ROTC

For Two Years in A Row, EWU Army ROTC Recognized with Top Instructor Award

05/21/2020 by jstafford3 Leave a Comment

The Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), “Fighting Eagles” battalion is pleased to announce that for the second year in a row one of our faculty members has been recognized with a U.S. Army Cadet Command Instructor of the Year Award. Major (MAJ) Nicholas Carbaugh was recognized as the 2020 Officer Instructor of the Year out of all 274 ROTC battalion across the country.

As MAJ Carbaugh advanced through the different levels of the award process he had to submit multiple videos of himself instructing his students as well as letters of recommendation. A board at Cadet Command headquarters at Fort Knox, Kentucky review all the submissions from across the United States that made it to the final round and selected MAJ Carbaugh as the top instructor.

MAJ Carbaugh is a finance graduate from Virginia Tech who serves in the Field Artillery branch. He has been instructing at EWU for nearly two years. This year he has served as the lead instructor for our third year Cadets to prepare them to attend Advanced Camp training. For the past two years our Cadets have had well above average Advanced Camp scores assisted by MAJ Carbaugh’s instruction.

MAJ Carbaugh also represents the Department of Military Science as its representative on the Academic Senate. As a senator he is responsible for helping to formulate university policy and take part in the development of recommendations to be acted on by the Board of Trustees. In the local community he was elected as the Treasurer for the Montessori School Board where he is responsible for advising on how the school spends its budget. MAJ Carbaugh is clearly not only an outstanding instructor, but an important part of the university, and the community. Congratulations to MAJ Carbaugh for his well deserved recognition as the 2020 U.S. Army Cadet Command Officer Instructor of the Year.

MAJ Carbaugh driving our historic Jeep while conducting Cannon Crew duties at an EWU home football game.

MAJ Carbaugh’s award follows the Non-Commissioned Officer Instructor of the Year Award given to then Sergeant First Class (SFC) Jason Hennig last year. EWU Army ROTC is only program in the nation that has won a total of three national Cadet Command awards for excellence the past two years. Last year our Human Resources Administrator, Ms. Linda Moody won the award for the top Cadet Command HRA as well.

For anyone wanting to be part of our award winning ROTC program, it is still possible to sign up. ROTC is the one way to explore military service with no obligation to join. Any enrolled or incoming EWU student can sign up for a military science class. Please contact Ms. Linda Moody at (509) 359-6104 or by email at lmoody1@ewu.edu to determine which military science class is best for you.

Eagle Strong! Go Fighting Eags!

2020 General Society for the War of 1812 Award Winner

05/18/2020 by jstafford3 Leave a Comment

The General Society for the War of 1812 recognized one MS-II Cadet this year with their award for excellence. The General Society for the War of 1812 is a charitable organization of descendants of American veterans of the War of 1812. The General Society was founded on January 9, 1854, at the Congress Hall in Philadelphia by Joel B. Sutherland.

The Eastern Washington University Army ROTC cadet selected for their annual award was Olivia Roble who is a nursing major who has maintained an above 3.5 GPA, has been very active in Color Guard, Cannon Crew, and other ROTC activities, and completed all requirements to contract this year and activate her ROTC scholarship. She is an extremely dedicated Cadet who is well deserving of this recognition.

Congratulations to Cadet Roble and thank you to the General Society for the War of 1812 for recognizing a very deserving Cadet.

Learn more about the General Society for the War of 1812 at this link.

Go Fighting Eags!

EWU ROTC Graduate’s National Guard Service Featured in The Easterner

05/15/2020 by jstafford3 1 Comment

EWU Army ROTC class of 2016 graduate, Miranda Munsell was commissioned as a Field Artillery officer into the Washington Army National Guard. Since graduating from Eastern, she has been promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant in the 2-146th Field Artillery Battalion.

1LT Munsell’s National Guard unit was recently activated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. EWU’s school newspaper, The Easterner has published an article highlighting her service. Here is a quote from 1LT Munsell in the article:

“It’s so important to me that we can be there when our communities need us. Seeing the impact we have had and being able to be there to assist the people who need it in this time of crisis is extremely rewarding,” said 1LT Munsell. [The Easterner]

I highly recommend everyone reading the whole article at the link. You can also view a video featuring 1LT Munsell at this link. Great job by 1LT Munsell for being such a great leader and all the other National Guard personnel helping others across the state during this pandemic.

For anyone interested in becoming a National Guard officer and serving their fellow citizens in a time of crisis, the EWU Army ROTC program is a path to doing this. Incoming and current EWU students can sign up for a Military Science course to explore their options in the Army with no obligation to join. If National Guard service is something you are interested in pursuing we can help you with finding a unit and accessing scholarship benefits.

Cadets on a Minuteman Scholarship or a Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) Scholarship are guaranteed National Guard service, awarded full tuition or $10k towards room and board a year to EWU, receive $1,200 annually for books, and a $420 a month stipend plus other benefits. Anyone interested in learning more about their National Guard options can reach us through our Contact page or by emailing us at rotc@ewu.edu.

The U.S. Army Officially Cancels 2020 Cadet Summer Training at Ft. Knox

05/12/2020 by jstafford3 2 Comments

Today the U.S. Army Cadet Command (USACC) announced that both Advanced and Basic Camp held at Ft. Knox, Kentucky each summer has been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was announced by video by Major General John Evans the Commanding General of USACC. Click image below to watch the video:

Advanced Camp

An important fact to take from this decision is that even though Advanced and Basic Camp are cancelled this year, this doesn’t mean the Cadets that were scheduled to attend will not conduct training. Instead all the ROTC battalions across the country will train their Cadets on the required training tasks during on campus training and two 96 hour Field Training Exercises (FTX) in the fall and spring quarters.

In anticipation of a possible decision like this, the leadership from both EWU and Gonzaga Army ROTC battalions have already developed a joint training plan for next year. The combined units are called Taskforce Spokane and the battalions will train together to ensure all Advanced Camp tasks are completed. EWU Cadets will be briefed on the plan during our Thursday training meeting. All efforts are being made to conduct Taskforce Spokane training responsibly and safely to keep our MS-III Cadets effected by this decision healthy and on-track to commission on time.

Additionally the Cadets that commission in academic year 2021 will conduct supplemental training as part of their Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC). The supplemental training will be 2-weeks long and include training tasks such as a live hand grenade throw, a night infiltration course, and a buddy team live fire.

Basic Camp

For our EWU Basic Camp Cadets, they will be trained on their required skills locally in September by our EWU Army ROTC Cadre. The completion of the local Basic Camp training will still allow those Cadets to move forward towards contracting. Each Cadet will be briefed on the details of the training plan later this week.

Additional Cancelled Training

The cancellation of Basic and Advanced Camp comes in addition to the previously announced cancellations of internships, the Nurse Summer Training Program (NSTP), advanced military training schools such as Airborne and Air Assault school, and Cadet Troop Leader Training (CTLT). EWU Army ROTC will continue to maintain close communication with our Cadets to keep them informed of Cadet Summer Training developments. If anyone has any questions feel free to reach out to your Military Science instructor or leave a comment.

Go Fighting Eags!

Fighting Eagles Alumni Excels in Her Career as an Army Nurse

05/07/2020 by jstafford3 Leave a Comment

For National Nurses Week, the EWU Army ROTC “Fighting Eagles” battalion would like to recognize 2017 EWU graduate, Kaylee Nunley who has started off a great career as an Army nurse. Kaylee grew up in Spokane Valley where she attended EWU for pre-nursing and joined ROTC. After completing the pre-nursing curriculum at EWU, she was accepted into the Washington State University (WSU)-Spokane College of Nursing. While attending nursing school she had the opportunity to attend a summer internship at the Army hospital at Ft. Wainwright, AK.

After graduating from EWU and the College of Nursing, she commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. She next completed her Basic Officer Leadership Course for nurses at Fort Sam Houston, Texas before arriving at her first duty station at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Walter Reed is the military’s premier hospital. At Walter Reed Kaylee served for three years as a registered nurse serving as a medical surgical pediatric nurse.

After completing her assignment at Walter Reed, the now First Lieutenant (1LT) Nunley is currently attending public health nurse training at Ft. Sam Houston. After she completes her training later this month, she will then move to her next duty station in Ft. Wainwright, Alaska. There she will serve as the Chief of Army Public Health Nursing focusing on preventive medicine for Soldiers and families.

During her Army journey, 1LT Nunley has also married and became a mom. EWU Army ROTC congratulates Kaylee for a great start to her career as an Army nurse.

World War II Army Nurse Corps recruiting poster.

Did you know that EWU Army ROTC has the largest ROTC nursing program in Washington State and the Inland Northwest? We have a track record of commissioning quality nurses on to Active Duty and into Army Reserves. If you are interested in serving your country as well as beginning a career as a health care professional, consider Army nursing. Scholarships are available to qualified applicants and Army ROTC has guaranteed slots into Nursing School. Learn more about about the ROTC nursing program at this link. You can also use our Contact page or email us at rotc@ewu.edu to answer any questions you may have.

Go Army Nursing! Go Fighting Eags!

USACC Commanding General Provides Update on 2020 Cadet Summer Training

05/04/2020 by jstafford3 1 Comment

The Commanding General of the United States Army Cadet Command (USACC) has provided an update on the way ahead for Cadet Summer Training (CST) this year in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Most notably Cadet Troop Leader Training (CTLT), the Nurse Summer Training Program (NSTP) and summer internships for all Cadets will not be conducted this year. Cadet attendance at advanced military training schools such as Airborne and Air Assault, is still being reviewed. Likewise no decision on the way ahead for Advanced and Basic Camp have been made either. Click the image below to watch the video of MG Evans giving his CST update:

MG Evans’s full letter to all ROTC Cadets and cadre can be read below as well:

Message to Cadets from Maj. Gen. John R. Evans, Jr.

U.S. Army Cadet Command (ROTC)·Thursday, March 19, 2020·2 minutes

Dear Future Army Leaders,

We are facing extraordinary times in our country and I know you have questions about how the COVID-19 outbreak will impact your future with ROTC and our Army. I want to reach out to you, directly, to give you an update on what we know right now.

First, to our MSIVs, we will endeavor to find a way to commission you on time and do everything within guidance to get you to your Basic Officer Leadership Course at the earliest opportunity. In conjunction with the Secretary of the Army, I will do what I can to waive any ROTC requirements that you are unable to finish prior to commissioning. Until we know exactly what that will look like, I encourage you to continue your studies in pursuit of graduation, stay fit, and stay engaged with content at your level that you can control with regard to ROTC.

Second, to our MSIIIs who are anticipating attendance at Advanced Camp this summer; we are looking at how to execute camp requirements. We do know that with the current restrictions, Advanced Camp will not be executed on the original schedule, but we are exploring options for the way forward. It is important that you know that I promise no Cadet will be disadvantaged based on their ability to attend or not attend Advanced Camp. Cadet Advanced Individual Training may be altered or cancelled depending on the evolving situation.

Third, for our lateral entry Cadets; we are looking at different options to conduct Basic Camp. Stay tied-in with your cadre for updates as they are available.

These are unprecedented times for all Americans. Your health and safety are utmost in the minds of all Senior Army Leaders, and are driving decisions as we make these adjustments. My advice to all of you is to stay patient, maintain your studies and sustain your physical fitness regimen. Most importantly, follow the guidance of local, state and federal health officials in order to maintain not only your health but that of your community members.

Together we will all come through this if we all do our part.

Leadership Excellence!

Sincerely,

John R. Evans, Jr.
Major General, U. S. Army Cadet Command