Vanderbilt University Naval ROTC - Galleon Yearbook (Nashville, TN)

Page 11 text:

1- , 1 T HILDERS LT Dave Childers came to Vanderbilt NROTC this year as on of three new officers after having been at sea for three eventful years. At the unit he is both the third class ad- visor and American Military History instructor. Apart from this, he advises the band and the publication staff who produce the Galleon and Tradewinds. Prior to beginning his career in the Navy as a surface warfare officer LT Dave Childers atf tended University of Notre Dame and graduated from NROTC in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in history. After SWOS, he served aboard the USS Fanning QFF 10761. During his tour from 1979 to 1982, he was electronics material officer, electronic warfare officer, and communications officer. LT Childers says,'fStudents are the only consumers who want less for their money. Ile stresses that the midshipmen should get the most out of the naval science classes now because this knowledge is indispensable for the future. LT Childers says that while he is impressed with the academics here, he feels that the upper-clam midshipmen should get more involved with the freshmen. 'WTSQ - A 2. -s ' welt! G x ...,s,,..a, , - , ' W Am ., . 1 7 X R. dis P fa . y -1 sk, . k4,F,,r . Xi if Qt f .:fq:Qff '4f,,.5..,.,.,,' .. .., an . . .. ,, -s ' LT STITES LT Ron Stites along with LT Childers and CAPT Claucr is one of the new officers to ar- rive at Vanderbilt NROTC Unit in 1982. He is in charge of recruiting at the unit, fourth class advisor and instructor of Freshman Naval Orientation. Aside from these duties, he coaches the bwketball team and is involved with the softball team. LT Stites graduated in 1977 from Olivet College in Michigan with a bachelor's degree in biology Upon graduation, he went to Aviation CCS and became a naval flight oflicer He then served with the attack squadron VA-35 aboard the USS Nimitz QCVN 68l, from 1979 to 1982. There he was a bombardierfnavigator in an A-6. As freshman advisor, LT Stites stresses per- formance in academics. He feels that a good per- formance in school is the key to a midshipman's future. A midshipman's academic success fre- quently exhibits his own desire to become a naval officer.

Page 10 text:

CDR PETERSON CDR Richard S. Peterson was executive officer of Vanderbilt NROTC from fall of 1979 until summer of 1983. A native of Michigan, CDR Peterson was graduated from the Illin.ois Institute of Technology with a bachelors degree in psychology and a minor in physics. Among several of his former billets are Combat Information Officer aboard USS O'Bannon QDD 450i in Pearl Harbor, Operations Officer aboard USS William C. Favre QDD 763l, and Executive Officer of a PBR fpatrol river boatl in Vietnam. After these at-sea billets, he attended the Naval Postgraduate School where he received a masters degree in oceanography. Before coming to Vanderbilt, he served as XO aboard USS Fairfax County. While at the unit, CDR Peterson taught Navigation and Ships Operation and acted as advisor to the juniors He earned the respect of x N the midshipmen for his professional knowledget I t I about the Navy He is now stationed in Brazil where he is an advisor to the Brazilian Navy. 1 l M- '- - --- CAPT Clauer graduated from Cedarville College in 1972, after previously serving as an en- listed in the Marine Corps. He received his com- mission through OCS, and is an infantry officer by MOS. CAPT Clauer has served as platoon corn- mander, company xo, company commander, and most recently, as logistics officer for lst Battalion, 2nd Marines, formerly commanded by Colonel Phillips. CAPT Clauer has also served as Plans and Protocol Officer at Quanticoy Virginia, and as staff secretary for the corn- manding general. CAPT Clauer is the Battali0D Advisor and Operations Officer for the unit. He also sponsors the Semper Fidelis society. H9 describes his duties here as achallengillg and Cer' tainly different from any previous aSSigDment n He believes that NROTC provides some of the best officers in the fleet because the Program al' lows a four year period of training and evalua- tion, Permitting the unit to develop each mid' Shipman to his full potential.

Page 12 text:

X ,llf,,z?l5ll'ER Vanderbilt for about a year and a half. Having served in the Marine Corps for 17 years, he was selected for promotion to First Sergeant in December of 1982. During his duty at Vanderbilt NROTC, Gunny Warner sponsored numerous activities, including the riflefpistol team, drill team, color guard, orienteering, and softball. He desribed his duty here as enjoyable, not too demanding , and he wished his successor much luck. Rumor has it that Gunny's promotion had something to do with a recent Semper Fi initia SKCS HUFF Everyone at VUNROTC is familiar with Senior Chief Huff. He is responsible for the pur- chasing and issuing of all uniform items, main- tenance of purchase records, disbursing of sub- sistence checks as will as being responsible for paying for tuition and books. Prior to his present tour of duty a Vandy, which began in May of 1981, Senior Chief Hull' served on board an LST and the USS ROARK, as fast frigate home ported on the West Coast. Senior Chief Huff was promoted from Chief to Senior Chief on 16 June 83. tion, however, he assures us that this is not the N C C R K case. He does admit nevertheless that Semper Fi initiations will not be the same without mef' Chief Crocker is an integral part of the administration at VUNROTC. He serves as al- sistant in the ships office. As administraf tive assistant, Chief Crocker is responsible for keeping personell records up to date ke9P' ing track of mail and for the completion of the routine paperwork which is necessary to keep the unit functioning properly. Enlisting in 1963, Chief Croker served in the Supreme Allied Command Atlantic Theatre, later traili- ferring to the USS WOODROW WILSON QSSBN 6241 He later obtained an associates degree in business administration at Northern Villinia' Community College. He came to VUNR-OTC in 1980 after completing his duty aboard the USS ALEXANDER HAMILTON QSSBN 6171