Alumni Newsletter

Alumni Newsletter September 2023

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 11, 2023. 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). Catch up with friends and learn about current ROTC activities before the game.

MTSU hosts "Salute to Veterans and Armed Services Day" on Saturday, November 11, 2023. According to records, this is the first time the MTSU annual Salute to Veterans Football Game falls on Veterans Day. Additionally, MTSU retains the NCAA's record for longest consecutive years hosting a football game to honor those who served our Nation.

Veterans and their families attend pre-game picnic and the game for free. Parking on campus is also free that day, but Greenland Drive Parking Lot is reserved due to construction around the stadium.

1000 hrs. Annual Military Science Alumni Meeting (ROTC Building)

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

1200 hrs. Pregame Picnic (lawn in front of Tom Jackson Building)

1300 hrs. Dr. Joe Nunley Award (Tom Jackson Building)

1430 hrs. Kick-off Middle Tennessee vs. Florida International University

Meet at gate nearest Murphy Center (Gate #2) for on-the-field recognition (Military Science Alumni end of first quarter and all Veterans during halftime). Remember to dress for the outdoor weather.

Many thanks to Ron Bailey (MSAC member commissioned 1986) for his continued generous donations to provide each newly commissioned 2LT with a $100 AAFES gift card for purchasing uniforms. Great to have an Alumnus making a difference supporting our newest Army officers.

We have received a well-deserved nomination for the Virginia S. Austin Service Award and will take the vote at our Annual Meeting. Dr. Derek Frisby, USMC Veteran, has volunteered his time teaching the Military History class for Army and Air Force students at MTSU for the past 20 years. Dr. Frisby does not receive compensation for teaching ROTC Cadets Military History but does so to contribute to their professional development.

No nomination(s) for the MSAC Hall of Fame have been submitted. Nomination forms for the MSAC Hall of Fame and Virginia S. Austin Service Award are available at the links provided below.

The MTSU Alumni Association selected two MSAC members for 2023-24 awards. The Association's highest honor, MTSU Distinguished Alumni Award, went to retired Lieutenant General William "Bill" Phillips (Class of 1976). Additionally, this year's True Blue Citation of Distinction for Military Service recipient was retired Colonel Rickey E. Smith.

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: $15,238. 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: $142,609. 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 50 Cadets with scholarships totaling $86,530.

-- 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!

--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 Fall Field Training Exercise (FTX) is 3-5 November 2023 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
The next Commissioning Ceremony is scheduled for 15 December 2023 for two new 2LTs.

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