2009-2010: Jaime Parellada

Leadership Opportunities

One of the best things of coming to Norwich University is the wide range of leadership opportunities available through the four years of school. Leadership training and development is one of the greatest strengths of the institution. Students who pick the Corps of Cadets track receive instruction from the Corps of Cadets as well as their respective ROTC Department. In my case it was the Army ROTC Department. This instruction is different in each ROTC, which is why it is very interesting to observe how people from different branches (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force) interact with each other and their respective leadership styles when working together in the Corps of Cadets. This prepares the cadets to work with people from other branches of the military in the future.

During the four years at Norwich, a cadet will be exposed to different leadership positions and duties. Freshmen year is only the begining and its perhaps one of the most important years for a cadet because it is the year in which one learns to be a follower before becoming a leader. Recruits go through different phases of training starting with Rook Basic Orientation (Rook Week), Rook Basic Training, and Advanced Training. All phases must be completed before the recruits get recognized as cadets. I will talk about these stages more in depth in my following entry so as not to make this one too long.

During Sophomore year, cadets will experiment a different side of the Corps and will begin their respective training for leading freshmen during their junior year. 1st and 2nd Battalions have been designated as upperclassmen battalions this year and their mission is to conduct sophomore training. During this phase, cadets will be exposed to the LEAD program, Military Arnis, as well as Platoon level Drill and Ceremony. Sophomores can also hold different jobs within the Regiment, i.e., Company and Battalion Runners, Supply NCO, Guidon Bearer, etc. There are also more jobs available within the Special Units of the Regiment (CAV, Drill Team, Artillery, Band).

Junior year is deffinitely the most intense and exciting year for a cadet. I say this because the juniors are the NCOs of the Regiment and they are the backbone of the Corps of Cadets. They are in charge of conducting training and executing orders as well as enforcing the standards of conduct and discipline. During the junior year, cadets can hold a wide variety of jobs within the Regiment. The most desired jobs are always the cadre spots for the cadet training companies in charge of training freshmen. The duty positions open to juniors range from Squad Leader to Command Sergeant Major for a Battalion. These jobs are also some of the most challenging and help cadets further develop their leadership skills and put into practice everything they have learned since their freshmen year. Juniors in the Army Department are also going through the most important phase of their training because if they are seeking a commission then they will be going to LDAC during the summer of their junior year.

Finally, Senior year is when cadets get the opportunity to develop policies and influence the course of the Regiment. Seniors can get the opportunity to command different units within the Regiment as well as within their respective ROTC Departments. Seniors develop the policies within their own units in accordance with their commander´s intent, the NUCC SOP and the Rules and Regulations. After developing their policies they depend greatly on the NCOs to execute those policies, which is why NCOs are the backbone of the Corps of Cadets.

Students who do not get leadership positions within the Corps of Cadets still receive much of the training available and can take advantage of leadership opportunities within clubs, sports teams, volunteer groups, and special units. Norwich has a wide variety of clubs and organizations (i.e., Chinese Club, German Club, French Club, NUEMS, NUTS, SGA, International Student Organization, etc), as well as sports teams (Soccer, Baseball, Lacrosse, Football, Volleyball, etc) and special units. Within the Corps of Cadets we have the Special Units of Provisional Battalion, all of which have a special mission within the Regiment. These units are the Cavalry Troop, the Drill Team, the Band, and the Norwich Independent Battery (Artillery). There are also other special units or clubs such as the Ranger Platoon (Army ROTC), Spec Ops (Air Force ROTC), Mountain Cold Weather Company (MCW), which is open to anyone, the Rescue Team (Elite Unit of MCW), etc.

In today´s world leadership is very important, and Norwich University is one of the few places in which young men and women can develop their leadership styles, as well as other skills that are fundamental if one wishes to be successful. I will write more about what each special unit does, the training each class year conducts and receives, as well as other interesting issues. Thanks for reading and have a great day.

As We Remember

Today is one of those dates  that no one will ever forget. Tonight at 2200 we will form up in the UP in silence, wearing our gray tunics with sabers upside-down. The Regimental Bugler will play taps and we will remember the victims of 9/11 and all those who´ve done the ultimate sacrifice in the war against terror. May they rest in peace.

Inspired by this moment I´ve written a small poem that I would like to share with you all, it is through this poem that I will try to share what this moment feels like.

As We Gather

All is silent,
All is dark,
As we gather in the shadows,
And begin to march,
Long lines as we assemble,
And wait.

All is silent,
All is dark,
There are no sounds,
Nor lights,
Only the clouds are moving...in silence,
As the sky begins to cry,
The wind...a moan,
As we gather,
As we remember.

All is silent,
All is dark,
Gray on gray,
Sabers upside-down,
As we gather,
As we remember...
Those Who´ve fallen,
Not long ago.

And we wait...and remember,
As the notes of taps begin to fly...
Goosebums... memories...
Of those we´ll never forget.

And just as we´ve silently gathered,
Among the shadows,
We dissappear.

And when the last note has died,
And is slowly carried by the wind,
We all know it´s been taken to a better place,
Far, far from here...

The silence is cut,

By a lonely bagpipe,

Singing Amazing Grace,

Its notes a tribute to those,

To those who´re gone.

All is silent,
All is dark,
As we gather...
As we remember.

Jaime Parellada NU 2010
11 SEP 2009

In memory of those who died on Sep 11 2001 and all those who´ve done the ultimate sacrifice in the fight for freedom.

Leader´s Week, Rook Week, and the Special Units Demonstration

First of all I would like to thank you all again for your continuous support and encouragement. I was very surprised and happy when several readers approached me while I was at the Provisional Battalion table to talk about the blog. It encourages me to become a better blogger and writer every time and serves as a motivation to keep on going when things are rough.

The past week has been extremely busy for the Corps of Cadets, especially for the new leadership because we had what is known as Leader´s Week, whose purpose is to finish preparing the new leadership of the Corps before the recruits and upperclassmen arrive. It was a very busy and intense week but at the same time very rewarding. This year I have been able to experience many new things and learn a lot about leadership and planning. As a the Cavalry Company Commander I have the honor and opportunity to lead a select group of cadets, very fine young men and women indeed, and prepare the plans and vision of this special unit, not only for this academic year, but also so that it can be applied to the 2019 plan.

This past week was also very intense for our Barn SGT and the Barn CPLs because they went to the barn on a daily basis to prepare the horses and the necessary equipment for the Cavalry Demonstration that we will be conducting this coming Saturday as part of the Special Units Demonstration. This past Sunday was also Rook Arrival Day, a very special day for every cadet here at Norwich because its one of those days you never forget. In some way we started this year with the right foot since we received the largest class of incoming rooks, 522 in total. Just seeing them form up and occupy one entire side of the UP motivates me to become a better leader and person.

I must admit that I´ve also had goosebumps when I hear the sound of platoons of 60 or more recruits marching and sounding off with their own cadences. Its a special feeling that is very hard to describe. I know that many parents, especially those of rooks are probably worried about them and are continuously thinking about what they are doing and how they are doing. I would like to ensure those parents that their sons and daughters are very lucky indeed to have come to Norwich on this very special year, a year of change and improvement.

As I mentioned before, this is a year of change and improvement in every aspect. In order to conduct Rook Orientation, Rook Basic Training, and Rook Advanced Training in a more professional and effective way, the Regiment has been reorganized. 1st and 2nd Battalions are now upperclassmen battalions whose mission is to train sophomores so that they can become better leaders and professional NCOs and Officers.

3rd Battalion has been designated a freshmen battalion and instead of having the normal companies like Hotel, India, or Kilo they now have Cadet Training Companies which are designated by the year and company number (i.e., 09-1). This change will be extremely beneficial for everyone because a more professional training environment has been created, not only for the freshmen but also for everyone else in the Corps.

Provisional Battalion is a different case because it is composed of the Special Units of the Corps of Cadets. These Special Units are the Regimental Band Company; the oldest collegiate band in the Nation, the Drill Team Company whose Shock Platoon won the National Championship last year, the Norwich Independent Battery (N.I.B) a.k.a Artillery or Arty, and of course the legendary Norwich University Regimental Cavalry Troop, whose centennial year is this year. As a special battalion, Provisional Battalion will not participate in the rook training as it did in the past. This will allow for the Special Units to focus all their efforts in specializing and representing the University at public events. Nevertheless the Special Units have been actively recruiting rooks so that they can participate in a voluntary manner in the basic or introductory training of each company.

The Special Units have all been working very hard in developing and adapting their training as well as preparing their respective demonstrations for Saturday. Personnel from all these companies reported during Leader´s Week, way earlier than the rest of the students or cadets.

Finally, I know this has been a long blog, I want to reassure the parents of all the rooks that they are in excellent hands. Please dont worry about them. I was once in their shoes and know that by now they are probably having mixed feelings, some are missing home or their friends and family. Others are very happy and motivated. Nevertheless of how they are adapting this is a special moment in their lives, they are changing for the better. This change includes new routines, discipline, obedience, and respect. Their first phone call will be hard, I remember I was only able to say a few words trying not to cry over the phone, but as time progresses they will overcome all these difficulties and when they feel it they will be seniors like me. Time goes fast. If you email your son or daughter, or if you talk with them during their phone call home please encourage them, allow them to embrace change and difficulties, explain to them that not everything in life comes easy, sometimes we must sacrifice things for the better. Tells them that it will be worth it in the end, but please dont pitty them, dont tell them to come back home or to quit if its too hard.

If I had to describe Rookdom with one word I would use the word and definition that appears in every cadet´s Dog River Run picture: PERSEVERANCE. This word appears in the bottom of the picture along its definition which says "the difference between a successful person and others is not a lack or will or strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will".

Rooks, keep up the good work, don´t look back and keep on going.

A Different Side of China: Part I

This summer I had the wonderful opportunity to visit China for a second time. This time though, I studied in Shanghai instead of Beijing. I would like to thank everyone that made this trip possible, especially my family,  as well as my wonderful professors at Norwich, most importantly my Chinese Language professor and my Chinese Military History and Chinese Modern History professor, without their help and influence my trip would have been completely different.

After finishing my final exams at Norwich I once again took an airplane and left the North American continent. I flew into Shanghai and after registering at the university went straight to Fujian Province. I had always been fascinated with this province because of its close relation to Taiwan, especially after studying about the Chinese Civil War and the Opium Wars and the importance of this province in trade, piracy, and military campaigns. In Fujian I spent some days visiting Xiamen where I enjoyed the pleasant weather and delicious sea food, especially the spicy octopus. From Xiamen I was able to see the Taiwanese controlled island of Kinmen (Quemoy), and visit one of the most important fortifications where the Chinese proudly display the world´s largest Krupp cannon.

Following my wonderful stay in Xiamen, I took a bus and visited the old port city of Quanzhou, which used to be one of the most important trading ports in ancient times. In Quanzhou I visited the Chinese Naval History Museum, where you can see different models of ships and read about the development of Chinese naval history. I also visited one of the most famous temples in China, the Qingjing Mosque, built by Arabs in 1009 A.D. From Quanzhou I took another bus to another city where I had the opportunity to see some of the fortifications that had been built to protect the city against the pirate raids and where Koxinga took refuge during one of his campaigns.

 From this place I took a bus and went to one of the most remote areas of Fujian Province, near the south west,  where I spent the night in one of the famous Tulou, or earth buildings. Tulou are large circular buildings, castle like in nature, where the Hakka people used to live for protection. They vary in shape and size but they are usually around three or four stories high, animals are kept in the first floor and families live in the other floors. The people were extremely friendly and would not let me pay for the food, they were happy to share with me, for which I am very grateful. Fujian Province is very beautiful indeed, the bamboo forests and tea plantations are a treat for the eyes as well as the climate.

I must say that I carried with me perhaps the most interesting and useful textbook I have ever used for one of my classes (thank you  Dr. J). I brought with me the Spence textbook, which helped me understand the history of the province and enjoy my stay in each place a thousand times more than if I had never studied about it. After visiting this part of the province, I went back to Xiamen from where I took an airplane to Shanghai and began to prepare everything for my classes.

I dont want to make the entries too long so I will be writting a couple of entries for China, other entries for London, and a couple more about the Norwich Cavalry. I hope all the incoming recruits are enjoying their summer and getting ready for an amazing and challenging year. For the parents of the incoming rooks, I hope you enjoy this summer with your "rook" as I am sure you will miss them during this academic year. Its good to be writting again, I hope all of you are doing well and wish you all the very best.

P.S Here are some pictures of my visit to Fujian Province. Enjoy!