Leadership Lab – EWU Army ROTC

EWU Army ROTC Cadets on the Defensive During Leadership Lab

03/05/2021 by jstafford3

On March 4, 2021 the Cadets from the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program conducted it’s final Leadership Lab of the Winter Quarter before departing the Winter Field Training Exercise (FTX) this weekend. The Leadership Lab was held on the Cheney Waterworks property near the EWU campus. After drawing equipment and conducting pre-combat checks the Cadets moved out to their training locations that were spread out around the property.

Like our prior labs, the MS-III Class, which is comprised of Junior level students, led the squads during the training because they are preparing to attend Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky within the next 3-4 months. Providing as realistic training as possible to prepare them for camp is extremely important since passing Advanced Camp is a mandatory requirement for all Cadets who want to commission as an officer in the U.S. Army after graduation.

MS-III Cadet, Patrick Coleman takes a defensive position during Leadership Lab training.

MS-III Cadet, Olivia Roble holds a defensive position.

The focus for this lab was to train the Cadets on how to conduct a defense. While the Cadets were in their patrol base the squad leaders had to put their squad members out into security positions to defend it. While the Cadets were pulling security other Cadets who role played the Opposing Force (OPFOR) element launched an attack on the patrol base.

MS-IV Cadet, Austin Bristow role played as the OPFOR during the Leadership Lab.

After the OPFOR elements were neutralized the Cadets then ended the exercise by conducting an After Action Report (AAR) that was facilitated by MS-IV Cadet and Cadre facilitators to bring out lessons learned from the training. Overall it was a great lab that prepared the Cadets to excel during the upcoming weekend Winter FTX.

Eagle Strong!

Note: You can see and download more pictures from the training from our EWU Army ROTC Flickr page.

Fighting Eagles Cadets Learn Ambush Skills at Leadership Lab

03/05/2021 by jstafford3

On February 25, 2021 the Cadets from the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program conducted it’s 8th Leadership Lab of the Winter Quarter at the Cheney Waterworks property. After drawing equipment and conducting pre-combat checks the Cadets moved out to conduct their training.

MS-III Cadet, Thomas Luce served as a squad leader during the training.

During this lab the Cadets learned how to conduct a squad ambush. An ambush is a surprise attack from a concealed position on a moving or temporarily halted target. Ambushes are categorized as hasty or deliberate. A hasty ambush is when the unit makes visual contact with an enemy and has time to establish an ambush without being detected. A deliberate ambush is conducted at a predetermined location against an enemy element that meets the commander’s engagement criteria.

MS-II Cadet, Cierra Neumann positions herself to conduct an ambush.

The different squads each had their own training lanes where they had to setup each type of ambush against other Cadets that rolled played an opposing force (OPFOR) enemy. Once the OPFOR walked into the squad’s kill zone the squad leader which initiate the signal to begin the ambush. After the initial firefight the squad then had to assault through the objective, secure the area, and search for any intelligence information to report over the radio to their higher headquarters. The Cadets once again did a great job conducting the lab and learning the basics for another tactical skill that will help them succeed at Advanced Camp.

Eagle Strong!

Note: More pictures from the Leadership Lab training can be viewed on our EWU Army ROTC Flickr page.

Snow Can’t Stop EWU Army ROTC Cadets from Being on the Attack

02/24/2021 by jstafford3

On February 18, 2021 the Cadets from the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program conducted its Squad Attack Leadership Lab at the Cheney Waterworks property.

The MS-III Class, which is comprised of Junior level students, led the squads during the training because they are preparing to attend Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky within the next 5-6 months. Providing as realistic training as possible to prepare them for camp is extremely important since passing Advanced Camp is a mandatory requirement for all Cadets who want to commission as an officer in the U.S. Army after graduation.

MS-III Cadet, Everett Kuhnel directs members of his unit during Squad Attack training.

For the Squad Attack training each squad leader knew the exact location of the objective where the Opposing Force (OPFOR) role players would be located. Once the Squad Leader finished their planning and rehearsals, they would lead their squad near the OPFOR’s location and set up their support by fire and assaulting element. Once the Squad Leader initiated the fight, the support by fire element would fire on the enemy while the assaulting element would go through the objective to clear it. After securing the objective the Cadets would then search the area and the OPFOR for any intelligence information before leaving the area and reporting what they found.

Cadet Kaitlynn Taylor rushes through the snow during Squad Attack training.

The snow and cold from the Eastern Washington winter added additional challenge to the Leadership Lab training, but our Cadets showed how Eagle Strong they are by staying motivated and conducting some excellent training.

Go Fighting Eags!

Note: You can see more pictures from this Leadership Lab on our EWU Army ROTC Flickr Page.

Fighting Eagles Cadets Learn Basics of Army Reconnaissance

02/24/202102/17/2021 by jstafford3

On February 11, 2021 the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) Cadets traveled to the Cheney Waterworks property to conduct the sixth lab of the Winter quarter.

MS-III Cadet Oliva Roble is geared up and ready to conduct lab.

The purpose of this lab was to have the Cadets demonstrate their ability to conduct reconnaissance operations to standard in order to prepare them for the upcoming winter Field Training Exercise (FTX). In order to conduct reconnaissance of each objective the MS-III squad leader had to use their previously learned land navigation skills to travel to each objective.

MS-III Cadet Everett Kuhnel uses his compass to get an azimuth towards the objective he needs to recon.

As the squad leader moved his element towards the objective he/she had to set up a proper Objective Rally Point (ORP) and then conduct a leader’s recon. During the recon the squad leader brings different personnel with them depending on the mission. The remaining personnel remain at the ORP and maintain security until the leader returns. Once back in the ORP the squad leader then had to radio back the information they observed during the reconnaissance mission. The MS-III Cadets were then graded on their ability to conduct these skills based on the standards in the Ranger Handbook.

MS-III Cadet Jonathan Thiessen (center-right) directs his personnel within the ORP.

The MS-III Class, which is comprised of Junior level students, led the squads during the reconnaissance training because they are preparing to attend Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky within the next 6-7 months. Providing as realistic training as possible to prepare them for camp is extremely important since passing Advanced Camp is a mandatory requirement for all Cadets who want to commission as an officer in the U.S. Army after graduation. Great job once again by all of our Cadets for executing a great Leadership Lab.

Eagle Strong!

Note: You can see more pictures from the training below and on our EWU Army ROTC Flickr page.

MS-1 Cadet Mykenzie Belliotti participates in Leadership Lab training.

MS-III Cadet Nelson Hergert reviews his notes during Leadership Lab training.

MS-II Cadet Olivia Richied pulls security during Leadership Lab training.

MS-1 Cadet Joshua Naggenda conducts reconnaissance training at weekly Leadership Lab.

Fighting Eagles Cadets Get Into Action During Leadership Lab

02/08/2021 by jstafford3

On the 4th of February 2021, the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Fighting Eagles Battalion conducted training on Actions On Contact (AOC) and Linear Danger Area (LDA) crossings at the Cheney Waterworks property near the EWU campus. The Cadets began the training by drawing equipment and holding accountability formation.

Cadets draw equipment before leadership lab.

During the training the Cadets used movement formations such as the squad file, squad line and squad column fire team wedge to move through the wooded terrain. They also used the movement techniques traveling, traveling overwatch and bounding overwatch which are utilized in different situations depending on time restrictions, maneuverability, and if enemy contact is likely or not. It is ultimately up to the squad leader to determine which is used. During movement the cadets were then engaged by an enemy opposing force to get them to practice their react to contact drills.

Cadets receive brief before conducting training.

Cadet Taylor takes cover after reacting to contact from an enemy opposing force.

LDA’s come up when doing large movements. A few examples of these are power line areas, or even large grassy fields where cover and concealment is limited. As leaders in the army, Cadets are required to know how to manage these areas without putting soldiers’ lives in harms way.

Cadet Burnside talks on the radio with his squad before crossing a linear danger area.

All of the skills the Cadets trained on are important to master to prepare them for ROTC Advanced Camp held each summer at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. Advanced Camp is expected to occur this summer and our Cadets will be ready to excel. Eagle Strong!

Note: You can see and download more pictures from the leadership lab from our EWU Army ROTC Flickr page.

EWU Army ROTC Cadets Conduct Formations and Order of Movement Training

02/05/2021 by jstafford3

For the January 28, 2021 Leadership Lab the Fighting Eagles Cadets conducted squad level Formations and Order Of Movement (FOOM) training. The training was conducted on the Cheney Waterworks property a short drive from Eastern Washington University. The forested property at the Waterworks gave the Cadets enough space to practice their basic soldier skills during the training

Cadets stand in formation as they wait to begin the leadership lab at the Cheney Waterworks property.

To start the lab, the Cadets received demonstrations on squad level movement formations. The Cadets were then given time to practice these techniques with their squad during the lab. During the lab, several MS-III (junior) Cadets had the opportunity to rotate through leadership as platoon leader (PL) and platoon sergeant (PSG) to prepare themselves for their upcoming Cadet Summer Training (CST) and Advanced Camp at Ft. Knox, KY.

MS-III Cadet, Everett Kuhnel talks over the radio to other squad members.

During the training, MS-III leadership was able to communicate with their squads over tactical radios and using hand and arm signals. The wooded terrain gave the Cadets a good replication of the conditions they will experience at Ft. Knox during this summer’s Advanced Camp training. Depending on the different terrain the MS-III Cadets had to learn to maneuver their squads into different formations.

Nik Chapple moves with his squad through the wooded terrain at the Cheney Waterworks property.

Mykenzie Belliotti takes notes during leadership lab training.

The Cadets trained for a total of two hours on Formations and Orders of Movement training before completion of the lab. It was another good training event planned and executed by our MS-IV Cadets. Great job by all our Cadets. Eagle Strong!

Note: More pictures from the Leadership Lab can viewed and downloaded on our EWU Army ROTC Flickr page.