2018 EWU ROTC GAFPB Testing Schedule
18NOV
- 0800: Footmarch Brief
- 0830-1100: Footmarch
- 1200: Awards Ceremony
- 1300: Catered Meal
EWU
German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge Testing Allows Army Captain to Reconnect with Eastern Washington University
This weekend the Eastern Washington University (EWU) ROTC, Fighting Eagles Battalion is hosting the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (GAFPB) testing. Over 150 Cadets, active duty servicemembers, National Guardsmen, and Reservists are competing to earn the GAFPB. Besides being an outstanding training and competitive event, the GAFPB testing has also allowed one Army Captain the opportunity to reconnect with his alma mater. Captain Levi Floeter is a 2008 EWU graduate earned his officer commission through the university’s ROTC program. Captain Floeter branched into the Infantry and has had a successful career that included serving as an Army Ranger. While leading a successful Army career Captain Floeter even found time to publish a book, the “New Army Officer’s Survival Guide: Cadet to Commission Through Command
Captain Floeter is currently assigned to the University of Washington ROTC Kinnear Husky Battalion. This weekend he helped lead a group of University of Washington Cadets to compete in the GAFPB testing at EWU. Captain Floeter is another example of an EWU ROTC graduate doing great things in our Army. Welcome back Captain Floeter!
Go Fighting Eags!
0700- GAFPB Testing Begins
2018 EWU ROTC German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge Testing Schedule
17NOV
- 0700: Welcome Brief and chalk breakdown
- 0730-1700: Swim Test, Basic Fitness Test, and pistol qualification
Testing will be going on all day until all competitors are complete with all events.
What Are the Benefits of Being An Army Nurse Compared to Pursuing A Civilian Nursing Career?
One of our top degree programs in the Eastern Washington University (EWU) ROTC battalion is nursing. Due to the high number of nursing Cadets, the Fighting Eagle Battalion is one of the few ROTC units that commissions Army nurses. While discussing an Army nursing career with prospective students a question that often comes up is what are the benefits or Army nursing compared to pursuing a civilian nursing career?
World War II Army Nurse Corps recruiting poster.
Being an Army nurse or a civilian nurse are both extremely rewarding career paths, but when comparing the benefits, being an Army nurse does have some major advantages. Besides the financial support the ROTC program provides to nursing students, the Army also provides superior pay and benefits when compared to a civilian nursing career. When Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is included an Army nurse generally has high starting pay. You can research the BAH rate for different Army locations at this link. The Army also provides a robust retirement package that features a fixed pension, a 401k like program, and lump sum options when servicemembers become full retirement eligible after 20 years of service. See the below chart for a full comparison of Army and civilian nursing careers.
| Army Nurse | Civilian Nurse | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Pay | $61,255.08 -1/3rd non-taxable! | $69,830.40 -Income fully taxed |
| Pay After 4 years | $100,375.28 -1/3rd non-taxable! | $92,196.00 (average) -Income fully taxed |
| Retirement | Eligible for pension of 40% of base pay at 20 years of service. Pension of ~$50,000 begins immediately upon retirement from military service (based on 2022 data). Government matching up to 5% of contributions from base pay into the Thrift Savings Plan (similar to 401k). Also eligible for Social Security at age 62. | Social Security eligible at 62 or older. Possible hospital 401k plan, but cannot draw benefits until 55 or older and there isn't a guarantee of returns on investments. |
| Pay Raise | Automatic annually until 4 years. Automatic every two years after. No negotiation or actions required. | Determined by hospital |
| Paid Leave | 30 days per year | 14 days per year |
| Paid Sick Leave | Unlimited | Limited |
| Medical/Dental | Free | Possible discounted rate depending on hospital |
| Moving Expenses | Free | At own expense |
| Facilities | Free access to golf course, large gyms, shopping mall without sales tax, commissary (grocery store) with reduced prices, etc. | Facilities paid at own expense |
| Life Insurance | $400,000 term policy for $27 a month | At own expense |
| Job Security | Keep rank and seniority no matter where you move | Seniority could be lost if moving to another hospital |
| Travel | Opportunity to be stationed around the US and internationally | Limited to the US |
Something that can’t be quantified is the feeling of service to the United States and the high level of leadership training Army officers receive. If Army nursing is something that interests you, please review our EWU ROTC nursing webpage for more information about our program.
Go Army Nursing! Go Fighting Eagles!
EWU ROTC Battalion Sponsors German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge Testing
The Eastern 24/7 website just ran a great article about the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (GAFPB) testing going on this weekend, 17-18 November 2018 at Eastern Washington University:
Cadet Sam Coutts briefs Cadets before conducting swim test training at the EWU Pool.On the weekend of Nov. 17-18, service members from locations across the Pacific Northwest will be competing at Eastern Washington University for an award deemed highly sought-after by the United States military.
The German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge is a decoration that can be awarded to soldiers of all ranks, provided they pass a series of rigorous tests meant to challenge physical endurance and military training. [Eastern 24/7]
You can read the whole article at the link, but hosting the GAFPB testing at EWU is very rare opportunity for Cadets and servicemembers alike to be awarded a foreign military badge that they will be authorized to wear on their uniforms. It is expected that 160+, Cadets, active duty personnel, National Guard, and Reservists will participate in the test. For those that past each event, based on their score, they will be awarded a Gold, Silver, or Bronze badge from the German Army Sergeant Major the EWU ROTC battalion is flying out to evaluate the event.
For those interested in watching the event and cheering on the competitors the schedule is below. All the swim events will be in the EWU pool and the athletic events will be in the field house. Strip maps will be available for anyone that wants to drive out to where the pistol qualification is happening. The testing will be going on all day on Saturday. The footmarch on Sunday will be on a course that goes around the university campus. This a great opportunity to cheer on the competitors that morning. It is going to be a great event that I hope friends, family, and alumni of the EWU ROTC Fighting Eagle Battalion take time to come and visit.
2018 EWU ROTC GAFPB Testing Schedule
17NOV
- 0700: Welcome Brief and chalk breakdown
- 0730-1700: Swim Test, Basic Fitness Test, and pistol qualification
18NOV
- 0800: Footmarch Brief
- 0830-1100: Footmarch
- 1200: Awards Ceremony
- 1300: Catered Meal
Grandstaff Library on Joint Base Lewis-McChord Memorializes Former EWU ROTC Cadet
For most Soldiers stationed or visiting Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), they don’t realize that the post library on this expansive military base has ties back to the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) battalion.
The Grandstaff Library on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
The library is named after Medal of Honor Recipient and former EWU ROTC Cadet Bruce A. Grandstaff.
The Entrance to the Grandstaff Library on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Bruce Grandstaff enrolled in what was then Eastern Washington State College in 1952. Back then every male had to enroll into ROTC. Two years later in 1954, Grandstaff decided to enlist into the Army. He spent two years in the Army before returning to Eastern Washington State College to continue his military science studies in 1956.
The inside of the Grandstaff Library.
After getting married in 1958 Grandstaff decided to reenlist in the Army in 1961. He would have a successful Army career and be promoted to Sergeant First Class (SFC). In 1967 he was deployed to Vietnam as a Platoon Sergeant in B Company, 1-8 Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division which was then stationed at Ft. Lewis, WA. SFC Grandstaff’s platoon in May 1967 was participating in Operation Francis Marion near the Cambodian border. The operation was intended to protect the la Drang Valley from attack by the North Vietnamese Army. During the operation SFC Grandstaff’s platoon of 30 personnel became surrounded by an estimated 700 enemy soldiers.
Memorial plaque outside of the Grandstaff Library.
The battle lasted for 5 hours and SFC Grandstaff was wounded in both legs as he rallied his men into a defense, coordinated helicopter strafing runs, and artillery fire against the attacking North Vietnamese troops. In a final act of courage SFC Grandstaff ordered an artillery strike on top of his position. Ultimately it would not be enough as the beleaguered defenders were eventually over run by the sheer size of the attacking enemy. The vast majority of the platoon to include SFC Grandstaff were killed in the final assault by the North Vietnamese Army troops. At the time of his passing SFC Grandstaff had already been recognized with a Silver Star for prior combat actions in Vietnam, but for his heroism along the Cambodian border he was posthumously recognized with the Congressional Medal of Honor as well.
Display inside of the Grandstaff Library with SFC Grandstaff’s Medal of Honor citation.
To this day SFC Grandstaff is the only Spokane born recipient of the nation’s highest honor for combat heroism. He is also the only former EWU ROTC Cadet to ever be recognized with the Congressional Medal of Honor as well.
This Veteran’s Day weekend it is well worth spending a few minutes reading about the heroism of SFC Grandstaff’s by reading the linked chapter from the book “Nine Days in May: The Battles of the 4th Infantry Division on the Cambodian Border“.
