Our final day of Pre-O, and what a day it was! The Cadre started off the morning with a 2 mile run in the fog in prepartion for the “Cadre Swim”. Cadre Swim is a time honored tradtion here at Orientation, where on the final day of Pre-O all the Cadre jump off the dock after completing their last run. It was an absolute blast, and everyone had a great time despite the chilly water.

Even though it was only a half day, today was crammed with activities and final preparations for the freshmen- one last big push. The Cadre gathered on the parade field by Company to practice Meet the Cadre, where they’ll introduce themself to their Cadet Candidates. Afterwards, everyone gathered in a single platoon to practice marching on the field for their Cadre Oath on Sunday. The group looked sharp- their days of marching drills have really worked, everyone was in unison and looked crisp and professional. After two run throughs of the Cadre Oath, they moved up into the gym to discuss uniform distribution, and then to Admirals Hall for closing remarks. Each Company met in the ABS for pictures, and were dismissed after lunch were dismissed. Everyone will be returning tomorrow at 2000 to prepare for the start of Orientation!

It’s been an incredible week, and I know that each and every one of the Cadre here is ready for the arrival of the Cadet Candidates. We cant wait to see you on Sunday!

Cadre Oath

Let’s go 7th Co!!!

6th Co is still photogenic during a 2 mile run…

1/C Lydell leads the regimental staff in a cadence

1st BN staff giving their all!

2nd Co on the 2 mile run

A little bit of 2nd Co action..

1st BN gets ready to take the plunge

The Oreintation Assistants and your very own Blogger!

A refreshing morning swim!

Shipmates supporting shipmates…

A budding romance…?

In formation for the Cadre Oath

The 2023 Cadre

1/C Copeland marches the Cadre

Meet the Cadre practice

More Meet the Cadre practice!

6th Co Staff!

KNIVE HANDS !

7th Co!

A little rain never hurt anyone!

The wonderful 1/C Gosselin

1/C Aidonidis getting a little bit silly…

Our favorite garden gnome

These ladies are unbothered by the rain!

Improvised rain gear

Our last full day here at Pre-Orientation, and what a day it’s been! The Cadre had another great day of PT this morning, pushing themselves even harder to be better than they were the day before. After breakfast, the Companies split for the morning to spent the time practicing drill, cadences, and discussing leadership styles with their teams. Then, we met to go over the newest and best uniform items the Cadet Candidates will be receiving this year. The Cadre were all impressed with the quality and usefulness of the new items- the freshmen are in for a treat! After discussing and then finalizing the procedures for inspections with these uniform items, we had an early lunch so the Cadre could get back to change and prepare for the afternoon.

Our Battalions, fully dressed in boiler suits and boots loaded onto the school buses to be transported to Join Base Cape Cod. We had prepared a full ropes/team-building activity course that the Cadre had been looking forward to all week. They were split up into groups of 7 and given instructions on how to complete different courses, but each team had to figure out their unique strengths to work together to complete their goal. Despite the rain, everyone had an incredible time, and these Cadre were able to work together seamlessly as teams, even when paired with cadets from outside their companies. They communicated extremely professionally and efficiently to come up with creative solutions to complete these courses. While this was an important activity to solidify the group’s bonds, it was also fun for everyone! Even as cadets fell into the murky waters or fell off beams, they all had smiles on their faces. It was a great way to finish off this Pre-O program with.

Everyone changed out of their (slightly wet) boiler suits for a cookout dinner and for a Battalion vs Battalion game of kickball. Both Battalions brought their A-game and there were some absolutely fantastic plays out there. 2nd Battalion ultimately won, and had a raucous celebration on the field.

Even though they were done for the night, the Company’s split to get in even more marching practice before the sun went down, and then gathered inside for Company Commander time. Each Company discussed what went well today, but more importantly, what they were looking to improve for tomorrow.

Tomorrow is our last day of Pre-O before we return on Saturday to prepare for the Cadet Candidates arrival. We’ll be practicing everything for Sunday- rehearsing the Cadre Oath, C/C processing, and all other final preparations in the dorms. Every single person here has been giving their all this week, and they couldn’t be any more prepared for the weeks ahead of them.

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1/C Copeland motivating the regiment during PT

Smiling through it all

Our 7th Company Staff!

In this blogger’s unbiased opinon, some of the finest squad leaders anyone could’ve asked for..

2nd Battalion group pic!

2/C Seibert marching his company

Let’s go 5th Co!

Hard at work in the library

1st Battalion represent!

Back to school!

1/C Corolla and 1/C Francavilla ref the kickball match

1/C Strano and 1/C Atkins embrace

1st BN Staff

Kickball!

1st Company Staff

4th Co after completing the hardest course at Joint Base!

A beautiful day for a swim

3rd Co Cadre help each other up a wall

A very precarious balancing act..

What’s so funny, 2/C Dow?

A very motivating shuffle

Helping each other after a fall

Cadre working together to hoist a ladder

The one and only 2/C Verrilli!

1/C Almeida finally gets to live out his dream of being Tarzan

Working together to get over the water

Today, the Cadre had another great day of leadership training at Pre-O. We started the morning with another great PT session, and got ready for todays meetings. LCDR Pinero gave a rousing presentation on How to Inspire as Leaders, and the Cadre contributed with some great questions and discussion points. They learned more important knowledge at a second medical briefing, and then split for lunch. First Battalion met to discuss squad leader development, where LT Jones shared some sea stories and helped to inspire the Cadre as leaders. Afterwards, the Battalions came together for a meeting on Retention.

The companies split up to collect gear for the incoming Cadet Candidates, and start to set up their companies for their arrival. The Cadre moved outside to practice marching and drill. First Battalion sent the Company Staff to different companies to work with their Cadre. Before going to bed, the Companies met to discuss what to improve for tomorrow, and the Battalion Staff came through to complete evaluations. The Cadre are ready for another great day tomorrow, where we’ll be going to Joint Base Cape Cod to do a team building ropes course!

2nd Co Cadre

3/C Sacchetti setting up the football field for PT

4th Co is first to arrive for PT

Lets go 1st Co!

Our wonderful Reggies prepare for a cadence run

3/C Dorney is recognized for his incredible work this week

5/C Co Cadre!

3rd Co Cadre!

Coffee run!

1st Co marching to the dorms

2/C Verrilli leading a marchingcadence

Senior Chief Jones leads a workshop

Cadre listening attentively

3rd Co marching to Admirals Hall

2/C Courteau marching the platoon

Our wonderful senior staff!

Let’s go Reggies!

1/C Ruiz arrives on scene!

Regimental staff discussing important operations…

Marching practice

4th Co Cadre!

Some light tomfoolery…

1/C Charles

5th Company meeting

Not even rain can stop the Cadre here at Pre-Orientation ! We woke up this morning bright and early for PT, and proceeded to get absolutely drenched by the weather. The Battalions split up and completed the PT circuit or went on a cadence run. Despite the conditions, there was a smile on everyone’s face! Most people would never want to wake up at the crack of dawn to do pushups in the rain, but the Cadre look forward to this everyday. The energy at Pre-O right now is contagious. Rather than getting exhausted as the week goes on, these cadets improve themselves and more energetic every single day.

In the morning, everyone attended a meeting on MMA’s Military Customs and Traditions, and discussed why these are important to us. The Battalions split off to practice their drill, not at all hampered by the rain. After lunch, the Cadre attended more meetings on Postitive Reinforcement, Watchstanding, and a Conduct overview.

Dinner tonight was special, as it was the first time all the cadets were back in their Classroom Blacks uniform. Everyone looked sharp with freshly ironed shirts and polished shoes. In the evening, the Cadre practiced public speaking in front of a large audience, with some incredibly rousing performances from our cadets.

Even though everyone got a little soggy today, spirits are high, and the bonds between cadets have been growing strong. You can tell that everyone who’s here truly wants to be here, and it shows. We ended the night with some Company Commander time, where individual companies practiced marching up to patio, mock inspections, and drill.

Tomorrow, Wednesday the 16th, marks the official halfway point for Pre-O! It’s amazing how much everyone has learned in these past few days. We’re all extremely ready for the Cadet Candidates arrival on Sunday, and can’t wait to see what Orientation has in store!

The Cadre giving their all during a rainy morning PT

Everyone having a great time at PT in the rain !

One minute plank at PT

Warm-up stretches

Preparing for the cadence run

2nd Co Cadre having fun

2/C Brennan giving a practice speech

Public speaking practice in Admirals

3rd Co Cadre listening attentively

We love our Reggies !

The Regimental Staff

1/C Strano leading her company

Patio practice

A slightly rainy 1st Co

1/C Boss loving the rain !

The Cadre started this morning bright and early for their first PT test. They were out on the football field and warming up before the sunrise! The battalions each did a calisthenics test and a timed mile run, and everyone was out there giving their all. Everyone was encouraging each other, cheering on their friends and running alongside them. It was a great way to start the morning, and set the mood for the rest of the day!

After breakfast, Rear Admiral McDonald met with the Cadre to set expectations for the week and share some inspiring words. After, the companies split off for more drill and marching practice. All the squad leaders have been rotating through leading cadences and marching the platoon, and they’ve been forming great camaraderie with each other. The Cadre are doing everything that the incoming Cadet Candidates will be asked to do during Orientation, and more. They’ve been going above and beyond to ensure that they’ll be the best possible leaders to the Cadet Candidates who’ll be placed in their care. It’s an outstanding group of people, and each and every one of them is more than ready for the next 3 weeks!

Later, First Battalion attended a meeting on Cadre Development, while Second Battalion met with our amazing staff from the Captain Paul Cuffe Center for Inclusion. The group had some great dialogue on leading across cultures and inclusive excellence, and we participated in some fun teambuilding exercises as well. In the evening, the Battalions reconvened for Title XI Training and a Medical Briefing. Tomorrow may be a little rainy, but these Cadre are ready to put their best foot forward and continue to learn and grow as leaders in preparation for the Cadet Candidates!

First Battalion doing their timed mile run

Warming up with stretches

3/C Blair and Sacchetti preparing for morning PT

5th Company warms up with more streches

7th Company warming up

1/C Almeida provides some encouragement during the run

Cadre motivating each other during PT

Second Battalion using fun exercises to discuss diversity and community

Trust builing activites with Second Battalion

Our Company Staff is out giving their all!

Today, the Cadre and Senior Staff arrived on campus for the first day of Pre-Orientation! Over the next five days, these cadets will train to prepare for the 410 Cadet Candidates that will be placed in their care when they arrive on Sunday. After moving in and getting reunited with friends, everyone gathered in Admirals Hall for opening remarks from the Commandants, Captain Dillion and Commander Deegan. The Cadre were introduced to this year’s Regimental, Battalion, and Company Staff, who have spent countless hours planning for Orientation. Afterwards, the group split into their companies to begin working on marching practice, public speaking, leadership training, and more.

The Cadre ate dinner with their Company Officers, and then had a meeting with their Battalion Staff. Everyone gathered back together for the end of the night and were rewarded with a spectacular sunset. The mood today was electric, and Pre-Orientation is already off to a great start!

Tomorrow we start the morning off with an early PT test, and will also have a meeting with Rear Admiral McDonald. These next few days are going to fly by!

The Cadre practice their marching on the Parade Field

5th Company Senior Staff

The Cadre practice marching in platoons

2nd Battalion meets on the bleachers

6th Company Cadre