Contracting day 2011
Cadet Andrew Nelden of Felts Mills, N.Y. was one of eight Army ROTC cadets from Clarkson’s Golden Knight Battalion to sign his contract and take his oath of enlistment on the 26th of August. This contracting ceremony is an annual event that signifies a commitment by the cadet to pursue an Army Commission, and the Army’s commitment to train the future officer and provide financial benefits. What was special about Cadet Nelden’s oath is that it was administered by his Father, Lieutenant Colonel Jeffery R. Nelden over Skype from Kanadhar, Afghanistan. His father is the Regional Command South Provost Marshal and Chief, Afghan National Police Development Officer. Attending the ceremony stateside were Andrew’s Mother, Jennifer, and his Grandparents Cynthia and Douglas Goodhue. Video of Cadet Nelden’s Oath can be found here http://on.fb.me/o5dwPd.
Other Cadets contracting and taking their oath that day were four year scholarship winners Jon Sheckler of Phelps, N.Y., Kyle Chapman of Palmyra, N.Y., Jacob Hewitt of Durham, N.H., and Garret Michalek of Mayfield, N.Y. Three year Scholarship winner’s Matthew Brosseau of St Albans, V.T., and Tanner Jones of Fort Drum, N.Y., were sworn in along with Matthew Coryea of Bedford, N.H., and Jacob O’Brien of Watertown, N.Y., who joined as non scholarship Cadets in their junior year.
LDAC rollup 2011
Here is the Clarkson University Army ROTC LDAC roll up for 2011. The last 5 of our cadets will graduate this Friday (the 5th of August).
The Golden Knight Battalion sent 23 MS IIIs to camp this summer. All 23 of them completed all the training and graduated.
All 23 cadets passed their PT test on the first try. The PT average was a 267 and two cadets (Wilsey and Zanghi) scored over 300 points on their test.
The initial Land Nav average was a 77. Land Nav appeared to be a little harder this year, and there were a number of first time no gos.
4 Cadets (Wilsey, OConnor, Nevin, and Austin) met the standards for Recondo. This is an award that will garner them ½ a point on their OML.
Overall a fine performance by a solid group of cadets who are all still on track to commission next Spring. Now the real work of preparing the next class for LDAC begins.
We are only a short ways into the Summer, but already good things are happening for the GKB. All of our school slots were front loaded, which means we have already had 4 cadets graduate from Airborne school (Cadets Austin, Strait, Olszewski, and Macci), and one cadet earn his Air Assault wings (Cadet Hallam).
Captain McCarthy is already at LDAC for his duty, 
From the GKB team captain, Cadet David Pecka, who unfortunately was not able to make the trip...
Congrats to the GKB Army Ten Miler team. 22nd out of 59 teams with some great finishes: Charles Rugg-1:07 followed by Jen Zanghi-1:11. The entire team finished within 12 minutes of each other for a great gap time. Cris Coveleski, Tim Nevin, Russ Austin, David Voorhees, and Erin Lynn McTarnaghan, all finishing 3-7 on the team respectively. Congratulations to all of you.
for full results see
The Washington Monthly annual college rankings are out and Clarkson's ROTC programs have been ranked number 2 in the nation in percentage of student participating in ROTC. A measure of service this ranking exemplifies the support of Clarkson University, and the commitment of the student/cadets to serve and lead. Rising from a number 5 ranking two years ago, and a number 3 ranking last year this trend is something the Golden Knight Battalion, Detachment 536 and the Clarkson community can be truly proud of.
Two members of the Golden Knight Battalion recently became Airborne qualified. CDT Erin McTarnaghan of Geneseo, NY graduated from Airborne School in Fort Benning Georgia on May 28, 2010. McTarnaghan is Biomolecular Science and Chemistry double major at Clarkson University. Two weeks later CDT Jenna Portelli of Albany, NY received her jump wings on June 12, 2010. Portelli is a Chemical Engineering Major at Clarkson University. 
Cadet Geoffrey Vantine attended the winter phase of the Mountain Warfare School during Clarkson's spring break. In attendece during the graduation ceremony was Major General Bartell, commander of Cadet Command. Mountain Warfare School is a 14 day training course which exposes soldiers to the knowledge and skills required to lead small units/teams over technically difficult, hazardous or exposed (Class 4 and 5) mountainous terrain. The course is taught in Jerico Vermont. 
There are only twelve days left until the Golden Knight Battalion's annual Dining Out. For a second year, the Army vs. AF Hockey Game will precede Dining Out at SUNY Potsdam's Maxcy Hall Arena from 1330 to 1630. The Army Hockey Team that Coach Joel Diagastino has assembled looks to be in top shape and has been supplemented with seasoned players thanks to the recruiting efforts of MAJ Scott Toth. In order to keep the Golden Knight Battalion in the race for "The Boot", the Army Hockey Team will need to clinch a win, after the soccer team lost in a penalty shootout. We will be sure to post results after the 26th of February. As always, you can also follow us on the Golden Knight Battalion Facebook Page.
Clarkson University Army ROTC battalion cadets were commissioned into the U.S. Army at the annual spring commissioning on May 9. This year 10 Clarkson students were commissioned into the Army, and six students who will commission in the near future were recognized.