CBAA Alumni Newsletter - December 2006

MISSION :   The mission of the Cowboy Battalion Alumni Association is to serve friends and former cadets, to support UW Army ROTC, and to promote loyalty to the University of Wyoming and the Cowboy Battalion.

NEW MEMBERS:

We extend our sincerest welcome to our newest Cowboy Battalion Alumni Association members.

Major James Leas – Assistant Professor of Military Science, UW

2LT Lara Winchester – commissioned in May 2006 into the Military Police

COWBOY BATTALION ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP:

PRESIDENT- John Ysebaert

EX-OFFICIO DIRECTOR – LTC Brent Reinhardt

LIFETIME MEMBERS:                   ANNUAL MEMBERS:

GEN Pete Schoomaker                       CPT Jason Hatch

                                                          CPT Jerald S. Gross

COL Brian Harmsen

LTC Ted Staver

LTC Brent Reinhardt

LTC (R) Barry Gasdek

LTC Ray Kent

MAJ Paul Hesco                                HONORARY MEMBERS:

MAJ James Leas                               Lee Wiegand

MAJ Joseph Huss                              Sen. Alan Simpson

MAJ D.C. Faber

MAJ (R) Harry Whitlock

CPT (R) John Ysebaert

CPT Lance Culver

CPT Bryan Hulin

1LT Hank Wooden                             PATRON MEMBERS:

1LT Riley Coffey                               MG (R) Scott B. Smith

2LT Steve Wallace

2LT Matthew Andrews

2LT Al Walsh

2LT Julia Jacobson

2LT Rebecca Connell

2LT Cheryl Foston

 

FROM THE DESK OF THE PROFESSOR OF MILITARY SCIENCE:

 

Wow- what a semester.  I survived!  A few things I learned.  First, the UW Cadre is second to none.  Our training program continues to far exceed any published BDE, Region of Cadet Command averages.  From our most recent LDAC (Leadership Development and Assessment Course), formally NACL, or Advance Camp results.   The Cowboy Battalion had the highest land navigation score in the brigade, averaged a 272 on the APFT (5th), and had 33% RECONDO rate (4th).   Our cadre set the cadets up for success every Summer.  Second, our Ranger Challenge team is not very popular due to the recent string of three ranger Challenge championships in a row.  In October, though we barely finished second to CSU, I was incredibly proud of the two teams we sent.  CSU nearly killed a cadet dragging him across the line to win at all costs.  Our teams had fun, displayed outstanding teamwork and still nearly won it all.  We finished first in three of the eight events and put a huge scare in the other teams with the number of MS I,II, and III’s that competed and gained valuable experience. 

 

The fall semester was fast and furious, and very productive.  We conquered Medicine Bow, trained at Camp Guernsey with CSU and UNC, conducted a Turkey Shoot at the Range, and held the annual Military Ball jointly with the USAF ROTC detachment.  We supported every home football game with our cannon crew and color guard.  The mounted color guard is still alive (despite a PMS who does not ride) A highlight was the Bronze Boot Run from the Colorado border.  We ran it in a tough blowing snow all the way to War Memorial Stadium and had the entire Cowboy Battalion in the athletic department’s War Room when we gave the ball to Coach Glenn.  Coach Glenn was proud of our run and thanked us for the continued support.  (Joe Glenn use to be in the Army as an MP and was stationed at Fort Leavenworth ).  The following day the Cowboys kicked the CSU Rams all over the field and reclaimed the coveted Bronze Boot. Also in October, our UW ROTC 10- Miler team finished a strong 11th out of 40 ROTC teams and our Ranger Challenge teams were awesome.  The “A” team gained valuable experience for next year and our “B” team was narrowly edged out by CSU for first place out of 11 teams.   (We “re-designated” the two teams to mess with the other schools).

 

We are currently calling and working potential prospects.  We are busy reviewing their applications, interviewing them, and hoping many choose to join one of the best ROTC programs in the country.  We are hoping that our alumni spread the word that the University of Wyoming is a great place to get an education and an even better place to join ROTC and develop the leadership skills required to be an officer in the U.S. Army.  Please help us out ant recommend quality young Americans to check us out.

 

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION GIFTS:

 

We have recently placed another order for the CBAA ball caps.  We intend to send many out to the alumni that have not joined CBAA yet to ask them to become a lifetime member of the CBAA.  To become a lifetime member we are asking for a one-time payment of $300, made out to the Cowboy Battalion Alumni Association and mail it to CBAA, P.O. Box 2269 , Laramie WY 82071.  You can find the application on the website or call the Cowboy Battalion at (307) 766-3390 and we will get you an application and the stylish, coveted CBAA ball cap.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

COWBOY BATTALION ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MEETINGS:

Every month the CBAA meets at 0700 at the Village Inn on Grand Ave in Laramie .  We are continually chipping away at consolidating our alumni lists, verifying address, both email and snail mail.  We need you to spread the word, contact the Cowboy Battalion so we can get your latest information.  We also would like you biography in order to build the CBAA web-site.

 

CBAA 2007 SCHEDULE

 

Alumni Weekend and Annual Meeting

We are tentatively planning a July Annual Meeting the second weekend in July, coinciding with the Laramie Jubilee Days.  The tentative plan is to gather Friday night at a local establishment, socialize and enjoy some adult beverages.  Saturday we will conduct the Annual Meeting, discuss our vision and goals for the out years, re-elect/elect CBAA officers and then smack around the little golf ball at the Jacoby Ridge Golf Course and reminisce.  That evening we will complete the weekend with a potluck Bar-B-Que sponsored by the CBAA at a place to be determined.  If you would like to host the Saturday evening event, contact me or any CBAA officer.

 

Football Tailgate

In October, coinciding with the Homecoming Football game in October we will have a CBAA tailgate.  Look for the location details this Summer, but plan on arriving in Laramie and at the parking lots early so that you can meet up with your fellow CBAA members.  We are going to talk the local guys into grilling some meat for us for this event.

 

DECEMBER 2006 COMMISSIONING:

 

December 15th, 2006 we will commission four cadets into the U.S. Army.  The Ceremony will take place at 1700 at the Fine Arts Center Auditorium.  Our guest speaker is MG Deppe, the Wing Commander from Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne .

 

Cadet Timothy Souza, active duty Armor with a follow-on branch detail to Military Intelligence.

Cadet Stacey Gates, Adjutant General Corps.

Cadet Zachery Busenbark, active duty Field Artillery.

Cadet Matthew Taylor, active duty Aviation (after a few months as the UW Gold Bar Recruiter). 

 

BATAAN DEATH MARCH:

 

In March the Cowboy battalion is sending eight cadets to Albuquerque , New Mexico to participate in the annual Bataan Death March competition.  The team captains are Cadet Devin Osburn, MSIII and Cadet Sean Pence, MSIV.  They are planning on leaving Friday 23 March and returning to Laramie on Monday 26 March.  Planning is underway for the logistics.  Unfortunately Cadet Command is only authorizing the Cowboy Battalion to assist with the use of the GSA vans and gasoline.  If you are interested in assisting financially please contact me and I will gladly accept any assistance for them.

 

MAY 2007 COMMISSIONING:

 

May 5th 2007 is the next joint commissioning ceremony with the USAF ROTC and we intend to commission eight cadets into the U.S. Army, National Guard, and Army Reserve.  All UW Army alumni and CBAA members are invited.  Your support to these young lieutenants is important.  You will enjoy meeting the quality second lieutenants that your alma mater is producing.  They will make you very proud.  Please mark you calendar, we would love to see you.