Valley High grad named one of ROTC’s best in nation

Dick Benoit

Thursday, May 29, 2003 | 9:21 a.m.

German Carvallo Jr., Valley High School class of 1999, was one of 250 Army ROTC cadets nationwide selected to receive the 2003 George C. Marshall ROTC Award and attend a national security seminar at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Va.

The Army Cadet Command at Fort Monroe, Va., and the George C. Marshall Foundation sponsor the annual awards program and seminar.

Carvallo, the son of German L. Carvallo of Las Vegas, was presented the award as the most outstanding Army ROTC cadet senior at Virginia State University, Petersburg.

Cadets selected for the award and invited to the seminar are considered the best and brightest in the ROTC program, who will serve as the Army's future leaders.

During the four-day seminar, award winners explore a broad range of national security issues and have round-table discussions on how these issues affect national security.

The award is named in honor of Gen. George C. Marshall, who served in World War II and the postwar era. He served as Army chief of staff and, after his military career, as secretary of both State and Defense. His Marshall Plan outlined a program of economic assistance and recovery for worn-torn Europe.

Giving sailors the 'boot'

Navy recruits in boot camp at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes are now enjoying happier feet, thanks to a new pair of boots developed there, which has changed the standard for basic footwear for the fleet.

The new boots, which recruits began receiving last month, have been the subject of exhaustive tests and extensive research. The new footwear has increased shock absorbency and is more compliant with the movement of the foot and ankle. The alterations were made to reduce stress fractures and sprains of ankles knees and the lower back.

"The boots the recruits had been wearing were not designed or intended for recruits, who march 26 miles a week," said Ron Fry, who is in charge of uniform issue for the recruits. "Those boots were designed for shipboard life.'

Lt. Cmdr. Lanny Boswell, a medical researcher and sports medicine doctor, said the new boots are an exciting addition to the Navy uniform.

"Medically speaking, this is very exciting for all the Navy shipboard standards. This boot is made of standard composite materials blended with biomechanics," Boswell said. "This boot is more orthopedically correct, more compliant with the movement of the foot and ankle. It's one-third lighter, and 60 percent more shock absorbent. This is premium footwear for any sailor."

When the current Navy recruits received their boots and put them on in April, one commented that they were "more comfortable than my tennis shoes."

In brief

Murphy, an intelligence officer, will be assigned to Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas.

She earned a bachelor's degree in 1997 and a master's degree in 2002 from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.