RSS Feed for Latest News / en Breakfast Gathering Helps Veterans Connect at WPI /news/breakfast-gathering-helps-veterans-connect-wpi <p><span>There are plenty of U.S. military veterans working at WPI, but the veterans themselves may not know who else has been through the unique experience of serving their country.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>The Community of Valor veterans group hopes to change that, and this week held its first annual Breakfast Celebration for WPI employee veterans at Higgins House to commemorate Veterans Day.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to see veterans meeting veterans,鈥?said&nbsp;</span><a><span>Adam Heppe</span></a><span>, WPI director of facilities operations and a 20-year U.S. Army veteran. 鈥淲e had a great turnout, and it was comfortable鈥攋ust people breaking bread over conversation.鈥?amp;nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>He estimated there are about 50 military veterans currently working at WPI. Employees who have served in the military are a priority in Talent &amp; Inclusion鈥檚 efforts to build groups in certain affinity areas that includes women in STEM, expatriates, and working parents and guardians. Heppe said various veterans groups have formed over the years at WPI; the Community of Valor is a chance to re-engage with the community. &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>At the breakfast, veterans from all service areas across a broad spectrum of time shared stories about their experiences, from the Vietnam War to the current day.&nbsp;</span><a><span>WPI President Grace J. Wang, PhD</span></a><span>, and&nbsp;</span><a><span>Arne Gericke</span></a><span>, interim dean of undergraduate studies, also attended.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>Anthony Antinarella works in Facilities, and has worked for WPI since he was a teen. He also served as a medic in the U.S. Army Reserve, and was deployed for 1陆 years to Iraq, where he said he was proud to be able to take care of service members, enemy combatants, and local residents. He said his experience helped him develop skills he was able to apply to his life and career, including self-reliance and the ability to think on his feet.&nbsp;</span></p> <article> <div> <div> <img> <p> <img></p> </div> </div> </article> <p><span>Recent WPI retiree Bob Pepin served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1976 to 1980; he said serving in the military before coming to work at WPI helped him learn to be a leader, and to put people first.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>Lieutenant Colonel Adam Messer, commander of WPI鈥檚 Air Force ROTC Detachment 340 and a professor of military science, isn鈥檛 quite a veteran yet鈥攈is role at WPI is an active-duty assignment鈥揵ut he enjoyed the camaraderie of the Community of Valor鈥檚 breakfast gathering. Wearing military fatigues, Messer noted that 鈥渨e stick out鈥?as visible service members, but said events like the breakfast were good opportunities to connect with others and celebrate common ties.&nbsp;</span></p> Wed, 27 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000 sfoskett /news/breakfast-gathering-helps-veterans-connect-wpi A Week to Remember for the Graduating Class of 2023 /news/week-remember-graduating-class-2023 <p><span><span><span>WPI鈥檚 undergraduate and graduate <a>Commencement </a>ceremonies are filled with joy, pride, and </span></span></span><span><span><span>reflection</span></span></span><span><span><span>. </span></span></span><span><span><span>As students </span></span></span><span><span><span>anticipate all that is coming in the future, they look</span></span></span><span><span><span> to the</span></span></span><span><span><span> past and honor everything that has brought them to this moment.</span></span></span><span><span><span> In the days leading up to Commencement, the campus is buzzing with celebrations</span></span></span><span><span><span>,</span></span></span><span><span><span>&nbsp;ceremonies</span></span></span><span><span><span>, and other events before&nbsp;the </span></span></span><span><span><span>soon-to-be alumni</span></span></span><span><span><span> cross the stage. </span></span></span><span><span><span>Their future is just beginning, and as we see them off to their next adventure, we thought it fitting to share a recap of the</span></span></span><span><span><span>ir last few days on campus as members of the Class of 2023.</span></span></span>&nbsp;</p> Wed, 17 May 2023 12:00:00 +0000 darlabosse /news/week-remember-graduating-class-2023 The Month in Photos: January 2022 /news/month-photos-january-2022 <p>What do you get when you cross snowstorms and new buildings with dance showcases and ROTC accolades? Well, WPI in January, of course. Take a look at the rest of what our students, faculty, and staff were up to this month through the lenses of our talented staff photographers.</p> Thu, 10 Feb 2022 12:00:00 +0000 amracicot /news/month-photos-january-2022 WPI Recognized for Top Army ROTC Program in the Northeast /news/wpi-recognized-top-army-rotc-program-northeast <p>WPI鈥檚 Army ROTC program has earned the prestigious 2021 MacArthur Leadership Award for the Top Army ROTC program in the Northeast, one of eight Army ROTC programs from across the country that will receive this award at Fort Knox this spring.</p> <p>Lt. Col. Adam Heppe, department head and professor of military science, says he is pleased and humbled at the program being recognized as the best of 41 others in the region. Heppe has mixed emotions as he embarks on his last semester at WPI: excitement over the achievement of the battalion, and sadness over leaving what he describes as his most fulfilling assignment in 20 years as an Army officer. He will retire upon completion of his WPI assignment.</p> <p>鈥淚t is humbling to be recognized among such a stellar group of universities in our region,鈥?he says. 鈥淭he program is strong, and I am confident that it will continue to thrive for the foreseeable future.鈥?amp;nbsp;</p> <article> <div> <div> <img> <p> <img></p> </div> </div> </article> <p>The MacArthur awards, presented by Army Cadet Command and the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation, recognize the ideals of 鈥淒uty, Honor, Country鈥?as advocated by the late Gen. MacArthur.</p> <p>The award is based on a combination of the achievement of the university's commissioning mission, its cadets' performance and standing on the command's National Order of Merit list, and its cadet retention rate.</p> <p>Heppe says the recognition is largely the result of the battalion鈥檚 performance at this past Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox in Kentucky, in which WPI鈥檚 senior class of cadets outperformed every school in the nation鈥擭o. 1 out of 274. WPI senior Cadet Ian Weston also ranked No. 11 from all cadets in the nation pursing an active-duty commission. WPI has produced one of the top 12 cadets in the nation three of the last four years.&nbsp;</p> <p>The battalion鈥檚 high level of achievement follows a three-year initiative to improve the cadet experience, instill discipline and standards, and develop exceptional leaders, Heppe adds.</p> <p>鈥淲e鈥檝e had incredible luck over the last few years with our cadre,鈥?he says, referring to the civilian staff, commissioned officers, and enlisted Army personnel who help train the cadets. In particular, he credits the impact of Master Sgt. Alan Sutton, who last year was lead tactics instructor for the junior class. 鈥淗e鈥檚 without a doubt the most phenomenal non-commissioned officer I鈥檝e had the pleasure of working with over the last 20 years.鈥?lt;/p> <p>鈥淲ith regards to training, MSG&nbsp;Sutton鈥檚 role cannot be overstated,鈥?Heppe says, pointing to a certification program Sutton developed that evaluates and provides feedback to senior cadets responsible for training underclass cadets.</p> <p>鈥淣ot only are the cadets being trained in tactics, now they鈥檙e being evaluated on the delivery of that instruction, which I don鈥檛 think other programs are doing at the level we are,鈥?Heppe points out.&nbsp; MSG. Sutton is currently a finalist for the Cadet Command NCO Instructor of the Year.&nbsp;</p> <article> <div> <div> <img> <p> <img></p> </div> </div> </article> <p>Another key development was establishing a relationship with Fort Devens, which allows the program to teach and train cadets on a military installation. 鈥淲hen I arrived here in 2018, we were training tactics each week on Newton Hill (behind nearby Doherty High School) at 6 a.m.,鈥?he says. 鈥淚t was not ideal for training, retention, or morale. Shifting the training venue to Devens and consolidating it to a monthly weekend event increased focus, preparation, and planning, and elevated our training to the next level.鈥?lt;/p> <p>Heppe had words of praise for Cadet Weston, who was a key figure in the training and culture of the battalion. 鈥淚an has demonstrated maturity beyond his years from the moment he stepped into this program,鈥?he says. 鈥淗e has understood what it鈥檚 meant to be a leader since he joined us. He鈥檚 matured and developed into an impressive young man.</p> <p>鈥淗e led our program this fall as the cadet battalion commander. He understands leadership, empathy, and communication. I鈥檇 choose him to lead a platoon in combat today. 鈥淭o have Ian and his peers remain focused, especially over the last two years of the pandemic, and being able to put that distraction aside and focus on training, focus on leadership, and not use the pandemic as an excuse or distraction, has been simply remarkable.鈥?lt;/p> Mon, 31 Jan 2022 12:00:00 +0000 cbwamback /news/wpi-recognized-top-army-rotc-program-northeast Joint Commissioning Ceremony Sees 22 Cadets Sworn In as Officers in Army, Air Force /news/joint-commissioning-ceremony-sees-22-cadets-sworn-officers-army-air-force <p>Twenty-two newly minted military officers were advised to remain humble, listen to their subordinates, and adhere to their core values as they embark on their military careers, during WPI鈥檚 Joint Commissioning Ceremony held May 21.</p> <p>Some 16 Army ROTC cadets and six Air Force cadets from WPI, Assumption University, Becker College, College of the Holy Cross, Fitchburg State University, and UMass-Lowell were sworn in as second lieutenants by Brig. Gen. James Bienlien, Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, and Senior Commander, Natick Soldier Systems Center. Bienlien presided as commissioning officer, administering the oath of office and delivering the keynote remarks during the ceremony held on the campus quadrangle.</p> <p>鈥淣ot only are you about to graduate from some of the nation鈥檚 most prestigious colleges and universities, you are also about to become commissioned officers in the United States Army, Air Force and Space Force,鈥?he told the cadets minutes before they took their oath. 鈥淚 congratulate you on a job well done and welcome you into the profession of arms.</p> <article> <div> <div> <img> <p> <img></p> </div> </div> </article> <p>鈥淲ith the pinning of 2nd lieutenant bars on your shoulders, you will be charged with one of the greatest responsibilities bestowed upon an individual: you will be expected to lead the nation鈥檚 sons and daughters with distinction and make tough decisions that will directly impact their lives. Carry that charter with pride. Listen to your [non-commissioned officers]. Don鈥檛 forget where you came from. Be humble. Remember, they are the ones who will ultimately make you successful.鈥?lt;/p> <p>Bienlien thanked President<a> Laurie Leshin</a> for the university鈥檚 support of ROTC, and commended U.S. Army Lt. Col. <a>Adam Heppe</a>, head of Military Science and leader of the Army ROTC Bay State Battalion, and Air Force Lt. Col. <a>Jack Skiles III</a>, commander of Air Force ROTC Detachment 340, for preparing the cadets for military service.</p> <p>Heppe cited the partnership between Army ROTC and the <a>Natick Soldier Systems Center</a>, which has resulted in seven internships and four Major Qualifying Projects (MQP). 鈥淭he collaboration between our research institution and the Army research labs is highlighted by the prospect of future military leaders working on future military problems,鈥?he said. 鈥淲e are extremely appreciative and proud of our partnership.鈥?lt;/p> <p>Prior to accepting their commission certificates and exchanging First Salutes, Bienlien had the cadets post on the grass in front of the stage, where friends and family members greeted them and pinned the gold 2nd lieutenant bars on their uniforms. Then as their names were called, the new officers individually crossed the stage, bumping elbows with President Leshin and saluting Bienlien, Heppe, and Skiles before crossing the stage to exchange their ceremonial First Salute.</p> <p>The tradition of the First Salute dates back to the 19th Century British army, when newly commissioned second lieutenants would present a silver dollar to the first enlisted soldier who saluted them. During the Joint Commissioning ceremony most of the newly commissioned officers exchanged their first salutes with staff members of their respective ROTC units, while some exchanged salutes with friends of family members either serving with or retired from branches of the military.</p> <p>The new 2nd lieutenants, their hometowns, institutions, and military assignments:</p> <p>Air Force </p> <p>Ian Casicola, Lake Worth, Fla., WPI, Electrical Engineer</p> <p>Neal Keklik Trumbull, Conn., WPI, Astronautical Engineering Officer</p> <p>Nicholas Kenny, Fitchburg, Mass., WPI, Mechanical Engineering Officer</p> <p>Zackary Fitzgibbon, Sturbridge, Mass., WPI, Cyberspace Operations Officer</p> <p>Mackenzie Warren, Berkley, Mass., WPI, Aerospace Engineering Space Operations</p> <p>William Schwend, Bristol, Conn., WPI, Aerospace Engineering Space Operations</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Army</p> <p>Johann Bradley, Slidell, La., WPI, Military Intelligence Branch</p> <p>Thomas Feraco, Holden Mass., WPI, Engineer Branch.</p> <p>Ella Forbes, Casco, Me., WPI, Engineer Branch</p> <p>Alex Lima, Monson, Mass. Fitchburg State University, Infantry Branch</p> <p>Evan Mackie, Yokosuka, Japan, WPI, Branch Detail Explosive Ordnance Disposal</p> <p>Aaron McCutcheon, Smithfield, R.I., WPI, Adjutant General</p> <p>Alexander Pratt, Hopkinton, Mass., WPI, Military Intelligence, Branch Detail Chemical Corps</p> <p>Isaac Stilwell, Hopkinton, Mass., WPI, Infantry Branch</p> <p>Spencer Tess, Littleton, Mass., WPI, Engineer Branch</p> <p>Jacob Vanscoy, Lake Worth, Fla., WPI, Engineer Branch</p> <p>Ryan Camille, Smithtown, N.Y., College of the Holy Cross, Infantry Branch</p> <p>Nicholas Coughlin, Tyngsboro, Mass., UMass-Lowell, Quartermaster Branch</p> <p>John Goldthrite, Abilene, Texas, Fitchburg State University, Military Intelligence Branch Detail Armor</p> <p>Josef Livingstone, Andover, Mass., UMass-Lowell, Military Intelligence Branch</p> <p>Samuel Majewski, Brimfield, Mass., Becker College, Adjutant General</p> <p>Marc Torres, Worcester, Mass., Assumption University, Infantry Branch</p> <p>A video of the ceremony can be viewed <a>here</a>.</p> <p>鈥揗artin Luttrell</p> Tue, 01 Jun 2021 12:00:00 +0000 admin /news/joint-commissioning-ceremony-sees-22-cadets-sworn-officers-army-air-force ROTC Cadet Part of Team Earning Technology Transfer Innovation Award /news/rotc-cadet-part-team-earning-technology-transfer-innovation-award <p>This past summer, WPI mechanical engineering student and <em><strong>ROTC Cadet Spencer Tess 鈥?1</strong></em> opted for an internship over a traditional summer break. With his scheduled ROTC stint at Fort Knox cancelled due to the pandemic, he decided to pursue an internship with the Department of Defense.</p> <p><strong>Leveraging Talent from Higher Education, Government, Private Industry Partnerships</strong></p> <p>Tess was part of a team co-led by <a>DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory and Soldier Center</a>, commonly referred to as Natick Labs, industry partners <a>Sherpa 6</a> and <a>Creative Engineering,</a> and <strong>WPI鈥檚 Army ROTC Bay State Battalion</strong>. Together they spent eight weeks developing and demonstrating a process dubbed Very Early Product Realization (VEPR T2), a suite of tools that accelerates the development of products from new discoveries.</p> <p>To prove the method, the team worked on a product that utilized aluminum alloy pellets that react with water to create hydrogen, which is then converted into electricity via a fuel cell. Using the VEPR tool suite resulted in three generations of minimum viable products (MVPs) and proof of concept. The technology could be used to generate electricity providing 鈥渙n-demand鈥?power for soldiers in the field or as emergency power in areas where it has been interrupted.</p> <p>This work is especially important as it helps to solve a frequent problem faced by federal research labs鈥攄emonstrating the value and early product potential of new discoveries. Now, using VEPR, government scientists and engineers can more easily reveal the practical viability of a new technology.</p> <p><strong>Award-Winning Work Garners National Recognition, Paves Way for Faster Product Development</strong></p> <p>Tess鈥檚 academic career at WPI culminated in winning the Technology Transfer Innovation Award for the Soldier Nanogalvanic Alloy Power (SNAP) at the <a>FLC National Meeting</a> held virtually on April 8. <a>The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC</a>) is a nationwide network of federal laboratories that provides a forum to develop strategies and opportunities to facilitate the transfer of laboratory technologies into commercial products.</p> <p>Tess attributes his success to his many mentors at WPI and the Natick Labs, hard work, and ROTC, which has helped him develop as a leader and to work as part of a team. 鈥淚 am a better critical thinker as a result of my cadet experiences and the substantial time commitment requires discipline and organization," he says, "which, along with the many other lessons I learned, has made me a more well-rounded person.鈥?lt;/p> <p>Because of the pandemic, he worked remotely from his home in Littleton, Mass., giving him a glimpse of an 8-hour work day in front of a computer. He saw his role on the team as engineering and ideation manager, which he describes as discover, develop, deliver. 鈥淭he MVP process fit perfectly into the length of a summer internship allowing me to experience the process from start to finish,鈥?he says.</p> <p><strong>ROTC Prepares Student Cadets for Leadership Roles and as Tactical Thinkers</strong></p> <p>The ROTC program is led by West Point graduate Lt. Col. <a>Adam Heppe,</a> professor and head of Military Science, and leader of the WPI鈥檚 ROTC Bay State Battalion. Drawing from about 100 students in the Worcester Consortium as well as UMass Lowell and Fitchburg State University, the mission of the battalion is to develop leaders of character to commission as officers in the Army.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淪pencer surprised and impressed everyone with what he accomplished during this internship,鈥?Heppe says. 鈥淗is ability to relate his understanding of military operations at a very high level and connect it to engineering science and technology was outstanding.鈥?lt;/p> <p>Heppe credits the <a>Career Development Center</a> and the <a>Center for Innovative Manufacturing Solutions</a> with helping to develop a partnership with the Natick Labs, who employ many WPI alumni and whose military deputy director is a former WPI ROTC cadet.</p> <p><strong>The End Marks a New Beginning</strong></p> <p>For Tess, Friday, May 21, was both the conclusion of his undergraduate studies and the beginning of his career as a military officer. On that day, he graduated from WPI with a degree in mechanical engineering and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.</p> <p>His next stop will be the engineer branch鈥檚 Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he will spend six months learning the intricacies of leading a combat engineer platoon before beginning his first duty assignment.</p> <p>As for his experience, Tess is grateful for the opportunity. <span>鈥?lt;/span>I hope that two things happen鈥攖hat the Army will get more funding to pursue this technology and take it to the next level and that it will help to open the door for more internships with the Department of Defense.鈥?lt;/p> <p><a>View the project video.</a></p> <p><a>Read about the awards</a>.</p> <p><a>Read more about WPI鈥檚 military science program.</a></p> <p><strong>-Sharyn Williams</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td><img></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> Tue, 25 May 2021 12:00:00 +0000 admin /news/rotc-cadet-part-team-earning-technology-transfer-innovation-award Commencement 2021: Student Reflections Following a Year Like No Other /news/commencement-2021-student-reflections-following-year-no-other <p>You鈥檝e heard it time and again: what makes WPI special is the people, and the members of the Class of 2021 prove exactly that. Whether they鈥檙e going on to graduate school, a new job, military service, or something else entirely, the one thing they have in common is that they did it. They took a year full of uncertainty, constant changes, and upended plans, and faced it with grace, flexibility, and resilience. In celebration of them and their countless accomplishments, we asked a few members of the Class of 2021 (as well as <a>some faculty and staff</a>) to reflect on their time at WPI, reminisce on their favorite memories, reveal special moments they鈥檙e looking forward to on commencement day, and share how they plan to carry the friends they made and things they learned into their post-graduation lives.</p> <p>Here鈥檚 to you, Class of 2021. Thanks for showing us what it means to be the GOAT.</p> Tue, 18 May 2021 12:00:00 +0000 amracicot /news/commencement-2021-student-reflections-following-year-no-other U.S. Army Sends Captain to WPI for Master鈥檚 Degree in Manufacturing Engineering /news/us-army-sends-captain-wpi-master-s-degree-manufacturing-engineering <p><span>U.S. Army Capt. Stanley Kareta is on a coveted assignment, taking time at WPI to earn a master鈥檚 degree in manufacturing engineering while serving as an active duty<span> </span>officer.</span></p> <p><span>The Palmer, Mass., native plans to use the skills and knowledge base he acquires with his future assignments with the <a>U.S.<span> </span>Army Corps of Engineers</a> as a manager or project engineer. The Army Corps鈥?responsibilities range from disaster relief and border infrastructure improvement to construction and maintenance of dams and levees.</span></p> <p><span>Capt. Kareta also spends one day a month with the university鈥檚 Army ROTC <a>Bay State Battalion</a> as an advisor during the battalion鈥檚 field training at Fort Devens.</span></p> <p><span>Commissioned as second lieutenant upon graduating from Norwich</span></p> <p><span>Upon earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in mechanical engineering from Norwich University in 2011, the ROTC cadet was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the active Army and reported to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, where he took an engineer basic officer leadership course. Following further training he remained at that installation for his first duty assignment, where he worked with an advance individual<span> </span>training company, doing support for engineer divers, interior electricians, and technical engineers. He later went to the engineer regiments premier<span> </span>Sapper Leader Course.</span></p> Tue, 18 May 2021 12:00:00 +0000 admin /news/us-army-sends-captain-wpi-master-s-degree-manufacturing-engineering ROTC Training at Devens: Bringing Classroom Lessons to the Field /news/rotc-training-devens-bringing-classroom-lessons-field <p>Alex Psenicka and Thomas Gradwell lie prone in the thick leaf litter on&nbsp;the woodland floor, their camo fatigues blending with the surrounding underbrush. Responding to a hand signal from their squad leader a few meters ahead, they crawl up a slight incline cradling their replica M-16 rifles and stop at the top of a rise between two trees, scanning the forest for signs of their objective.</p> <article> <div> <div> <img> <p> <img></p> </div> </div> </article> <p>While many college students were enjoying the unseasonably warm weather on the first Saturday in November, Psenicka and Gradwell were among 80 Army ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps) cadets from WPI鈥檚 Bay State Battalion methodically walking and crawling through the woods, marshes, and thick brush of the 3,000-acre range at Fort Devens while conducting tactical ROTC training.</p> <p>The battalion comprises cadets from all Worcester Consortium colleges and universities, plus Fitchburg and Framingham State universities, and UMass Lowell. The day鈥檚 activities provided a first opportunity for the battalion鈥檚 juniors to be in leadership roles out in the field, mastering what <a>Military Science</a> department head Lt. Col. <a>Adam Heppe</a> termed 鈥淢ETT-TC, or mission, enemy, troops, time, terrain, and civil considerations.鈥?lt;/p> <p>鈥淭his is where they have to deal with all these operational and mission variables and put into place what they鈥檝e been learning in the classroom,鈥?he said, 鈥淓verything from maneuvering across thick brush and through slippery leaves to dealing with line-of-sight issues where they can鈥檛 maintain control of the formation like they want to. It鈥檚 a different environment, and it鈥檚 challenging.鈥?lt;/p> <article> <div> <div> <img> <p> <img></p> </div> </div> </article> <p>The juniors鈥攐r MS3 cadets鈥攚ere tasked to lead 8-12 person teams through different operations such as squad ambush, squad reconnaissance, and movement to contact (with the enemy).</p> <p>Overseen by a cadre of seven active duty and retired military staff, the cadet leaders guided their peers in silently navigating through thick woods using a map and compass to locate an objective鈥攊n this case, a dummy next to a tent鈥攚hile avoiding detection.</p> <p>Later in the day they set up a mock roadside ambush and engaged in a simulated battle in the woods using replica weapons that shoot paintballs.</p> <p>Having the Devens military base available provides an advantage in training, especially with the limitations imposed by the pandemic, Heppe said. 鈥淲e wouldn鈥檛 be able to do the tactical type of training that鈥檚 required for leadership development without having some sort of woodland environment,鈥?he said. 鈥淎s WPI is an urban campus, we need something like this to train.</p> <article> <div> <div> <img> <p> <img></p> </div> </div> </article> <p>鈥淓verything in ROTC is changed because of COVID,鈥?he continued. 鈥淲e offer military science classes remotely. Our (physical training) is relegated to the individual campuses, instead of all of our Worcester-area schools coming to WPI.鈥?lt;/p> <p>In addition, weekly leadership labs have become consolidated to a monthly event at Devens, where the battalion can maximize daylight and training opportunities and get everyone to a single location, he said.</p> <p>WPI cadets Ian Weston and Hope Soucy see ROTC and military service as a rewarding way to serve the country and round out their skills.</p> <p>鈥淭he military is a large community that serves the United States and helps others. I want to be a part of that,鈥?said Soucy, a sophomore biomedical engineering major from Vermont.</p> <p>鈥淚 joined late last year. I missed this in my freshman year, so this is a good introduction,鈥?she said of the day鈥檚 training. 鈥淚t filled in some holes that I missed.</p> <p>鈥淭oday we had team leaders. It鈥檚 so important. You see how they lead by example. Without a team leader you can鈥檛 really run a squad.鈥?lt;/p> <article> <div> <div> <img> <p> <img></p> </div> </div> </article> <p>Weston, a junior civil engineering major from Boston鈥檚 South Shore, said he wants to gain leadership development from ROTC and military service, with the goal of a career in construction project management and a discipline in structural engineering.</p> <p>鈥淚 want to utilize the military to adapt my ability, expertise and mental toughness, my physical fitness and my interpersonal skills,鈥?he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 utilizing the program to not only develop myself, but to develop my peers. I鈥檓 part of a community that is not just WPI, but the Worcester Consortium schools.鈥?lt;/p> <p>鈥淭his is my first experience leading a squad. I did reconnaissance. I鈥檓 learning how to take the doctrine and implement it in the field, which is crucial as a building block to get into tactics and operations.鈥?lt;/p> <p>Heppe said the fall semester is focused on individual skills, up through the squad level, which is 10 to 12 cadets. In the spring the program will transition to platoon tactics, which is approximately a 40-person team.</p> <p>鈥淭oday was a fantastic day,鈥?he said. 鈥淭his was the first time our cadets were able to put theory into practice.鈥?lt;/p> <p><strong>鈥擬artin Luttrell</strong></p> Thu, 12 Nov 2020 12:00:00 +0000 admin /news/rotc-training-devens-bringing-classroom-lessons-field 10 ROTC Cadets Sworn In As Officers in U.S. Army, Air Force /news/10-rotc-cadets-sworn-officers-us-army-air-force <p>The officer corps of the U.S. Army and Air Force will be augmented by newly commissioned second lieutenants going into pilot training, cybersecurity, and training programs for engineer and infantry officers, after 10 cadets transitioned into officers in the armed forces from WPI鈥檚 ROTC programs.</p> <p>The four Army and six Air Force officers were commissioned in separate ceremonies in May that were shared with friends and family via Zoom and Facebook Live. The ceremonies were coordinated to comply with COVID-19 distancing protocols.</p> <p>The Army cadets were among a total of 13 from WPI鈥檚 ROTC <a>Bay State Battalion</a> commissioned from WPI, Worcester State University, Fitchburg State University, Clark University, and UMass Lowell.</p> <p>During the Air Force commissioning, Lt. Col. <a>Jack Skiles III</a>, Commander, <a>Detachment 340 Air Force ROTC</a>, commended his detachment for garnering the honor of number one in the nation out of 145 detachments.</p> <p>鈥淭hat is no small feat, considering the size of our detachment, which is really small, and the fact that we鈥檙e all such big nerds,鈥?he said, evoking some laughter. Additionally, the WPI detachment ranked third regionally and fifth in the nation in GPA. 鈥淭his is a highly competitive program,鈥?he said.</p> <p>鈥淭he cadets are about to take the oath of office to transition from a civilian to an officer in the greatest air force in the world,鈥?Skiles said in addressing the attendees. 鈥淭hey will swear to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies. This is a huge commitment.</p> <p>鈥淧resident Kennedy said it this way: 鈥楲et every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.鈥欌€?lt;/p> <p>The following cadets were sworn in as Air Force officers:</p> <p>鈼?Amelia Brown (Mechanical Engineering), Mylena Guzman (Mechanical Engineering), Emily Hammer (Mechanical Engineering), and Brian Kelsey (Aerospace Engineering) will report to Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, to attend Undergraduate Pilot Training.</p> <p>鈼?James Maxwell (Mechanical Engineering) will be assigned to Los Angeles AFB in California.</p> <p>鈼?Huyen Santelli (Biomedical Engineering) will go to Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi for Cyber Warrior training.</p> Fri, 19 Jun 2020 12:00:00 +0000 admin /news/10-rotc-cadets-sworn-officers-us-army-air-force