Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Museum Establishes New Award at the 66th Annual ROTC Awards Ceremony

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - June 8, 2013 - PRLog -- (Santa Barbara, CA)  Under the beautiful clear blue skies there was a sea of army green as the 66th Annual Awards Ceremony for the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) kicked off at the University of California Santa Barbara Mosher Alumni House on Friday, May 17.  The 100 chairs were filled with 33 cadets, some family and community members along with many veterans in full dress uniforms – all there to applaud and support the cadets.

Welcoming the attendees was UCSB Assistant Professor of Military Sciences, Sacco Nazloomian, who was standing in for ROTC commander Lt Col George Davis, and presented a total of 29 awards. Awards acknowledged the student’s character, military and scholastic studies, leadership qualities, and an exceptional aptitude for military service along with ideals noteworthy of an Army Officer.

Special Guest at the ceremony was Capt. Alex Newsom, a former Gaucho who currently works as a Special Forces Officer who cleaves to a high degree of modesty about his accomplishments.  Asst. Professor Nazloomian explained, “The Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Museum Foundation “Alex Newsom Outstanding Cadet Award” goes to a senior who epitomizes leadership, military bearing, physical fitness and the Army values. This cadet holds the highest moral character and demonstrates the ability to lead under extreme stress.  The award is named for USCB Surfrider alum of 2005 Cpt Alex Newsom who was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry while serving as the 3rd PL Bravo Troop, 1st Squadron 91st Calvary (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade during operations on July 27, 2007 in Afghanistan.  Then as a 1st Lt, his calm and focused actions saved many lives and turned the tide of battle and against a numerically superior enemy.  Cpt Newsom’s heroic actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service.”  He continued, “This is the first year we present this award. The Pierre Claeyssens Foundation generously offered to retroactively award it to Cadet Raelyn Guzman from last year and to Cadet Eric Chu this year.”

When asked to address the Army cadets about the importance of the award Newsom said, "It’s not about me. It’s about the awardees and it’s about the cadets, as always. This award does not entitle you to anything. Instead, you incur a debt… a debt of service from everyday, henceforth.  Work as hard as you can every single day, in service of your fellow soldiers, your peers, and in support of your chain of command and your army overall. Work harder than the day before, until your feet bleed, until your fingers are down to their nubs, until you haven't slept in days, and that’s when you know what that service is going to feel like. Because that’s how I feel when I get an award like this and help present it with the support of the Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Museum Foundation.   Because if you keep serving at this capacity, that’s when you have deserved it."

John Blankenship, Co-Founder of the Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Museum and Library Foundation said, “Alex is such an outstanding example of the ROTC program.  He graduated at the head of his program in 2005 and went on to earn a Silver Star for bravery.  I consider him a real American hero.”  The Silver Star is our nation’s third highest medal of valor.

2012 ROTC graduate, 2nd Lt Raelyn Guzman received the first Alex Newsom Leadership Award last year – which comes with a certificate, a $500 scholarship and their name engraved on the Award that will be housed at the ROTC Surfrider headquarters on campus.  When asked how she felt about returning to UCSB to get the award, Guzman said, “I’m really excited to be back here. I graduated last June, and upon graduating I went straight to training only a week later. (After training she became a Platoon Leader). Being back here today and seeing all the cadets and their progress through out the year really makes me look back and remember all the memories I’ve had here.”

This year’s recipient Eric Chu was recognized for his leadership in the class and the field.   “Well I’m relatively new to the quadrant, so I really owe all of my success to my fellow troop members. I’m really thankful for them and I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for them. I’m very thankful and honored, but I owe it to them.”

Blankenship added, “We (the board of directors) wanted to recognize these kids for their exceptional accomplishments before they go on to the service.  Alex Newsom has set an incredible example of the leadership the ROTC program instills.”  The UCSB Surfrider Battalion is #1 in standing in California and holds sixth place in the nation.

Master Sgt & Sr. Military Instructor, Todd Manes ended the ceremony by saying, “Today we can celebrate the accomplishments the cadets have had this year. And also to inspire them to continue to be as outstanding as they are. They work hard everyday. We ask a lot of them. They go above and beyond what any normal student has to go through. We don’t get the chance to thank them enough. Today we need to say thank you… thank you to the cadets for everything you do for us and for working so hard to make this such a great program.”  A solid round of applause followed his closing remarks.