The purpose of this report is to let Alumni know of App ROTC happenings and accomplishments this past year and going into the summer.
Current App ROTC uniformed Cadre: LTC Adam Greene (Armor) stepped away for medical reasons this Spring semester and will be retiring in the area. Captain Steven Pressley (Logistician) led the Department into the summer. He will be heading to Fort Jackson this coming Fall. MSG Paul Sinnott (Special Forces) is the Senior Military Science Instructor and has two years of experience in the program. He also advises the Commando Club and Mountain Man Memorial March teams. SFC Andrew Browne (Infantry) has been in the program for three years. He instructs the Juniors, coaches the Ranger Challenge Team, and will be retiring this coming academic year. SFC Browne has been a force multiplier with his video expertise, and you can find much of his work on YouTube’s @appstaterotc. Captain Russell Kimmel (Logistician, McDaneil College) joined this year and instructs the Sophomores as well as advises the Pershing Rifles. SSG Steven Jones (Military Police), works in Training, leads the PT class, and helps with the Sophomores. Captain Samantha Snelson (Field Artillery, USMA) recently signed in and will assist with the Juniors this Fall. Major (P) Zach Jones (Infantry, Iowa State) will be arriving in August to take over as Professor of Military Science. He is currently stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado.
Pictured Below: CPT Kimmel, MSG Sinnott, LTC Greene, CPT Pressley, SSG Jones, SFC Browne and Trigger.
On the civilian side, Eric Church (Class of 97) is the Human Resources Officer. Michael Branham runs Supply, and I (DJ Weatherford) handle Freshmen Instruction and Enrollments/Scholarships. The lady who makes day-to-day operations happen is Sharon Cox in the front office.
Our Point of Pride and our Product is the Officers we Commission. In May we commissioned 20 Second Lieutenants and have 3 more later this summer. We commissioned 6 others over the academic year. That cohort (Oct 24- Sept 25) had 29 officers. Fall. Read more at https://rotc.appstate.edu/news/serve-and-lead and https://today.appstate.edu/2025/05/29/rotc
LTG Mohan (’89) spoke at the May Commissioning. The Commandos acknowledged his support with a new “Tab”
Among other happenings this past year, one challenging and one rewarding--
Hurricane Helene challenged the entire High Country. A few Cadets had their apartments flooded, and the program had some equipment damaged that was stored in the basement of Varsity Gym. The Unviersity sent the Student Body home on September 29th in order to facilitate focus recovery in the areas. That impacted the Department’s ability to respond in force but several Cadets were mobilized with their Guard units and others, along with Cadre, supported community efforts (pictured below).
I also want to take the time to acknowledge App ROTC Alumni Alan Phillips (’90) and his efforts in the Spruce Pines area. Soon after the Hurricane, he turned his home and business into a distribution center and coordinated several recovery efforts. It was an expansive and inspiring effort (pictures below). He was helped by numerous others, including Commando Comrade, Danny Hassig ('90), who served as a Current Ops Battle Captain. FOTM!
App State ROTC has had a reputation as a strong program for decades. The proof is in the Mountaineer Battalion Cadet’s performance in competitions, Cadet Summer Training, Accessions ranking, and most significantly, in the professionalism and contributions of its alumni in the Army. A recent award ceremony provided public recognition of that quality. The 4th ROTC Brigade Leadership team, Colonel Mike Farmer and Command Sergeant Major Nathaniel Atkinson (pictured to the right below), presented the MacArthur Award to the Battalion in a ceremony on March 20th in the Student Union.
Read more at https://rotc.appstate.edu/news/leadership-excellence-best-brigade-and-among-top-nation
Significant events over the last year—
The Mountaineer Battalion returned to classes after Fall Break and the University's closing due to Hurricane Helene. That weekend, they were in the field for the Fall Training Exercise (some photos below). Read more at: https://rotc.appstate.edu/news/despite-storm-fire-mountain-burns-bright
Soon after the Battalion held its Dining Out and Heroes Day activities:
Dining in 2024. Comradery, Socialization, and Parody! App ROTC held its annual Dining-In on 1 November. The night started with a social hour and a dinner. Colonel (Retired) Edna Cummings, Class of 78, was the guest speaker. The night ended with the Seniors and Juniors making good-natured fun of each other and the Cadre in skits. Dining-ins are an Army tradition held for members to gather together in an atmosphere of camaraderie, good fellowship, fun, and social rapport.
The next day Heroes Day 2024 started with a Tailgate in the McKinney Alumni Center that the Chancellor’s Office catered. Attendees were Student Veterans, ROTC Cadets, and App Military Affiliated Alumni. Read more about the day at https://rotc.appstate.edu/news/heroes-day-2024
ROTC Alumni meet with Chancellor Norris
This year’s Heroes Day Game is on 22 November. Mark your calendar and plan to attend (more below).
Veteran’s Weekend and Day were busy on the Mountain! The Battalion had to make up some training, while at the same time, honoring those who had preceded them. Read more at https://rotc.appstate.edu/news/veterans-day-2024
Another Strong Showing at Fourth ROTC Brigade’s Ranger Challenge on Fort Barfoot (VA, 15-17 Nov). Appalachian State’s Ranger Challenge team took on 38 other teams in the Brigade event. Teams were tested on Tactical Combat Casualty Care, Pistol Marksmanship, Rope Bridge Assembly, Protective Gear (photo below), Grenade Throwing, Weapons Assembly/ Disassembly, Reconnaissance, a Strength Challenge, a 1.2 Mile Run, a 6-Mile Ruck and the team’s Ruck Time between each event. App’s team placed 1st in Tactical Combat Casualty Care and 3rd in the Ruck Time between each event. The team finished 5th overall. See more at https://rotc.appstate.edu/news/another-strong-showing
Fall Finished Strong. Final Formation and Run of 2024. The Winter Warriors of App State ROTC finished the semester strong with a short Battalion Run, Acknowledgment of Excellence, and a Contracting Ceremony. Acknowledged for top ACFT Scores were Cadets Johnson and Duggin, Top Ruckers: Cadets Cannon and Suddreth and for Motivation and Participation- Meyer, Borders, Watkins, Williams, Brion and Lemos. Newly Contracted Cadets were Cadets Vaught, Heller, Owens and Eblen. It's always a good day on the mountain.
2025 saw early success. App State ROTC’s Pershing Rifles, Company M-4, had an outstanding performance at the 2025 National Convention and Drill Competition (photos below). They secured 3rd place in the Duet Exhibition, Squad Regulation, Squad Unarmed Regulation, Platoon Regulation, and the Academic Scholarship. Additionally, Company M-4 is proud to have Chloe Lemos as the newly elected National Commander. She assumed the leadership position at the Formal Dinner, which included General Gary Brito, Commanding General of Training and Doctrine Command, as the guest speaker. App State has consistently provided Cadet Leaders for the National Society of Pershing Rifles.
App State ROTC hosted its annual Dining Out. It was a great social event that brought the Mountaineers together for an evening of celebration and reflection on the great experiences from this past school year (photos below). See more at https://rotc.appstate.edu/news/annual-dining-out-comradery-formal-setting
Spring Training Exercise 2025- at Camp Butner. It was a hot one—but training objectives were achieved! 79 App ROTC Cadets and 6 Cadre teamed with NC A & T and Wake Forest ROTC and their partner programs for tactical training in preparation for ROTC Advance Camp at Fort Knox this summer. On the last day, Cadets Brady, Wahba and Nelson were administered the oath of enlistment by CPT Pressley for their recent contracting. It's always a good day out in the woods, hot or not! (Photos below).
And then there is the Annual Mountain Man Memorial March. Purely domination and Rucking Excellence for App ROTC. App State's male full marathon team has taken home first place for the past 10 years that the event has been conducted in person! App State not only took first place in the male full marathon event, but also second (after the race organizers determined the Tennessee team …..did not finish as a team). Read more at https://rotc.appstate.edu/news/rucking-excellence-mountains-tenpeat
Above is “App Team B” the first-place finishers, with Patricia Hasboruk. She is the mother of Cadeet Chris Hasbrouck, who died while competing in 2012. The High Country Chapter of the Military Officer Association of America habitually supports App ROTC and they supported the Mountain Man Competition this past semester as they have done in the past
Clubs are a big part of the cadet experience on the Mountain… and the ROTC-affiliated ones have been active.
Scabbard and Blade continued to support the Community with Hurricane Helene clean-up, supply distribution and restock. Additionally, they helped clean up the Fallen Soldier Memorial at the local Guard Armory. They always led the way for ROTC in supporting Flag placement and recovery for Veterans and Memorial Day (pictured below).
Perishing Rifles. In addition to the National Convention and Competition, the club conducted several color guards-
And held their “Black Jack Week” in the Fall with members of the fall 2024 candidate class of the National Society of Pershing Rifles completing what is known as Blackjack Week, followed by PROCON. For this the candidate class must complete a series of daily tasks, all dealing with physical challenges, teamwork requirements, and tactical knowledge. Following this series of tasks, candidates went through cross over night, or “PROCON”, which involved a number of physical tasks, concluded by a ruck up Howard's Knob. Candidates Keefe, Churchbourne, Borders, Johnson, Milligan, Williams, Stangle, and Cruz-Garcia were all initiated as flashes, while candidate Allred earned the coveted TAB.
The Appalchain Commando Club tests its members in the Fall with TTIS and the Spring with the Qualification Course.
"And I will Shoulder more than my share of the task, whatever it may be, 100% and then some!!” - Third Stanza of the Ranger Creed.
In late November through the week and over the weekend the App ROTC Tactics club-- Appalachian Commandos --completed Team Week and Tactical Training of the Individual Soldier (TTIS). At the start of the semester, there were more than 40 candidates; by the end of TTIS, only 15 remained. Candidates were evaluated on their physical capability, Call for Fire, Tactical Combat Casualty Care, and emplacement of a M18A1 Claymore mine. New Commandos: Brown, Church, Dolan, Duggin, Eblen, Fischer, Hutchison, Jansen, Jordan, Marsh, Martin, McIntyre, Meyer, Owens, and Suddreth. Congratulations to those who forsook the warmth and comfort of their dorms and challenged themselves!
The Spring semester saw Cadets Nevejas, Navarro, Cannon, Brown and Brion earned the coveted Appalachian Commando Tab. It is a significant accomplishment that culminated in a ruck march up Howard’s Knob overlooking Boone. Read more at https://rotc.appstate.edu/news/what-did-you-do-weekend
Our Residential Learning Community (RLC) remains a strong cohort of any particular year group.The ROTC RLC is a coed floor with 20-30 freshmen and some sophomores who live on the first floor of Thunder Hill dorm. The RLC provides a support group of kindred spirits who enjoy the camaraderie of ROTC and sharing some extracurricular outdoor activities. Only about a 1/3 of the freshmen ROTC class is in the ROTC RLC, but it is a dedicated group. This past year it was 28 strong and besides helping with Veterans’ Flag placement, they enjoyed several activities(pictured below):
As usual, we have a good slate of training this summer. 21 Cadets are attending Advanced Camp at Fort Knox and 6 others are attending Basic Camp. 2 Cadets are slated for the Air Assault Course and 1 for Airborne school. 2 will serve as the Opposing Force for summer training at Fort Knox, and 1 will support Special Forces Training at Fort Bragg. The Cadet Leadership Training Program, where a Cadet follows an active duty Lieutenant in their day-to-day activities, will involve 3 Cadets. 1 is going to Fort Carson, Colorado with a Field Artillery unit, 1 with a Medical Services unit at Fort Bragg, and 1 with an Engineer unit at Fort Hood.
As mentioned above The Fall 2025 Military Appreciation Day Football Game is scheduled for November 22nd. Go ahead and mark your calendar and plan to attend. We will repeat last year’s teaming up with the Military Affairs Committee and host a tailgate at the McKinney Alumni Center. Historically, football game tickets are free for first responders and veterans and half-price for one family member. Those tickets are obtained by “Will Call” and in advance of the game. The number of tickets set aside is limited—so don’t wait to secure them. The ROTC Department is not involved in ticket distribution in any manner but will let you know of any information regarding their availability. The Tailgate is an excellent time to meet and greet with the current Senior and Cadre. Historically, Food and Drinks have been Free. No reason not to attend.
As stated last year, I frequently get asked “How is the Program and How Can I Help”: App ROTC is healthy (always around 125-145 Students/Cadets) and well but we ask you to stay engaged—the program is part of your legacy. Your experience in it, and subsequently in Service resonates with the current cohort of Cadets. Leave your thoughts and experiences at https://rotc.appstate.edu/alumni -- I pass them on. If the link does not work—send a note to me directly. Additionally, follow us on Social Media-- Instagram- #appstaterotc; Twitter -@AppRotc; Facebook- Appalachian State Army ROTC and Linke In - Https://www.linkedin.com/company/90578110/admin/dashboard/ “App State ROTC”. As mentioned above SFC Browne has done a lot of work on YouTube that can be found at @appstaterotc
Referencing presenting/talking to the Cadets in a session. Since standing up in 1969, the program has commissioned over 1,000 Officers and many offer to come back and speak. Their success warrants it. In addition to our Alumni, we get numerous other offers to visit. Our curriculum and “Cadet Contact Time” constraint limit those opportunities with Spring being the better semester of the two. That being said, guest speakers in the grade of Captain/Major seem to resonate best with our students. Thus, if you are currently a Captain or Major, and have some availability on Tuesdays or Thursdays, and can visit on your own “time and dime,” let us know.
Another reuse of last year’s note-- Donations. The Department is well-resourced and financially sound. We will never ask for donations, nor do we release any emails (professional or private) outside of the Department for any reason including solicitations. The University, by policy, does have a “Give” button on our website. That button gives you the option to donate to the foundation funds of the Department of Military Science and Leadership (#092545) and the ROTC Alumni Operations Fund (#092757). Donations will be processed through the University to the College of Fine and Applied Arts (CFAA), our parent college. We are working to have ourselves notified so a Cadet can write that letter. The Clubs (specifically Commandos, Pershing Rifles, and The Mountain Man Memorial March Teams) do conduct fundraisers to support their competitions and activities. If you want to support a club or any Cadet event--you can write a check and mail it to “App State ROTC, ATTN: Sharon Cox, Varsity Gym, River Street, Boone, NC 28608”. If you do so state how you want the funds allocated. We will have the Club or a Cadet send you a note in response.
So that wraps up this report. Hopefully it was informative-- It is not meant to be polished for presentation, but rather just to let you know what your successors are doing. Please give us a heads up if you are going to be on campus—that way we can have some swag and times set aside for ya!
DJ (Class of 88)
FOTM
FOTM