The Campbell University Army ROTC Battalion held its annual awards ceremony in Turner Hall on the Campbell campus on September 11, 2014. The Campbell Battalion consists of units from Campbell University, Fayetteville State University, Methodist University and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

LTC Scott, Professor of Military Science at Campbell, and Commander of the ROTC Battalion presented awards to cadets for successful completion of Air Assault school and other training at summer camp. Several scholarship awards were also presented to superior cadets. Awards from several organizations were given during the ceremony.

Cape Fear Chapter 3rd Vice President, Bill Dadek, presented leadership cash awards of $100.00 with award certificates to (L to R in photo) Cadets Lenna Rodriguez, Courtney Anderson, Micah Simpson, and Ryan Mendoza; Cadet Mendoza was unable to attend the ceremony.

A commissioning ceremony for US Air Force Second Lieutenants Jasalynn Nesbitt and Jeremy Lowery was held on August 28, 2014 at Fayetteville State University.

LtCol Gladnigo, Professor of Aerospace Studies (PAS), conducted the ceremony assisted by Major DeFazio, Operations Flight Commander, and Captain Lascek, Assistant PAS. Family and friends were present for the ceremony.

Chapter Vice President LTC (Ret) Bill Dadek presented each of the new lieutenants with a set of Gold Bars and free 1-year membership in MOAA.

Chapter President Chavez presents a $750 check to Cadet LCDR Victoria Stanton of the Naval Junior ROTC unit at Cape Fear High School, as a contribution from the Cape Fear Chapter to help the unit defray its overall transportation expenses to this summer’s drill camp and naval orientation at Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia. Cadet Stanton the newly appointed unit commander for school year 2014-2015 accepted the contribution for her unit.

A letter of thanks from CAPT Andrew Karakos, USN Retired is at download below.

Junior ROTC Cadet Cody McWherter of the Navy JROTC unit at Cape Fear High School was presented a $1,000.00 college scholarship as part of the 65th Anniversary of Armed Forces Day celebration activities at Fayetteville's Veterans Park on Saturday, May 17, 2014. Cadet McWherter’s parents, Mr. & Mrs. Keith McWherter of Fayetteville were on hand for the ceremony.

The event, sponsored by the Armed Forces of America Motorcycle Club, paid tribute to our men and women of the Armed Forces, past (veterans), present (active duty), and future (ROTC). Cadet McWherter, a model high school student and ROTC cadet, is an example of the quality young men and women aspiring to be our future military leaders.

Cadet McWherter, a graduating senior at Cape Fear High School this summer,will begin his college education experience at UNC Chapel Hill this fall and will be enrolled in the university’s Air Force ROTC Program.

The scholarship was presented on behalf of the Cape Fear Chapter by Chapter President Juan Chavez.

The senior awards ceremony 2014 for Fairmont High School was held at the school on 20 May. During the awards for the JROTC seniors LTC (Ret) Bill Dadek, presented to Cadet Captain Sequita McAllister a certificate for her selection to receive a $1,000.00 scholarship from the Cape Fear Chapter for the school year 2014-2015. The event was attended by families and school staff.

Air Force ROTC Detachment 607 of Fayetteville State University held its commissioning ceremony on 9 may 2014. LtCol Allen Gradnigo, the Professor of Aerospace Studies and Detachment Commander and Capt Alycia Laseck, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies and Operations Flight Commander, each administered the oath of office to one of the new second lieutenants. The new officers were 2nd Lt Alanna Crockwell and 2nd Lt Michael Smith. LTC (Ret) Bill Dadek presented a set of gold bars and a one year free membership in MOAA to each of the new officers.

The Air Force ROTC Spring 2014 Dining Out for the combined FSU/UNCP ROTC Detachment 607 was held on 17 April at the Ambiance on Legion Road. Awards were presented to several cadets to recognize their accomplishments during the 2013/2014 school year. Six of the cadets receiving awards will be commissioned on 9 May. 3rd Vice President Bill Dadek presented the MOAA Leadership Medal to Cadet Tarron Sanders and the Cape Fear Chapter $100.00 Leadership Award to Cadet Devonte Lee. The event was hosted by Lt Col Allen Gradnigo, the Air Force Professor of Military Science for Fayetteville State and UNCP.

Pike Field Parade Field, Fort Bragg was the site on 29 September for the presentation of two ROTC scholarships and four leadership awards to Army senior ROTC cadets of the four universities supported by the Cape Fear Chapter of MOAA. The scholarships and awards were presented by Chapter President Juan Chavez , assisted by LTC Ed Pethan, Professor of Military Science, Campbell University.

Cadet Rebecca Lee Tate of Methodist University and Cadet Alyssa Marie Quinones of Fayetteville State University each received a $1,000.00 scholarship. Leadership awards of $100.00 each were presented to Cadets Mathew Wade of Campbell University, Andrew Wheeler of UNC Pembroke, Zachery Hazzard of Methodist University and Steven Grover of Fayetteville State University.

The award ceremony capped a weekend field training exercise conducted by the Campbell ROTC Battalion.

On 29 August 2013 at Fayetteville State University, Air Force Senior ROTC Cadet Kathiusca Alexandra Leon was presented with a Cape Fear Chapter $1,000 ROTC Scholarship by Chapter President Juan Chavez.

The presentation took place at the end of a leadership class given by Lt Col Allen Gradnigo, Jr., USAF, Commander, AFROTC Detachment 607 and Chair and Professor, Department of Aerospace Studies at Fayetteville State University. The assembled cadets were given an overview of MOAA by President Chavez and 3rd Vice President Bill Dadek.

The “Meinhardt” ROTC Scholarship was presented to a senior ROTC cadet at a ceremony presided by Colonel (Retired) Juan Chavez, President of the Cape Fear Chapter, MOAA on 6 August 2013 at the Fort Bragg Club . The $1,000 scholarship was funded by a donation from the seven children of Cape Fear Chapter members, Colonel (Retired) and Mrs. Harry P. Meinhardt to commemorate their parents’ sixty-fifth wedding anniversary. The recipient of the scholarship was Tyler Elrod, a student at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was accompanied by his parents, Colonel and Mrs. Ronald P. Elrod of Fort Bragg, also members of the Cape Fear Chapter. The check and accompanying certificate were presented by Colonel Meinhardt. Witnessing the presentation was Mrs. Meinhardt and one of the Meinhardt’s daughters, Mrs. Katrina Tiffany representing all of her siblings.

Monday evening the 3rd of June 2013, Terry Sanford High School held its senior awards in the school gymnasium. President Juan Chavez, presented a $1,000.00 ROTC scholarship to Cadet Connor Patrick Hamlet on behalf of the Cape Fear Chapter. Cadet Hamlet is the son of Rick Hamlet & Gerianne Geszler of Fayetteville; he will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the fall.