Platoon Talk: Recent Episodes
Maverick Battalion
In this special podcast series, cadets and cadre from Minnesota State University - Mankato's ROTC Program will discuss, reflect and explain their experiences throughout their years at college and in ROTC. Whether it's expertise, physical training, Summer training or leadership, this is where you will find the answers to your questions about ROTC. Parents, find out what your son or daughter is learning and doing here at MNSU. Students, get to know your future battle buddies and cadre before signing up! Each episode will be uploaded every Tuesday throughout the Fall Semester of 2021. Go Mavs!*This podcast does not reflect the United States Army or ROTC Cadet Command opinions, message or beliefs. Everything discussed is on a cadet level experience.
*Nothing discussed in this Episode reflects the opinions, beliefs or message from the United States Army or Army ROTC Cadet Command. Everything discussed is cadet-level and is for insight from student's experiences in the program and to highlight the leadership and successes of Maverick Battalion cadets.
This week, CDT Roloff sat down with MS2 CDT Peter Voight to share his experiences from the recent Spring FTX training that Maverick Battalion partook with several other Minnesota Schools. Not only was it a great training experience for the new cadet but a chance to learn about himself as a future Army Officer!
This podcast episode was also the last episode for myself, CDT Roloff as a host. Thank you for everyone's support and viewings throughout the short time Platoon Talk has been public. It has truly been a rewarding experience, and I have great confidence in CDT Boyd to take Platoon Talk into it's second year of highlighting Maverick Battalion experiences. Until next time...
*Nothing discussed in this Episode reflects the opinions, beliefs or message from the United States Army or Army ROTC Cadet Command. Everything discussed is cadet-level and is for insight from student's experiences in the program and to highlight the leadership and successes of Maverick Battalion cadets.
This week, CDT Boyd and CDT Roloff sat down with Season 2's first female guest, MSI CDT Samantha Rist! CDT Rist shares her family story in the military and how that family influence has driven her to where she finds herself now - a Maverick Cadet! Listen now to hear her aspirations, inspirations and plans as a future MS2.
*Nothing discussed in this Episode reflects the opinions, beliefs or message from the United States Army or Army ROTC Cadet Command. Everything discussed is cadet-level and is for insight from student's experiences in the program and to highlight the leadership and successes of Maverick Battalion cadets.
Like any program, team, school, etc., there is almost always someone who knows the ins and outs of the participants and students. This, indeed, is the truth for Maverick Battalion! In this episode, CDT Boyd and CDT Roloff talk with Randy Herman, the recruiter/cadre member that is there for anything a cadet/potential cadet would need, including their families.
*Nothing discussed in this Episode reflects the opinions, beliefs or message from the United States Army or Army ROTC Cadet Command. Everything discussed is cadet-level and is for insight from student's experiences in the program and to highlight the leadership and successes of Maverick Battalion cadets.
This week, CDT Boyd takes the hot seat as he talks with CDT Roloff about his ROTC story and how he sees it going in the future. This is a special episode since we are able to learn about one of the co-host's life and experience like we were able to in Season 1 with CDT Roloff!
*Nothing discussed in this Episode reflects the opinions, beliefs or message from the United States Army or Army ROTC Cadet Command. Everything discussed is cadet-level and is for insight from student's experiences in the program and to highlight the leadership and successes of Maverick Battalion cadets.
In this episode, find out what kind of extracurricular activities ROTC could provide for cadets at Minnesota State University - Mankato!
New MSII cadets Josh Collins and Steven Kaptzan guest speak in this episode to not only give their experience a highlight but to let everyone know how special these special teams are such as KU Buddy Challenge, Norwegian Team, and more. Listen now to find out what those teams can provide!
Have you ever heard of a satellite school? Whether yes or no, learning more about them not only could help someone looking for a specific college environment, but it promotes those schools who may be apart of an ROTC program at a bigger school.
This is the case for Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, only fifteen minutes away from MNSU. They are one of the three schools that makes up Maverick Battalion, and is highlighted by representative CDT Alex Lee in this episode. Listen now to learn more about Lee and how attending GAC has shaped his college experience, not to mention being apart of Maverick Battalion!
*Nothing discussed in this Episode reflects the opinions, beliefs or message from the United States Army or Army ROTC Cadet Command. Everything discussed is cadet-level and is for insight from student's experiences in the program.
It's a new season with the same theme! MNSU's Maverick Battalion welcomes back listeners of Platoon Talk with special guests, CDT Spencer Intress and CDT Hans Helberg to give their experiences from Airborne School and Air Assault School this past Summer.
Listen now to get some insight on the fun schools cadets could learn from and graduate!
*Nothing discussed in this Episode reflects the opinions, beliefs or message from the United States Army or Army ROTC Cadet Command. Everything discussed is cadet-level and is for insight from student's experiences in the program.
You might have wondered who you've been listening to consistently in every episode. This time, I (CDT Roloff) go behind the mic as a guest speaker while CDT Boyd, one of Maverick Battalion's MS3 cadets, talks with my dad and me to get a perspective from an ROTC parent.
Parents, whether obvious or not, are impacted and benefit from ROTC just as much as their kids do. Listen here to find out what your experience in ROTC can mean to a mom, dad, or loved one.
*Due to unforeseen complications, Episode 12 with CDT Jones can not be posted. Platoon Talk, Series 2, will be available for listening January of 2022!
*Nothing discussed in this Episode reflects the opinions, beliefs or message from the United States Army or Army ROTC Cadet Command. Everything discussed is cadet-level and is for insight from student's experiences in the program.
It may not be known by many that Maverick Battalion is not just students from Minnesota State University - Mankato, but is made up of three schools in the surrounding Mankato area. Ever wonder why Platoon Talk's logo has a red-headed viking on the left side?
MSIII CDT Erlandson guest-speaks on this episode as Bethany Lutheran College's representative, giving insight into her experience so far at BLC and how being apart of an ROTC program that combines three schools impacts her, not to mention what BLC can do for others as they look for the school that is right for them.
*Nothing discussed in this Episode reflects the opinions, beliefs or message from the United States Army or Army ROTC Cadet Command. Everything discussed is cadet-level and is for insight from student's experiences in the program.
College is the place where fresh new adults can figure out their true passions and interests, especially when it comes to what they'll do after graduation. Every school has its own well-known programs, and MNSU's Aviation program is one of them.
Meet CDT Klepinger in this week's episode, one of Maverick Battalion's MSIII cadets and aviation major at MNSU, and you can learn how desire, passion and drive in obtaining goals and dreams can come true with ROTC and MNSU!
*Nothing discussed in this Episode reflects the opinions, beliefs or message from the United States Army or Army ROTC Cadet Command. Everything discussed is cadet-level and is for insight from student's experiences in the program.
This week, we get back to talking with cadets from Maverick Battalion about what MNSU ROTC can and does provide. This episode our first MS2 guest, CDT Deyle, explains all the benefits he has found in volunteering for ROTC, whether as simple as bringing equipment for morning PT or as fun as ensuring safety for local Boy Scout events! Listen now to hear CDT Deyle's experience and what volunteering can give to you.
*Nothing discussed in this Episode reflects the opinions, beliefs or message from the United States Army or Army ROTC Cadet Command. Everything discussed is cadet-level and is for insight from student's experiences in the program.
As the series continues, the chance of including others outside of Maverick Battalion becomes realistic, and nowadays circumstances have made the possibility to have cadets from other Brigades be guests all too real with Zoom! If ROTC can give students one thing, it would be the connections we make in all our experiences, positive and negative.
Meet CDT Manning, one of my personal battle buddies from this Summer at Cadet Summer Training in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Not only are we able to relate from the memories we share from Garrison and rucks, but the similarities and differences our schools and brigades provide. Listen now to Episode 7 for CDT Manning's advice, laughs and future goals as we get ready to commission and leave CST in our memories!
*Nothing discussed in this Episode reflects the opinions, beliefs or message from the United States Army or Army ROTC Cadet Command. Everything discussed is cadet-level and is for insight from student's experiences in the program.
In this episode, one of our female cadets opens up about the journey she took to find which school was best for her and, ultimately, her future career. This journey can look different for everyone, but it is what we all go through at some point in our life. It can bring confusion, change and an understanding of what your true passion is.
CDT Fritz, in this episode, enlightens us what that journey looked like for her and how ROTC could be the perfect vehicle for you to get to the end of your journey to find what you truly want to do in life.
*Nothing discussed in this Episode reflects the opinions, beliefs or message from the United States Army or Army ROTC Cadet Command. Everything discussed is cadet-level and is for insight from student's experiences in the program.
For weeks now, we've talked with cadets and lieutenants about the aspects of ROTC and the benefits Maverick Battalion has for MNSU students. This week we sat down with CDT Lamberson and CDT Jensen, two of our newest MS1's that have already found the best things about ROTC and are excited for their future in the program.
CDT Lamberson talked with us about her experience at ROTC and what has been the driving factor for becoming an Officer, while CDT Jensen was able to enlighten us about being a Med student and what it means to her to be a potential Officer in kinesiology.
*Nothing discussed in this Episode reflects the opinions, beliefs or message from the United States Army or Army ROTC Cadet Command. Everything discussed is cadet-level and is for insight from student's experiences in the program.
Last week, CDT Fuinfinger enlightened us with how a strong, military family has pushed him to where he is today in his college and ROTC careers. Family really does grow together.
This week, CDT Justin Marcy takes a different approach to what family is to him...ROTC Maverick Battalion. Being 2nd Platoon's Advisor may come with stressors and late nights creating quizzes, but CDT Marcy see's his platoon as bigger than just a college ROTC platoon, it's the part of the program that keeps the bond between cadets alive. (Both 1st and 2nd Platoon are equally valued and appreciated in Maverick Battalion.)
*Nothing discussed in this Episode reflects the opinions, beliefs or message from the United States Army or Army ROTC Cadet Command. Everything discussed is cadet-level and is for insight from student's experiences in the program.
We've talked about the definition of ROTC and what is waiting for students beyond graduation and commissioning. CDT Fuinffinger, although new to our program can show another side to what ROTC can give.
This week, focusing on someone with additional experience before joining MNSU's ROTC will open up how family and his experience has shaped how he wants to been seen as a leader, along with what he is looking forward to for ROTC and college here in Mankato, MN.
*Nothing discussed in this Episode reflects the opinions, beliefs or message from the United States Army or Army ROTC Cadet Command. Everything discussed is cadet-level and is for insight from student's experiences in the program.
Last week, we discussed the technical side of the ROTC program and what it can do for students. This week, we ask the question, "what about after graduation and commissioning?"
Graduation can be a mix of emotions for students, especially graduating from college. With commissioning as a second lieutenant, those emotions can be doubled. Who would be better to give his take on what lies ahead for our cadets than someone who just commissioned in May!
This week's guest speaker is 2LT Nash, one of the cadets who graduated this May of 2021. Learn about what's beyond graduation and commissioning and his experience with ROTC.
*Nothing discussed in this Episode reflects the opinions, beliefs or message from the United States Army or Army ROTC Cadet Command. Everything discussed is cadet-level and is for insight from student's experiences in the program.
Everyone seems to either know someone who is in the military, has a family member serving or are serving themselves. But not everyone knows about the officer training available to them right out of high school - ROTC. This first episode is to answer your questions about the program, even some questions you may not realize you have...
These week's guest speaker is CDT Findlay, a Senior at Minnesota State University - Mankato with a clear understanding of the program and its benefits for students.