Jump Start – EWU Army ROTC

From 15-18 September 2020, the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) battalion conducted both our Jump Start program for new Cadets and Basic Camp for Cadets looking to contract this year. In a normal year Basic Camp Cadets are sent to Ft. Knox, Kentucky to conduct training. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced Cadets to conduct this training with their local ROTC battalion. The ongoing pandemic has caused many adjustments to training delivery and the recent forest fires that brought unhealthy smoke levels to the Spokane region caused further challenges. The smoke caused a number of training events that were planned to be conducted outside to be shifted to virtual instruction.

Smoke obscures the sunrise over Roos Field on the EWU campus.

Despite the smoke the Cadets were able to move into the dorms, complete inprocessing into ROTC, and be issued their gear. On Friday the smoke levels improved to where the Cadets conducted Drill and Ceremony and Land Navigation training outdoors. They conducted all this training in a modified environment due to COVID-19 with all Cadets wearing masks and maintaining social distancing standards.

Cadet Geringer holds the Fighting Eagles Battalion guide-on during first formation.

Drill and ceremony has played a critical part in military history throughout the world. Drill and ceremony teaches precision and obedience to orders which helps prepare troops for battle. For the most part the drill procedures are very similar to the tactical maneuvers used on the battlefield. It allows commanders to move their forces from different points in an orderly fashion and maneuver forces as a situation develops.

Cadets prepare to conduct drill and ceremony training.

Our EWU Army ROTC Cadets continue a long line of drill and ceremony training for the United States Army that dates back to the Revolutionary War. During the war General George Washington, through the assistance of Benjamin Franklin who was the American Ambassador to France, was able to secure the aid of a Prussian officer named Baron Friedrich von Steuben to drill the troops of the Continental Army.

Von Steuben arrived at Valley Forge on February, 23 1778 and found the Continental Army half-starved and ill equipped for battle. To correct the conditions he witnessed he immediately began a rigorous training regimen of drill and ceremony to improve the military bearing of the troops. It had an immediate impact on discipline, professionalism, and confidence of the troops to respond to commands during battle that helped lead to the ultimate defeat of the British military during the war.

After receiving their initial training the Cadets were then tested with giving and receiving commands while navigating through an obstacle course. The Cadets were next blindfolded and given commands to march through another obstacle course. This built the Cadets confidence to accurately give and receive commands from each other.

Cadet Jonathan Thiessen (left) gives commands to Cadet Caleb Geringer (right) to navigate him through an obstacle course.

Cadet Zackary Becker navigates through an obstacle course.

Cadet Nik Chapple is blindfolded and executed commands he received to march through an obstacle course.

During the Jump Start and Basic Camp training the Cadets also conducted Land Navigation training. This training focused on teaching the Cadets the following skills:

Tracking present location
Determining Distance
Sense of direction
How to read a topographic map
Terrain and map association
Spatial skills
Planning safe, practical routes

Cadet Christopher Millward briefs the trainees on the Land Navigation course.

The practical hands on training was conducted at the Cheney Waterworks property near the EWU campus. There the Cadets were issued grid points that they had to accurately plot on a topographic map and then plot their course to find their assigned points. The Cadets then used their new compass, terrain analysis, and pace count skills to find the points in the surrounding forest.

Jump Start Cadets, Nicholas Beier (left) and Mykenzie Belliotti find their first land navigation point in ROTC.

Basic Camp Cadet, Corina Lindsey finds a point on the land navigation course.

At each point there is clicker that the Cadets use to mark their score sheet. After the Cadets found their points they then returned to the start point to have their points graded by the evaluator to ensure they found the correct points.

Cadet Gervacio Camacho evaluates the points that the trainees turn in after completing the land navigation course.

All the Cadets did a great job completing the training despite the various real world circumstances they had to adjust to. Being flexible and adaptable is part of being an effective leader and all of our Cadets learned that important lesson during the week long training.

Go ROTC! Go Fighting Eags!

Note: More photos from Jump Start and Basic Camp training can be viewed on our Flickr page.

From 17-20 September 2019, the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) executed its 7th annual Jump Start program. Jump Start is a four day event designed to properly welcome and integrate new Cadets into Eastern’s ROTC program a week before the academic year starts on September 25th.

Day 1

The first thing the new Cadets did for Jump Start was move into the dorms. Other Cadets were on hand to help parents and the new Cadets move into their rooms. A major benefit of Jump Start was that the new MS-1 Cadets were able to move a few days prior to the rest of the student body. After moving into the dorms, the Cadets then conducted administrative inprocessing into the ROTC unit followed by a pizza dinner provided by the Military Science Department.

Day 2

After a successful first day, the second day of Jump Start began with the Cadets conducting team building exercises and then being issued their gear. In the afternoon the Cadets were given classes in map reading, uniform standards, and military customs and courtesies. All the classes were taught by MS II-IV Cadets in the ROTC program.

MS-1 Cadets conduct team building exercises.

MS-1 Cadets are issued their initial uniforms and gear.

Cadet Michael Beier (right) teaches new MS-1 Cadets how to read a map and plot grid points.

Day 3

On the third day of Jump Start the Cadets woke early and executed their very first physical training (PT) session. The new Cadets were taught by the more experienced Cadets on how to properly conduct military exercises. They then went on a short run around the EWU campus. After PT the Cadets then prepped to deploy to the field to conduct more initial training.

New MS-1 Cadets conduct their first physical training session in foggy and cold conditions.

EWU Army ROTC Class of 2023 takes a picture in front the university's "pillars" after conducting their first physical training session. — EWU Army ROTC Class of 2023 takes a picture in front the university’s “pillars” after conducting their first physical training session.

By lunch time all of the Cadets were out at the Camp Seven Mile training area which is part of Riverside State Park north of Spokane. For lunch the Cadets got to experience their first ever Meal Ready to Eat (MRE). Following lunch the Cadets were taught individual movement techniques, land navigation, and how to throw grenades.

MS-1 Cadets practice basic individual movement techniques.

MS-1 Cadets learn how to properly low crawl.

MS-1 Cadet, Janu Lee practices how to throw a grenade. — MS-1 Cadets take turns practicing how to throw a grenade.

The Cadets were also able to tour a UH-72 Lakota helicopter flown in by Soldiers from the Washington State Army National Guard. The National Guard officers provided an overview brief about the helicopter, allowed Cadets to get inside of it, and answered questions about being an officer in the National Guard.

MS-1 Cadets get view a UH-72 Lakota helicopter. — MS-1 Cadets tour a UH-72 Lakota helicopter.

We also had a couple of special guests come out to Camp Seven Mile to see the Cadets train, the Associate Dean of the College of Social Sciences, Dr. Vernon Loke and the EWU videographer, Mr. Eric Galey.

Dr. Vernon Loke and the EWU videographer, Mr. Eric Galey picture with Washington Army National Guard pilots CW3 Heathman and LTC Leonard.

Day 4

On the final day of Jump Start the Cadet woke up early in the morning at Camp Seven Mile and ate another great MRE meal for breakfast. After breakfast they then departed to conduct their first practical land navigation exercise. Partnered with other Cadets, plotted grid points and then walked and found the points in the surrounding forest. After completing the land navigation training the Cadets then deployed back to the EWU campus where they then participated in a luncheon with their parents and the ROTC Cadre.

Despite some dreary weather, Jump Start 2019 was still a great success. All the new MS-1 Cadets were able inprocess, move into their dorms, become familiarized with Army physical training, and conduct basic Soldier skills training. We wish all of our new EWU Army ROTC Cadets a great upcoming school year as they start down the path towards becoming Army officers.

Go Fighting Eags!

EWU Army ROTC Completes Annual Jump Start Training Despite Real World Challenges

New Eastern Washington University ROTC Cadets Start School Year Strong at Jump Start 2019

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4