The December drill weekend was packed with meaningful activities, skill-building, and festive fun as we closed out the year.
Fallen Heroes Wreath Laying Ceremony Cadets Soulè, Demes, Castiglioni, Stanford, Moore, Roman, siblings Obioha, and volunteers braved the cold to participate in the Fallen Heroes Wreath Laying event at Fort Sheridan National Cemetery. This solemn event allowed cadets to honor veterans by laying holiday wreaths on their graves, helping youth understand the significance of remembering those who have served and sacrificed for our country.
Culinary Curriculum & Gingerbread House Competition
The culinary curriculum continued on Saturday with a gingerbread house competition. Cadet teams were tasked with creating a plan, designing their houses, and assigning team roles. The rules emphasized the importance of teamwork, creativity, delegation, and time management. Judging criteria included creativity, attention to detail, and structural soundness. Congratulations to the winners - Table 4 (Cadets Gehring, Ruzicka, Swift, and Keyser) for their outstanding creation!
Through this exercise, cadets learned the value of collaboration, adhering to food safety rules, and the art of delivering under a time limit.
Shoe Shining Instruction
Chief Stanford provided instruction on proper shoe shining techniques, allowing cadets to use his buffer to achieve a polished, professional finish—a valuable skill that promotes attention to detail and uniform pride.
Remember Everyone Deployed Cards
Cadets took time to create R.E.D. greeting cards for Cadet Keyser's brother, who is currently stationed in Africa, to share with his fellow Marines. This thoughtful activity helped remind cadets of those who are far from home during the holidays.
A Warm Thank You
A big thank you to Ms. Keyser for her homemade Italian Wedding Soup, which was a popular highlight during chow. The food is always yummy and the special touches she added were festive! We're very thankful for her!
Sunday Recap: PT, Competitions & Holiday FunSunday began with muster and PT at Building 4 gym. While some cadets completed their PRT, others enjoyed a friendly game of volleyball before marching back and changing into their NWUs.
Next up was the Charcuterie Board Competition, where cadets worked in teams assigned by company to plan, design, and name their boards. The rules mirrored the gingerbread competition, requiring teamwork, creativity, and presentation. Congratulations to Cadets Dorfner, Gracias, Keyser, Gehring, and Guarnieri for their winning creation, The 4 Seasons, which showcased an impressive selection of fruit, cured meats, cheeses, crackers, and vegetables. The boards were beautifully displayed and then served for lunch, alongside pizza and Mr. Head's famous Hobo Beans.
During chow, cadets Lacey and Demes were recognized for their efforts representing the division at the Vietnam Veteran Pinning Ceremony, hosted by American Legion Post 771 and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider.
Holiday CheerThe weekend wrapped up with a festive gift exchange game, karaoke, sweet treats, and music. Cadets enjoyed celebrating the season together, marking a fun and memorable close to the year.
Welcome to New Volunteers
We were thrilled to welcome new volunteers Lacey “Goose” Meyer and Vania Veit to our team this weekend. Meyer brings valuable experience from her time in the U.S. Coast Guard, while Veit has served in the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Air Force, and the Wisconsin Air National Guard. Their expertise and dedication are incredible assets to our program, and we are excited to have them onboard to support and mentor our cadets.
Looking Ahead
We look forward to upcoming events and opportunities for growth in the new year. A big “Bravo Zulu” to all cadets and volunteers for their hard work, dedication, and participation this weekend.
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!