Friends, family members, alumni, and supporters of Duke Army ROTC: Thank you for your continued support and interest in our program! The 2009-2010 academic year is off to an exciting start for the Cadets of the Blue Devil Eagle Battalion. In August, we welcomed in the largest class of Army ROTC freshmen in the history of the program. Each of the new Cadets brings unique talents and perspecives to the Battalion, and we expect great things of them as they grow under the mentorship of our upperclassmen. Our senior class performed with distinction at the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) this summer and has the reins firmly in hand this semester. Their responsibilities over the next two semesters will prepare them to successfully lead their own platoons after commissioning. Over the summer we also had several Cadets complete special training, to include one Air Assault graudate, two Airborne graduates, and three AWG graduates. During the fall semester our Ranger Challenge team trained hard and displayed exceptional heart throughout the competition, placing fourth in the small schools division. This young team promises to mature into a force to be reckoned with over the next couple of Ranger Challenge seasons. In October we also hosted Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki (a 1976 graduate of Duke University) as part of a memorial ceremony honoring Duke alumni who have fallen in the line of duty. The Cadre welcomed MAJ Shane Finison and SGT Robert Wieczorek to the team over the summer; their contributions have enhanced our training tremendously. MSG Scott Pelletier and SFC Stephen Spivey are both preparing to depart Duke later this school year as they retire; we thank them for their dedication and enthusiasm. LTC Mark Tribus, MAJ Megan Mangan, and CPT Noah Hanners continue to provide continuity for the program. On our civilian staff, Ms. Madeline Keels joined us as a full time staff member on the NCCU campus and Ms. Nancy Bateman has semi-retired int a part time position on the Duke campus. Ms. Thelma Keith continues to keep all of our Cadet records and actions on track; our supply tech, Ms. Linda Polson, maintains the accountability of our equipment. We wish to thank all of you for your tremendous support of this program. Your generosity continues to provide valuable resources for the training and development of tomorrow's junior officers, preparing them for the challenges that lie ahead. We look forward to the continued growth of our program and remain focused on providing the Army the best commissioned officers every year.

Warm regards,

LTC Tribus