time to don the ROTC camouflage and go through basic introductions. (The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran)

After the flag was unveiled and the color guard marched off with the colors, the cadets were told to gather their supplies, equipment and march to the inside pool of the Physical Education Building. The cadets split into three sections, and as they marched began a call and answer cadence. Once they reached the pool, they began combat survival training.

At the pool, the battalion regrouped and participated in a 15-meter combat swim, dove off the diving board and practiced treading water before moving to outdoor training activities, said interdisciplinary studies senior Aaron Ballard.

Political science senior Jorge Lemus said Thursday was the battalion’s first actual lab, which is used for training sessions.

“It’s a sense of tradition not only for ROTC but for the whole university’s history,” he said. “Military science is such an important part of the university’s history.”

ROTC students salute the flags during the activation of the battalion on Thursday afternoon on the University Center mall. This was the first time the group was in uniform and standing in formation this semester. (The Shorthorn: Stephanie Goddard)

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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 27 January 2010 03:36 PM )

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