Alumni Newsletter

Alumni Newsletter September 2022

Military Science Alumni Chapter, Middle Tennessee State University

Greetings Blue Raider Military Science Alumni,

Mark your calendars for our MSAC Annual Meeting at the MTSU Army ROTC Building, 1000 hrs., Saturday, November 12, 2022.  If you cannot attend in person, we will set up a Zoom session for virtual attendance (log in information will come in a follow-up message).

Come meet the new PMS, LTC A.R. Wilsher, who came on board August 2022.  Catch up with friends and learn about current ROTC activities before the game.  You can also check out the new wall plaque highlighting the Virginia S. Austin Memorial Award for outstanding support to the Alumni chapter and Army ROTC Department (recipients to date are Virginia S. Austin, James and Annetta Pike, Jeff Henry, Nich Schneider, Jay Hendrix, and Nancy Garner).  Nomination forms for the MSAC Hall of Fame and Virginia S. Austin Memorial Service Award are available at the links provided below.

MTSU "Salute to Veterans and Armed Services Day" on November 12, 2022, continues the longest consecutive salute to Veterans football game in the NCAA.  Veterans and their families attend the pre-game picnic and the game for free.  Parking on campus is also free that day.

For the April 14, 2022, Spring Awards Ceremony, MSAC provided 2 awards and 3 scholarships.

1000 hrs.          Annual Military Science Alumni Meeting (ROTC Building

1100 hrs.          Veterans' Memorial Service (Tom Jackson Building)

1200 hrs.          Pregame Picnic (Kennon Sports Hall of Fame lawn)

1300 hrs.          Dr. Joe Nunley Award (Kennon Sports Hall of Fame lawn)

1430 hrs.          Kick-off Middle Tennessee vs. University North Carolina-Charlotte

Military Science Alumni (end of first quarter) and all Veterans (during halftime) will receive on-field recognition during the game.                 

We continue to work with the MTSU Advancement Office to update our records, so all MSAC members know what your Chapter, the Military Science Department, the University, and the great Cadets are doing.  Please share this newsletter with other MSAC Alumni we may have missed.

MSAC Membership Dues:  Send in our membership dues to Nancy Garner at nancy.garner@mtsu.edu to submit.  The current dues system is:  Lifetime Membership (scaled by age) 40-under:  $350; 41-50:  $300; 51-60:  $250; 61-70: $150; 71-80:  $125; 80-above:  $100; OR Yearly Membership:  Gold Hooah:  $80; Silver Trooper:  $40; Bronze Raider:  $20.

MSAC Funds Update:  The three funds where you can contribute to support our Cadets and Military Science Department are below.  To contribute see the Online links at the end of the newsletter.  Remember, donations are 100% tax deductible.

-- MSAC Alumni Capstone Fund: Current Amount: $14,838.  This general-purpose fund supports the priorities of the Military Science Department.  This fund is under the direction and control of the Dean of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences with recommendations from the Military Science Department Chair and the MSAC President.  Through the MSAC President, our members have direct recommendation input into using the Capstone Fund. Please consider shifting your donations from the already substantial ROTC Alumni Scholarship account to the Capstone account.  If the scholarship mission increases, we will get back with you, but for now we have reached our scholarship goal.

-- ROTC Alumni Scholarship: Current Principal: $139,208.  This account is controlled by MTSU and influenced by the PMS. This funding amount is amazing, and more than enough to support the ROTC Department's desire to provide scholarships to deserving Cadets.  Since 1999, MSAC has provided 44 Cadets with scholarships totaling $74,950.

-- Alumni General Officer Award: Current Total: $1,368.  These funds, controlled by MTSU and influenced by the PMS, are donated by the 12 currently living Alumni General Officers (total ROTC Alumni Generals is 17).  The funds are specifically directed for the purchase of an Officer/Military Dress Saber for presentation each year to the new MTSU Cadet Battalion Commander.  The MSAC President will reach out to the Generals when funds are required.  

ALL ONLINE GIFTS:  Click the below link to make a gift online for the:  MSAC Capstone Account; ROTC Alumni Scholarship; or the Alumni General Officer Award Fund (General Officers only).  Donations to Military Science Alumni Capstone Fund #91386 offer the greatest flexibility and benefit to the Military Science Department.

Donate Now!

OR

--Mail your donations/gift check, payable to the MTSU Foundation to:  MTSU Foundation, Wood-Stegall Center, P.O. Box 109, Murfreesboro, TN  37132

 MILITARY SCIENCE DEPARTMENT UPDATE:

  • The Alumni General Officer Saber was presented to Cadet Tyson Ramsey on 14 April 2022.
  • The Fall Field Training Exercise (FTX) is 20-23 October 2022 at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
  • The next Commissioning Ceremony is scheduled for 9 December 2022.

MTSU ROTC Alumni Link & Information:

  • MSAC Hall of Fame Nomination or Virginia S. Austin Service Award: If you want to nominate a deserving individual, please use the Nomination form at the ROTC Alumni Link:  http://www.mtsu.edu/arotc1/alumni/index.php
  • Our updated MSAC email address: mtsu.msac@gmail.com is open for information sharing.
  • Keep your Email Up-to-Date:Any changes or updates let Nancy Garner know at nancy.garner@mtsu.edu.  Members on active duty, please email Nancy with your branch, duty status and duty location.   We're working on the mentorship program and our records in general.
  • Blue Raider Battalion's Facebook page at:  https://www.facebook.com/blue.battalion.  We’re still considering a separate Facebook page for the MSAC.
  • MTSU ROTC Twitter:  @MTSUROTC is used by the MSAC for meeting updates and newsletter notifications.
  • KIAs:  If you know of any MTSU Army ROTC alumnus that was killed-in-action, please submit their names by e-mail to Nancy Garner at nancy.garner@mtsu.edu.

Thank you for all your support to the MSAC and the ROTC Cadets and Cadre.

Let’s all remain True Blue!

 

Rickey E. Smith                                                                    Doug Chaffin

MSAC President                                                                  MSAC Vice-President                                            

Senior Executive/Colonel USA (Retired)                         Lieutenant Colonel USA (Retired)

Class ’78                                                                                Class ’78

resmith2239@gmail.com                                                    chaffind@comcast.net