Reserve Officer Training Corps – Page 11

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

09/22/2019 by jstafford3

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!

Army to Change Branching Model for ROTC Cadets Commissioning in 2021

09/13/2019 by jstafford3

The ultimate goal of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is to train Cadets to become commissioned officers in 1 of the 17 branches in the U.S. Army they can compete for. Being selected into one of the branches is the culmination of an assessment process that begins from the very first day a Cadet enters the ROTC program. The Army’s accessions process ranks all Cadets across the nation with a score that is based off of factors such as their GPA, physical fitness test score, Advanced Camp performance, volunteer work, Color Guard participation, Ranger Challenge team, etc. All the scores from these factors are added up to create a national Order of Merit List (OML). The higher the score a Cadet has, the more likely they will be to receive the branch of their choice. After this year the branching model that ROTC Cadets have become accustomed to will change:

EWU Army ROTC Cadets 2018 attend their 2018 Branching Ceremony.

The members of the Class of 2020 will receive their branches in November, but the process of assigning them will be different than ever before.

The U.S. Military Academy is serving as phase one of implementation for the Army’s new Market Model branching system, which will roll out to ROTC programs throughout the country next year. For the first time, commandants of each of the 17 branches will have not only a voice in the process, but an actual vote in which cadets receive their branch.

Under the old system, cadets ranked their branches one through 17, or one through 15 for female cadets who didn’t opt into infantry and armor. They were then assigned their branches based almost entirely on their ranking in the Order of Merit List.

The commandants of the branches will now have the opportunity to rank the cadets as most preferred, preferred and least preferred. The rankings will be based on the cadets’ branching resumes, which includes their test scores, transcripts, physical fitness scores, a personal statement and more, as well as interviews the branches will be conducting with interested cadets for the first time. [Army.mil]

The whole article can be read at the link and is also printed out and posted at Cadet Hall on our Branching Board. In the new system the Order of Merit List is still going to be very important, but the interviews is going to add a more human element to the process to ensure each branch is getting the type of talent they are looking for. Any Cadets with questions about the new branching system should contact their class instructor for more information.

“Fighting Eagles” Battalion Army ROTC Cadet Graduates from Air Assault School

09/12/2019 by jstafford3

The Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program is proud to announce that one of its Cadets, Valentino Olmstead graduated from the Sabalauski Air Assault School at Fort Campbell, Kentucky this week. Air Assault School is a 10-day course designed to prepare Soldiers for insertion, evacuation, and pathfinder missions that call for the use of helicopters.

EWU Army ROTC Cadet Valentino Olmstead

The school has three phases: during the first phase Cadet Olmstead learned helicopter safety techniques, aero-medical evacuation skills, pathfinder operations, and combat assault operations. During the second phase he learned to conduct helicopter sling load operations. He trained to rig equipment loads of 1,000 to 8,000 pounds to the underbelly of a helicopter. During the third phase Cadet Olmstead trained on master rappelling techniques. During the phase he successfully completed two rappels from a 34-foot tower and two rappels from a UH-60 Blackhawk, hovering at 70-90 feet. After completing the 10-days of training, the final test that Cadet Olmstead had to pass was to complete a 12-mile ruck march in full combat gear in less than 3 hours to graduate and receive the coveted Air Assault Badge.

Air Assault Badge

Any student enrolled in Eastern can sign up for an ROTC class to explore military service with no obligation to join the Army. For those that find that military service is something they want to pursue they can choose to contract in ROTC. Attending advanced military training like Cadet Olmstead experienced at Air Assault School is one of the benefits of contracting into the EWU Army ROTC program. For anyone interested in learning more about Army ROTC contracting options and scholarship benefits please click the below links:

Finally Congratulations to Cadet Olmstead on the prestigious accomplishment of completing Air Assault School. Well done!

Go ROTC! Go Fighting Eags!

Cadet Olmstead at the Sabalauski Air Assault School at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky.

Army ROTC Supports Eastern Washington University’s 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb

09/11/2019 by jstafford3

Today the Eastern Washington University community commemorated the 18th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on New York City and the Pentagon by hosting a 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. First responders that day had to run up the stairwells in the World Trade Center buildings to rescue people before the buildings collapsed.

Participants of the Eastern Washington University 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.

To replicate the 104 floors of the World Trade Center, participants did 10 laps up and down the 11 floors of Dressler Hall. Running up the stairwell at Dressler Hall gave all the run participants a small taste of what the first responders experienced that day.

Dressler Hall on the Eastern Washington University campus.

Participants for today’s run included university students, local police officers, firemen, ROTC Cadets and Cadre, and National Guard personnel. The local firemen that participated in the stair climb did it wearing approximately 75 pounds of gear while the policemen wore their body armor. Below are pictures from the event.

EWU ROTC Cadet Everett Kuhnel

EWU ROTC Cadet Ethan Smart

Local firefighters receive a hand from other participants as they complete their last lap wearing full gear.

An absolutely beautiful morning could be seen over the Eastern Washington University campus from the top of Dressler Hall.

Dressler Hall casts an early morning shadow over the “Inferno” at Roos Field.

Big thank you to EWU Police Department and Officer Greg Karlis for organizing such a great event for the campus and the surrounding community to remember the fallen first responders from 9/11. It is planned for the Stair Climb to become an annual commemoration event on campus and hopefully next year the participation will grow even further in size. Finally thank you to all our first responders on campus and in the surrounding community. The bravery, competence, and professionalism shown every day by our first responders is what ensures that our community remains such a safe place to live in.

Eastern Washington University ROTC Color Guard and Cannon Crew Help Support Home Opening Football Game

09/07/2019 by jstafford3

Cadets from the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program supported the home opening EWU football game today at Roos Field. The Eastern football team was hosting the Lindenwood University Lions from St. Louis. Before the game, Cadets that compose the Color Guard unit presented the national, state, and university colors in front of a packed Roos Field crowd. The national anthem was a little bit extra special this game as it was sung in the Salish language by a local Native-American tribe member.

EWU Army ROTC Color Guard (from left): Kaylie Watters, Michael Beier, Adam Burnside, Sarah Polello, & Melinda Leen

During the game the EWU Army ROTC Cannon Crew had an extremely busy first half firing our iconic pack howitzer after every Eastern touchdown. Our historic pack howitzer first entered service during World War II with the 10th Mountain Division where it saw action against enemy forces during division operations in Italy.

EWU Army ROTC cannon crew in action.

By the beginning of the second quarter Eastern jumped out to a 31-0 lead over Lindenwood. The Lions would battle back to narrow the lead to 34-17 at halftime, but the Eagles would hold on in the second half to win by a score of 59-31. The 8 touchdowns scored by Eastern gave our Canon Crew plenty of practice in preparation for upcoming football games.

Cadet Amayia Roberts fires the EWU ROTC howitzer after a home team touchdown.

Cadet Michael Beier fires the EWU ROTC cannon.

The Color Guard and Cannon Crew teams will next be in action in support of the football team on September 28th when Eastern will be home against North Dakota. We look forward to seeing more of our fans and alumni at the next home game.

Go ROTC! Go Fighting Eags!

Eastern Washington University ROTC Nursing Cadets Featured on Army Website

09/06/2019 by jstafford3

A couple of our Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Cadets were featured this week on the official Army website. Cadets Sarah Mullen and Josiah Bryan were featured in an article about their nursing internships this summer:

EWU ROTC Cadet Sarah Mullen during her internship at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Summers during college usually invoke images of beaches, seeing old friends, or perhaps even working a summer job. As members of Eastern Washington University’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and Nursing program, summers are much different, much more challenging, and much more rewarding.

Cadets Sarah Mullen and Josiah Bryan successfully completed the U.S. Army’s Nurse Summer Training Program (NSTP) at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the William Beaumont Army Medical Center. NSTP is a competitive internship program where Cadets train with Army Nurse Corps Officers in Military Medical Centers, giving them work experience unlike any other, and usually their first exposure of working in a military medical facility. These experiences serve as an introduction to military healthcare, practices, organizational structures, and other nuanced cultural aspects not typically seen in civilian hospitals. [Army.mil]

You can read the rest at the link, but nursing is currently our top degree program within EWU ROTC. For anyone looking for more information about our Army nursing program I highly recommend clicking the link below:

Finally, thank you to our EWU ROTC Assistant Professor of Military Science, Captain Colton Crawford for writing the article and the Cadet Command Public Affairs Office for selecting it for publication.