JRN 422 - The Picture Story
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Photo Story 1: O’Captain my Captain: Cadet Cugliari leads the charge
Whether donning his fatigues, camouflage and bright orange, or workout clothes, Massimo (Mo) Cugliari starts most days before the sun peaks over the horizon.
A third-year cadet with the Central Michigan University ROTC program, Cugliari serves as the Chippewa Battalion’s captain for the cadet Ranger Challenge. He stepped into the role after being nominated by fourth year cadets.
“It wasn't something that I really chased,” Cugliari said. “I really chased just being a better member of the Ranger team, just trying to be the best I could be.”
Cugliari grew up in a family of outdoorsmen, something he said greatly impacted how he was considered for the role. When he’s not in training, he finds himself searching for the solitude of the wilderness. He often goes hunting for a variety of game during all of Michigan’s hunting seasons.
As captain, Cugliari is responsible for organizing and leading routine training sessions for other members of the squad. He intentionally designs each session to target a specific skill or Ranger Challenge obstacle.
Whether the cadets are running drills, simulating missions or getting an extra workout in, Cugliari can always be found offering guidance and support, even when he’s not explicitly the one in charge for the day.
“It means a lot to me to have that responsibility,” he said. “I do my best to make sure that I'm going to cadets who I know have more information than me because I want to make sure that one, I get all the help that I need to be the best leader for them, and then it's really just doing the best that you can to work with the team and make sure that they have everything else.”
Cugliari’s leadership is also greatly influenced by his faith. He and his girlfriend, Jenna Velky, are in the process of converting to Catholicism.
He said his relationship with Christ shapes the way he approaches leading the cadets. As he transitions to this new faith, he said he hopes that his faith gains a larger presence in the way he leads.
“I kind of try and do it from like a moral or character standpoint,” Cugliari explained. “And that's actually something I've been trying to work on is trying to still have those morals and all that kind of shifted over more towards faith to guide me through decisions.”
As his time at CMU nears its end, Cugliari said he hopes to continue his military leadership in the National Guard upon graduation. But in the meantime, he’ll continue to prepare his fellow cadets for the challenge, which takes place in November.
Once the date passes, he’ll jump right back on the horse to start the training process for the next year’s challenge.
Massimo (Mo) Cugliari gazes ahead while holding a plank during a session of Central Michigan University's ROTC Ranger Challenge training, held outside of Finch Fieldhouse, in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. As the captain, Cugliari plans the sessions to include physical, mental, and team based challenges for his fellow cadets. Photo by Cristin Coppess
Massimo (Mo) Cugliari draws a tactical plan in the wet ground while participating in a simulated mission in the woods beside West Point Village apartments in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. Cugliari made a point of ensuring his squad members were fully informed of all mission changes despite not being the assigned leader. "I noticed that there was a gap that needed to be filled in leadership," Cugliari said. "And I knew that maybe either others didn't see it or they just didn't know how to fill in that spot. So I kind of took charge in making sure that all the guys understood what was happening." Photo by Cristin Coppess
Massimo (Mo) Cugliari sprints on an indoor track, leading a pack of cadets in the Central Michigan University ROTC program during a Ranger Challenge training session held in the Student Activity Center on the campus of Central Michigan University, on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. Cugliari pushes himself to train harder and longer in order to set an example for his team. Photo by Cristin Coppess
Massimo (Mo) Cugliari, gazes up into the treetops searching for squirels while out hunting at the Vestaburg State Game Area in Richland Township, Michigan, on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. Cugliari 's experience as an outdoorsman helped to give him practical skills that would later help him become the Ranger Challenge team captain. Photo by Cristin Coppess
Massimo (Mo) Cugliari strains as he holds onto a pull-up bar beside Cadet Fowler during a session of Central Michigan University's ROTC Ranger Challenge training, held outside of Finch Fieldhouse, in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. Cugliari had already completed a set of 30 pull-ups, but hopped back on the bar several times to encourage his teammate who had fallen behind. Photo by Cristin Coppess
Massimo (Mo) Cugliari perches at the front of a classroom during a pre-"mission" briefing for a group of Central Michigan University ROTC cadets in Finch Fieldhouse, on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. The cadets use this time to become familiar with military strategies they deploy while conducting their lab. Photo by Cristin Coppess
Massimo (Mo) Cugliari braces his arm against a fellow Central Michigan University ROTC cadet during a Ranger Challenge training session held in the Student Activity Center on the campus of Central Michigan University, on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. Cugliari creates a comprehensive plan for each of the squad's trainings, designed to improve specific skills and overall muscle strength. Photo by Cristin Coppess
Massimo (Mo) Cugliari and his girlfrend Jenna Velky ruminate together during a catholic adoration session held at St. Mary's Catholic University Parish, on the campus of Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. ROTC, and leading the squad is "constantly on my mind or something that I'm praying about," Cugliari said. "It's like, how can I be a better leader and kind of taking, I guess, taking those thoughts to God and then taking all the lessons I've learned from the church to the cadets and the cadre and how I want to use them as well." Photo by Cristin Coppess
Reflection
This first photo story was definitely a challenge for me. I felt very outside of my comfort zone, which was great but also a tough adjustment.
To start with the positives, I felt like I was able to develop a strong relationship with my subject. I was able to get up close and personal with him and the rest of the cadets without pulling attention or getting in the way of what they were doing. I also think I was put in situations where I was challenged compositionally. That’s especially true in terms of navigating lowlight scenes, where I had to try new techniques and take risks to make a good photo. I feel like I was able to develop my eye for moments and composition as well.
In terms of areas of growth, I think the biggest thing I struggled with was actual storytelling. I feel like a had a good subject, but I picked a through-line that didn’t have an easily perceptible beginning, middle and end. Looking back I thought that my background as a reporter would make that easy, but it’s definitely not as cut and dry as some hard news stories turn out to be. Going forward, I want to try and find stories with greater tension. That will also enable me to challenge myself as a photographer and as a storyteller. Overall though, I think this was a good first step in the right direction.
First set of singles
Second set of singles
