Spring Battalion Commander’s Call In Captain Lockard's Naval Leadership and Ethics class, one point of emphasis was the idea of American Servicemen and women as "the 1%". The Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, and Guardians who serve our country are a cut above the rest - conscientious, tough, resourceful, and compassionate. I have observed nothing different in my three years here in this battalion, and it has been an honor to be among the fine men and women which this Naval ROTC Unit has to offer. Every semester brings its own unique challenges, and this semester was no different. Though the Coronavirus Pandemic continued to impede events like Northwest Navy and Senior Mess Night, Battalion planners showed resilience in executing Spring Awards Ceremony and our Culminating Event. New fundraising opportunities arose for the Battalion, namely stadium security work at both UI and WSU. MIDN Sayre, our Operations Officer, put together a diverse and informative slate of Professional Development briefs, and also put in added effort to coordinate a joint event with the UI/WSU AFROTC Unit. MIDN Figueredo reinvigorated Semper Fi, increasing the intensity of workouts and practical application trainings; for the first time in recent memory, local PLC Candidates joined the semester field exercise, which benefitted all parties involved. The Unit Staff members who arrived last summer - Captain Lockard, Captain Smith, and GySgt Molina - further left their mark on Battalion operations. Looking to the future, I hope that this momentum will be maintained into next semester. At every single PT, Semper Fi, and other Battalion Events, it was clear that the younger Battalion members have the potential to carry on the legacy of this proud Unit. Second Lieutenant Admiraal
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