St. Mary's University Army ROTC

LEGACY OF SERVICE! The St. Mary’s University Army ROTC “Rattler Battalion” has now reached its 1801 2LT commissioned since 1932! Congratulations to LT Diego Arredondo, TX National Guard, Infantry; LT Rosalinda Bermea, Active Duty, Medical Service Corps - Aero MEDEVAC, Distinguished Military Graduate; LT Izabella Estrada Rodriguez, Active Duty, Medical Service Corps; LT Chloe Ewing, Active-Duty, Medical Service Corps, Distinguished Military Graduate; LT Marques Gayot, Active Duty, Signal Corps, Distinguished Military Graduate; LT Nicolas Holcomb, Active Duty, Signal Corps; LT Nicholas Liveris, Active Duty, Field Artillery; LT William Lopez, Active Duty, Military Police Corps; LT Ryan May, Active Duty, Medical Service Corps, Distinguished Military Graduate; LT Payton Mayfield, Active Duty, Military Police Corp; LT Noe Sanchez, Active Duty, Armor; LT Lianna Ubungen, Active Duty, Medical Service Corps; LT Javier Velez, Active Duty, Logistics; LT Demetri Zoutis, Reserves, Adjutant General Corps. Job well Done LTs! Special Thanks for our Guest Speaker Colonel Julia A. Brennan, 5th BDE ROTC Commander and St. Mary’s University Professor of Military Science, LTC James Nance, who provided their Oath of Office! Please Email [email protected] for scholarship opportunities!

LIVING THE WARRIOR ETHOS! St. Mary’s University Army ROTC sadly announces the departure of three outstanding military leaders from our program. MAJ Nemo served with distinction as an Assistant Professor of Military Science and Executive Officer. With over 20 years of dedicated military service, MAJ Nemo will retire this summer. CPT Montes, after 8 years of honorable service, will also be ETSing from the Army this summer. Additionally, our Recruitment Operations Officer, Mr. Chez Varela, after 23 years of honorable civilian service, bids farewell as he has been nominated to assume ROO duties at the University of North Texas in Denton, TX. The Professor of Military Science, LTC James Nance, along with the St. Mary’s University cadre and cadets, extends sincere gratitude to MAJ Nemo, CPT Montes, and Mr. Varela for their professionalism, leadership, and tactical expertise. Your combined knowledge and experience have been embodied by the cadets and future officers you helped develop. Thank you for your unwavering dedication and support to our team, 5th Brigade, and U.S. Army Cadet Command. We wish MAJ Nemo, CPT Montes, and Mr. Varela the very best in their next chapters and in retirement—good luck and thank you for your service!
Welcome to Our Incoming Cadre Please join us in welcoming: SFC Filkin, Bradley, who will serve as a Military Instructor at the St. Mary’s University campus. SFC Gutierrez, Joseph, who will serve as a Military Instructor at the UIW campus. For contracting opportunities, please email [email protected]. | | | | |

Congratulations to CDT Nicholas Ortiz and CDT Gabriel Melendrez! We are proud to recognize both cadets as recipients of the 2026 Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Alamo Chapter Scholarships, valued at $1,000 each. Their exceptional applications stood out in what was an especially competitive selection year, demonstrating outstanding commitment, leadership, and academic excellence. The MOAA Alamo Chapter provides a wide range of support to the military community, including monthly membership events, an annual picnic, dinner programs, and ongoing engagement with local Junior and Senior ROTC programs. The chapter’s scholarship initiative continues to make a meaningful impact by supporting the educational goals of dependents of active-duty and retired service members. Both cadets were honored today at the MOAA Scholarship Luncheon Ceremony. Well deserved — and well done, Rattlers! If you’re interested in Army ROTC opportunities and contracting pathways, please contact: [email protected].

NATIONAL CHAMPS SINCE 1775! The St. Mary’s University ROTC RUCK Team proudly represented at the 37th Annual Bataan Memorial Death March this past weekend, March 21, at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. This powerful event brings together nearly 6,500 participants to honor and commemorate the brave service members who endured the Bataan Death March or were taken as prisoners of war by Japanese forces in the Philippines during World War II. Under the leadership of CPT Montes, our Rattler Battalion Cadre challenged a team of nine cadets to take on the “Honorary Distance” 15.6 mile course — and they rose to the moment with grit, heart, and determination. Hoorah!

RECRUITING IS A MUST! The Rattler Battalion Cadet’s Recruitment Team was in full force at the 2026 5th Bde JROTC Raider Competition held at the NEISD Urban Confidence Course today! Raider Competitions are athletic competitions held at JROTC programs around the world. Events take place outdoors and usually consist of individual strength test (push-ups, tire-drag, obstacle course, etc), distance team running events, first aid events, and some form of one-man rope bridge construction/crossing. Individual events may vary. St. Mary’s recruitment team provide the JROTC Raider Teams members the Cadet Command National Scholarship literature and a snapshot of Senior ROTC college life on campus! 5th BDE ROTC CSM Gilmer and STMU Professor of Military Science, LTC Nance, were on site to view the event! Job Well Done “Rattlers”! Please Email [email protected] for Contracting opportunities!

The Rattler Battalion Spring Newsletter is here 🐍

Take a look at what St. Mary’s Army ROTC has been working on and what’s ahead this semester. From training and leadership development to key events and milestones. We’re proud to continue building disciplined, capable future Army officers.

Stay connected. Stay informed. Stay ready.

PREPARING FOR TOMORROW’S CHALLENGES TODAY! - The Rattler Battalion Labs are in full swing now! Today’s lab was to CONDUCT A RAID! A Raid is an attack, usually small scale, involving a swift entry into hostile territory to secure information, confuse the enemy, or destroy installations. It usually ends with a planned withdrawal from the objective area upon mission accomplishment. Raids have narrowly defined purposes. They require both detailed intelligence and deliberate planning. Raids may destroy key enemy installations and facilities, capture or free prisoners, or disrupt enemy command and control or other important systems. Job well Done Rattler Battalion! Please Email [email protected] for contracting opportunities!