Welcome to the Winter 2025 edition of the Wolverine Tribune! As the academic year draws to a close here in Ann Arbor, a sense of accomplishment and anticipation fills the air within the Wolverine Battalion. The culmination of years of dedication and leadership development is upon us, particularly for our senior class. It is with immense pride that we prepare to commission twelve exceptional Cadets as Second Lieutenants in the United States Army on Friday, May 2nd. Their commitment represents the best of Michigan, and while we eagerly await news of their future successes as Army officers.
This past semester was remarkably successful, packed with rigorous training, unique developmental opportunities, and impressive achievements across the board. From the historical immersion of the Normandy Staff Ride and insightful ROA panels to the joint operational focus of the Tri-Service Wargame and the sheer resilience displayed during the Bataan and Norwegian Foot Marches, Cadets consistently pushed their boundaries. Training intensity peaked during the demanding Joint Field Training Exercise (JFTX), where our Cadets collaborated effectively with peers from EMU and Notre Dame, honing tactical skills under challenging field conditions. Furthermore, the battalion marked a significant leadership transition on April 16th, honoring the service of the outgoing Cadet leadership during the Change of Command ceremony and welcoming incoming C/LTC Samuel Roberts and C/CSM Daniel Kennedy to lead the battalion forward. It has truly been a semester defined by challenging experiences and significant growth.
Normandy Staff Ride
On March 1st, our senior Cadets departed for France over Spring Break to undertake an immersive, week-long staff ride to the historic battlefields of Normandy. This capstone experience provides cadets with a unique opportunity to study leadership and tactics firsthand by walking the same ground where Allied forces landed on D-Day. The core of the trip involves each cadet researching a specific military unit involved in the invasion and delivering a detailed briefing at the actual location where that unit fought, bringing history to life in a profound way.
Based in the city of Caen for the duration, the cadets spent five intensive days touring key D-Day sites, including landing beaches, drop zones, and critical inland objectives. Beyond the American sectors, the itinerary also included visits to German defensive positions, offering a comprehensive perspective on the challenges faced during Operation Overlord. This staff ride is more than just a history lesson; it’s a powerful professional development event, allowing future Army officers to analyze military operations, understand the complexities of large-scale campaigns, and draw invaluable leadership lessons directly from the terrain and history of Normandy.
Read more about the Normandy Staff Ride
ROA Partnership
This past semester, the University of Michigan ROTC program successfully hosted a valuable monthly officer panel series in partnership with the Reserve Organization of America (ROA) of Michigan. Each panel offered cadets unique opportunities to engage directly with, learn from, and seek mentorship from experienced senior military leaders hailing from different backgrounds and branches of service. Across these sessions, recurring themes emerged, including the paramount importance of empathetic leadership – focusing on leaders’ responsibility to genuinely connect with and understand the perspectives of those they lead, especially junior personnel. Furthermore, the officers shared critical career development strategies, highlighting the necessity of lifelong learning, proactively pursuing challenging assignments, and recognizing the value of leadership experience within a joint or tri-service environment. The open dialogue fostered during these panels allowed cadets to ask pressing questions and gain firsthand knowledge about navigating a successful military career. We are grateful to ROA Michigan and all the participating officers who generously shared their time and wisdom, consistently encouraging cadets to reach out for continued mentorship. This series has been an invaluable component of our cadets’ leadership development this semester.
Bataan Memorial & Norwegian Foot March
Demonstrating exceptional resilience and commitment, our Michigan Army ROTC cadets recently conquered two significant endurance tests: the Bataan Memorial Death March in White Sands, New Mexico, and the Norwegian Foot March. By successfully tackling the grueling 26.2-mile desert course of the Bataan March, cadets honored the profound history and sacrifice it commemorates, while participation in the rigorous Norwegian Foot March further tested their physical and mental fortitude. Through both demanding events, they embodied the spirit of perseverance and leadership vital to the Army profession, pushing their limits individually and strengthening their unity as a team. Congratulations to our cadets for proudly representing the University of Michigan and successfully completing these demanding challenges! Go Blue!
Tri-Service Wargame
The Tri-Service Wargame on January 25, 2025 brought together 120 cadets and midshipmen in a 5-hour simulation that sought to develop communication skills under a stressful environment and further highlight the importance of interoperability. The wargame was a historic first, setting a new standard for joint events at the ROTC level. In attendance was Mr. James Markley, Deputy Director of Strategic Wargaming at the Army War College in addition to MG (ret.) Arthur Bartell and other cadre from around the state. The Army cadets who were a part of the tri-service committee responsible for the design of the wargame and its implementation over a period of three months were Grace Connelly, Daniel Kennedy, and Jonathan Li.
ROTC Alumni Association
Calling All Michigan ROTC Alumni! The University of Michigan ROTC program is building its Alumni Association, and we need your help. Our goal is to connect, engage, and strengthen our incredible network of past Wolverines who have worn the uniform.
Cadet of the Month – APRIL
Cadet Fletcher Todd
“So far in my first year in ROTC, I have made great friends and memories through participation in Ranger Challenge, my first tactical joint FTX, and the wargame. A skill that I have developed this year that has been a great help to me in my every day academics is the ability to motivate myself and others in mentally tough situations. I am grateful and happy to have been selected by my peers as April’s Cadet of the Month, and I look forward to continuing my involvement with as many things as possible.”
Joint Field Training Exercise
This spring, Cadets from the University of Michigan’s Wolverine Battalion participated in the demanding Joint Field Training Exercise (JFTX), collaborating closely with their peers from Eastern Michigan University and the University of Notre Dame. Upon arrival, Cadets were immediately integrated into four diverse platoons, mixing from all three institutions. The initial focus was on building unit cohesion through the development of platoon Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This crucial first step required Cadets to quickly learn to work together, share knowledge from their respective programs, and establish common ground for the challenging training days that lay ahead.
The second day was dedicated to honing essential tactical skills. Platoons rotated through several training stations, including practicing on the hand grenade course and refining marksmanship fundamentals. The day culminated with practical exercises in day land navigation, transitioning directly into the added complexity of navigating unfamiliar terrain under the cover of darkness during night land navigation. The final day served as the culminating event, featuring six rigorous Situational Training Exercise (STX) lanes conducted across hilly and densely vegetated terrain. Burdened by heavy rucksacks, weapons, and equipment, Cadets were evaluated as they rotated through various leadership positions within their platoons, testing their decision-making, communication, and tactical abilities under strenuous conditions.
Change of Command Ceremony
On April 16th, the Wolverine Battalion formally marked a transition in its Cadet leadership during the Change of Command and Change of Responsibility ceremony. The event celebrated the dedicated service and accomplishments of outgoing Cadet Battalion Commander, C/LTC Eyda Gu, as she passed the Battalion colors, signifying the transfer of command authority to the incoming commander, C/LTC Samuel Roberts. Simultaneously, the Battalion recognized the vital contributions of outgoing Cadet Command Sergeant Major, C/CSM Genesis McWhorter, as she relinquished responsibility to the incoming senior enlisted leader, C/CSM Daniel Kennedy. We honor the commitment shown by C/LTC Gu and C/CSM McWhorter during their tenure and eagerly look forward to the vision and direction C/LTC Roberts and C/CSM Kennedy will provide for the program in the upcoming semester.
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