Jacksonville University NROTC - Odyssey Yearbook (Jacksonville, FL)

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HEATING STAF F OF F ICES Captain Muncie was charged with the responsibility of establishing the first Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps at Jacksonville University in 1971. He I was responsible for seeing that the NROTC was firmly established as a i J division of the University, activities of the unit were coordinated with local Naval facilities, and insuring that all directives from the Chief of Naval Opera- ,; tions were Fully complied with. By the use of his organizational abilities, he smoothly integrated the 5 NROTC unit into the activities of the University by his insistance on full academic credit for the Naval Science courses. His responsibilities included, but were not limited to, the immediate require- ments for an adequate Naval Science curriculum, the procurement of uni- . forms, instituting proper organizational and office procedures, liaison with local Naval and military organizations and commands, and probably the most ' important of all, effective coordination with the officials of the University to properly implement the program. Through his efforts all of these difficult goals were accomplished in a most efficient manner. . Although Captain Muncie is departing, his concern for the Battalion is most E evident. He foresees a real need for an indoor rifle and pistol range on ; campus, an adequate drill field, and a NROTC boat at the crew dock. In I addition, he has set in motion plans for a formal iiDining Ini, for senior midshipment. Beyond the material needs of the battalion, Captain Muncie believes that tradition is not old fashioned. By his efforts it is a living thing which will be enchanced by the young men attempting to earn their place as officers in the U. 8. Navy ,and Marine Corps. In addition to the myraid professional requirements of his position, he was responsible for implementing the Annual Midshipmen Ball which festered a real sense of pride and loyalty in the unit, iniating a 1 unit newspaper and yearbook, and participation in the annual Parade. I With the departure of Captain Muncie, the members of the Battalion may be sure of one important thing, that we have had the extreme good fortune to have started out on the right foot, thanks to the efforts of a real professional officer, gentleman, and .. -. ',-, f mugs; - t;w-.-.nztfat vtswi?!?-'WA9$'9 ' .. leader, Captain Maurice O. Muncie. Here at the NROTC unit Major McKee serv- ed as the Marine Officer Instructor and as an ad- visor to the Marine Op- tions. The Major was concerned not only with the Marines but with the Unit as a whole. He worked at making NROTC J.U. what he considered one of the better units in the na- tion. In the three years he was at the unit the Major was active in areas both inside and out of the unit. He coached the units intermural volleyball team and the rifle and pistols teams. He was also asst. coach of the varsity soccer team and ran the annual uTurkey Trot? Major McKee was in- strumental in the construction of the obstacle course, which any MO. will tell you is something to be reckoned with. The Major was also faithful to the advancement of his own pro- fessional abilities. He came away with a Masters Degree in Teaching. Major McKee left J.U. in July to attend the Naval War College. After graduation from the War College the Major will have another overseas tour of duty next summer. Wherever he may go the Midshipmen at J.U. wish him success and are thankful to have known a really great man. Lt. Robert Leonard came to NROTC Jack- sonville University dur- ing the summer of 1971. In the three years that he has taught at J.U., he has become a respected faculty member and a good friend to many stu- dents both in NROTC and out Lt. Leonard gradua- ted from Georgia Tech in 1966. From there he attended the Navy Flight School at Pensacola emerging as a helicopter pilot. He served with HelicOpter Squadrons 5 and 7, both based at N.A.S. Quansit Point, Rhode Island before coming to Jacksonville and J.U. While at J.U., Lt. Leonard taught both Sophomores and Juniors. In his first year he taught the Seapower Seminar and then he switched to being the Navigation and Operations instructor for the Junior Class. He also served as iiAil Company adviser and the coordinator of the Flight Instruc- tion Program. His classes were conducted in a relaxed atmosphere with the emphasis on learning. Lt. Leonard was always ready to give extra individual instruction whenever it was needed. Lt. Leonard leaves us this summer to go either to a squadron in Jacksonville or a ship in Virginia. Wherever he goes J.U. will miss him and we all wish him well in thefuture. .' ,' Si .1 .5,

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MMM4-.GQH.W wwww-;.4:.mmrz. g.44.4..- . A 7 --.... 4-... . . 4 In an interview this midshipman had with Jacksonville Universityls President, Robert H. Spiro, he remembered a few sea stories, reflected on the experiences and benefits derived from his association with the United States Navy. It was twenty days after Pearl Harbour when Robert H. Spiro, just out of college, enlisted in the United States Navy. After fourteen months as a yeoman Me at the District Intelligence Office, he received a direct commission as an Ensign on 15 March 1943. For the next three months he served at the supply Corpis Naval Supply Depot at Norfolk. From there he was sent to Harvard Business College for the remainder of 1943. It was in December that he reached his first billet, the USS Morris lDD 417l, at Pearl Harbour where he would spend the next 22 months at sea, during which the Japanese would seriously damage his ship. He went off of active duty in November of 45 as a LTjg and while in the reserves he rose to the rank of Lieutennant Commander, promoted to Captain in 1964, the year of his arrival at JU and succeded to Rear Admiral in 1971. His present duties include serving as the Local Representative for the Commandant of the Sixth Naval District. ' Robert H. Spiro has played a major role in establishinga NROTC unit on the campus of Jacksonville University. Just one year after his arrival and in the years that followed, Robert Spiro enlisted the aid of local government and Navy League, wrote letters to congressmen and visited the Secretary of the Navy, because he was convinced that JUis nearness to three major naval installations made the university an excellent host for an NROTC Unit. His timeless effort was rewarded when in 1971 a NROTC Unit was established. He feels that with its establishment it has brought to JU outstanding men and women with a desire to serve. When asked about the benefits gained from his time in the Navy he replied that from the time as an, enlisted man, his rise through the ranks as an officer, his time at Harvard, and his duties at sea has been a :valuable learning experience of managing men and supplies, and accomplishing a mission under war time stress. Experiences and an outlook that is useful in his role as a University President. He urges young men entering the Navy today to face it objectively, with an open mind and to learn all one can.

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$94 ; 3? g; l g. 3 t 3 igh- -. ,w; in. t ' 77W .x'x-NN V 1KN CDR Griffith Winthrop O PHOTO AVAI LABLE YNC Carlton Landry Administrative Assistant LT. Ronald Norman ,5 1Vz1l'37?'Iz 77 1171;, t . -. Jy 5- 17 1 7X11- J yK ,1 .. ,714 . -' ,1. , 1 71y - ,, r QMC Rex Reed Assistant Navigation Instructor LT Steve Bozeman GN1SGT. Herbert Schmick sst. Marine Off. Instr.