Congratulations to William Chamberlin for contracting into the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) this week. Chamberlin is prior Army service Cadet who decided to continue to serve his country by joining ROTC and becoming an officer. After graduating from Eastern Washington University in two years with a nursing degree, Cadet Chamberlin will commission into the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and serve in the Army Nurse Corps.
Cadet Chamberlin (right) receives the Oath of Enlistment from the EWU ROTC Professor of Military Science, LTC Jonathan Stafford.
During the ceremony Cadet Chamberlin was given the Oath of Enlistment by Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Stafford, the Professor of Military Science for the EWU Army ROTC program. The first Oath of Enlistment was developed during the Revolutionary War when the Continental Congress established different oaths for the enlisted men and officers of the Continental Army. The first Oath of Enlistment under the Constitution was approved by an Act of Congress on 29 September 1789. It applied to all commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted Soldiers in the United States military. The oath would receive minor modifications during the 1800’s, but the current oath recited by the contracting Cadets has remained unchanged since 1959.
Cadet Chamberlin (right) is congratulated by Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Stafford after contracting. More pictures from the contracting ceremony can be viewed at this link.
Cadet Chamberlin is part of the largest Army ROTC nursing program in Washington State and the Inland Northwest. If you want to become a future Army nurse like Cadet Chamberlin, EWU ROTC can help get you there. Read more about how to become an Army nurse by clicking the below tab:
On January 8th 2020, Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) Cadets kicked off the New Year and the winter academic quarter by conducting a Welcome Back Leadership Lab. During the lab Cadets were split up into smaller groups of 6-7 otherwise known as a squad and were then able to familiarize themselves with each other by conducting ice breakers. Each squad then moved into drill and ceremony practice before finally being tested on what they’ve learned. Drill and ceremony is a vital tradition in the military and demonstrates proper discipline and military bearing. It is important for Cadets to master this early because it will be used throughout their ROTC and military careers.
Cadet Null leads a formation through drill and ceremony training.
Over the next quarter the “Fighting Eagles” Battalion will be focusing on teaching the junior level Cadets squad based tactics. Third year Cadet Amayia Roberts said she’s excited to learn about the upcoming topic so she can excel and be “top tier” at ROTC Advanced Camp this summer. Advanced Camp is Cadet Command’s premier annual training event that assesses Cadets on their ability to conduct basic officer leadership tasks. Cadets usually attend Advanced Camp during the summer between their junior and senior years of college. Passing Advanced Camp is a mandatory requirement for all Cadets who want to commission as an officer in the U.S. Army after graduation.
Cadet Roberts conducts the ‘extend to the left’ command during the drill and ceremony practice.
EWU ROTC Cadets will continue to build squad level cohesion over the next couple weeks in order to properly move into squad level tactics. These tactics will be used in harsh terrain and proper morale is necessary to keep the mission a success. Go Fighting Eags!
The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is the largest commissioning source for U.S. Army officers. ROTC units are spread out around 274 different college campuses around America. Joining an ROTC unit is the one way for college students to explore military service with no commitment to join the military. For anyone thinking about joining ROTC, here are 10 reasons to consider doing so.
1. Scholarship Benefits
For good reason the benefit most often associated with ROTC is our scholarship program. ROTC has a robust number of scholarships that both high school and college students can apply for. High school students can apply for ROTC National Scholarships. Students selected for a National Scholarship will receive either a 4-year scholarship or a 3-year advanced designee scholarship to pay for college. Make sure to read 10 Tips for A Successful ROTC National Scholarship Application.
2019 ROTC National Scholarship recipient to Eastern Washington University received a 4-year scholarship worth $77,000.
Students who are already in college can still enroll into ROTC and apply for campus based scholarships as well. Our internal ROTC board meets during the Spring term to interview and award Cadets 2 and 3 year scholarships that are based on their academic, physical fitness, and ROTC performance.
Students not interested in pursuing an Active Duty military career have the option to pursue a scholarship through the Washington State National Guard or the U.S. Army Reserve. The Guard and Reserves offer Minuteman and GRFD Scholarships to pay for college in return for commissioning as an officer into the National Guard or Reserve. If you want to serve your country, but still pursue a civilian career, the Guard and Reserves is the pay to do this.
Beyond these Army scholarships EWU Army ROTC also has scholarships sponsored by alumni that go towards ROTC students. Our most prominent alumni scholarship is the Randy Van Turner ROTC Scholarship. This scholarship awards up to one year of tuition for qualified Cadets. Please contact us to learn more about our alumni scholarships.
Cadet Emma LaTour was awarded a Randy Van Turner ROTC Scholarship that paid for a full year of tuition to EWU.
2. Receive a $420 a Month Stipend
One of the least known benefits of joining ROTC is the ability to receive a stipend. All Cadets that contract into the ROTC program receive a $420 a month stipend. There are not many organizations that will give students not only a scholarship, but pay them each month a stipend to go to school like ROTC does. Besides the stipend, contracted Cadets also receive $1,200 a year towards their college textbooks.
3. Build Leadership Skills
There is not a class on campus that will build student leadership skills more than ROTC. In our Military Science classes Cadets learn leadership techniques that help them to progressively lead larger groups of people. Their skills are tested by leading fellow Cadets during basic military skills training as well as organizing and executing volunteer activities in the local community. Our leadership training program has led to EWU Army ROTC having the top Cadet in the West Coast of the United States as well as two other Cadets recognized for being the top volunteers at EWU and the city of Cheney. Find out what inner leadership skills you have by joining Army ROTC.
Chad Triplett, a Cadet in the Eastern Washington University Army ROTC program was awarded the Legion of Valor Bronze Cross as the top Cadet in the western United States.
4. Attend Challenging Training & Internships
In ROTC our Cadets progressively master basic soldier skills such as land navigation and rifle marksmanship, but they also have the opportunity to attend advanced U.S. Army training such as Airborne School and Air Assault School. Something that makes EWU Army ROTC unique is that we host the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (GAFPB) test. The GAFPB is one of the handful of foreign service badges U.S. military members can wear and Eastern is one of the few college campuses in the U.S. that German military personnel travel to, to conduct the GAFPB test. If you ever wondered what it is like to jump out of an airplane, rappel out of a helicopter, or push yourself to meet the standards of a foreign military, joining EWU Army ROTC will give you the chance to do this.
To get in shape many people buy expensive gym memberships or pay for the services of a personal trainer. If you want to get fit forget paying for a gym membership and instead join ROTC. We have a robust and challenging physical fitness program that is designed to get people who have not exercised before into shape. Additionally at EWU Army ROTC we have our own gym for Cadets to work out at. Entrance into our Cadet Hall gym only requires you to be enrolled into an ROTC class. For those that need extra personal instruction, we even have set times each week where cadre are ready to teach and assist you with workouts personalized to improve your fitness.
Cadet are trained on proper deadlift form as part of the ROTC physical fitness program.
6. Serve A Cause Bigger Than Yourself
Being in the Army is not a job, but a profession where Soldiers have the opportunity to serve their country and be part of something bigger then themselves. In ROTC our Cadets learn to be part of something bigger than themselves by being active on campus and in various volunteer events in the region. For those that want to do something for a greater cause joining ROTC is a way to do this.
EWU Army ROTC Cadets volunteer to conduct clean up duty along Highway 904 leading to Cheney.
7. Well Paying Job After Graduation
Finding a well paying job after graduation can be a stressful time for graduating students. This is not a problem for ROTC graduates who commission as an Active Duty officer after graduation. A Second Lieutenant fresh out of college makes $39,444 in annual pay. In addition to this pay they also receive a housing allowance to pay for rent based on the cost of living of where they are stationed. This will add $20,000+ annually to an officer’s take home pay. Besides the pay, Army officers also receive full health and dental coverage, life insurance, base privileges, and a robust retirement package.
Finally officer pay increases with time and rank in service. For example an officer is generally promoted to Captain after four years of service. A Captain is paid $70,164 annually. The housing allowance pushes the captain’s pay to nearly $100,000 dollars. How many career fields pay nearly a six figure salary after only being out of college for four years? Not many and the Army is one of them.
8. A Wide Variety of Career Paths to Choose From
When most people think of Army jobs, they think of boots on the ground infantry. However, being in the Infantry is only one of the 17 Army career fields that an ROTC Cadet can pursue. Do you want to learn how to fly helicopters? EWU Army ROTC has had Cadets successfully become aviators. We have also had Cadets become Military Intelligence analysts, logisticians, tank commanders, engineers, nurses, among a host of other Army branches. If you have a particular career interest, the Army will likely have a branch to match that interest that you can specialize in.
Going to college is a stressful enough experience, made even harder by the prospect of having to make a whole new network of friends. Army ROTC can help you not only make new friends on campus, but new friends for life. The bonding experience Cadets go through in ROTC carries over into their future military careers where Eastern graduates stay in touch and serve together on military bases in the U.S. and around the world. Additionally EWU ROTC makes you part of extensive alumni network that features many senior military officers that can mentor and assist you in your future career.
Make friends for life in Army ROTC.
10. It’s Fun!
ROTC is a blast and gives you a much different college experience than other students. You will meet amazing people, be pushed beyond your limits, and accomplish goals that before may not have seen possible. Besides military training our Cadets do fun activities such as rafting trips, Spartan races, intramural athletics teams, Cannon Crew, and our annual Military Ball. Best of all is that you are doing all of this with some of your best friends!
One of the main criteria for the awarding of ROTC scholarships is that applicants must demonstrate strong academic potential. Applying for an ROTC scholarship requires applicant to have minimum academic credentials of:
Having a high school GPA of at least 2.50
Score a minimum of 1000 on the SAT (math/verbal) or 19 on the ACT
Of course having academic credentials that far exceed the minimums will make you more competitive for an ROTC scholarship. Some people may hire tutors or buy expensive software to improve to improve their ACT or SAT scores. The U.S. Army has now offered its own free alternative to help students prepare for these and other tests. The program is called March 2 Success which is a website that gives users free access to online study materials the improve their standardized test scores. These standardized exams includes state exit exams, college entrance exams, the military entrance exam (ASVAB) and others.
The website provides self-paced study in the subjects of Math, English, and Science for high school aged students. The program even offers a pre-assessment test that is used to generate a custom learning path for each student. The program also 7 full-length practice tests for both the SAT and ACT that is timed and scored similar to the real test. The program also has decks of flashcards to help students study for the SAT and ACT.
Learn more about March 2 Success and improve your chances of receiving an ROTC scholarship at the below link:
Something that many people do not realize is that joining ROTC does not mean that you are locked into Active Duty after graduating from college. In fact Cadets can take a scholarship that locks them into the Army Reserves or National Guard after graduation. The scholarship is called a Minuteman Scholarship. Anyone qualified to receive an ROTC scholarship can apply for a Minuteman Scholarship. 2, 3, and 4 year Minuteman Scholarships are available to qualified Cadets.
Requirements for a Minuteman Scholarship
Be a U.S. citizen
Between ages of 17-30*
Valid Chapter 2 MEPS physical
Currently in the Army Reserve or eligible for enlistment
Ability to pass Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT)
Meet Army Physical standards (AR600-9)
Receive Mission Subordinate Command (MSC) Commander, Army Reserve Ambassador (ARA),or Civilian Aides to the Secretary of the Army (CASA) nomination
Acceptance letter to a college or university with a ROTC program
Professor of Military Science (PMS) interview
Proof of academic major
1000 SAT or 19 ACT scores, 2.5 GPA
Participate in Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) in which they participate in an Army Reserve unit’s monthly and annual drills
Once commissioned… 8-year service obligation
Must not have turned age 31 by Dec. 31st of commissioning year
That may seem like a lot, but we will help you through the entire process! Recipients of a Minuteman Scholarship have the option of using the scholarship to pay for tuition or receive $10,000 annually for room and board expenses. At Eastern Washington University the majority of our Cadets take the $10,000 room and board option since tuition each year is roughly $8,200. Cadets that choose the Minuteman Scholarship and join the Washington Army National Guard receive access to additional grants and federal tuition assistance up to $4,600, allowing them to pay for tuition and use the full $10,000 and other SMP benefits listed above. With tuition paid for through grants and tuition assistance, here’s an example chart of Minuteman Scholarship benefits:
After graduation from Eastern Cadets will commission into the officer rank of Second Lieutenant in the Washington Army National Guard or U.S. Army Reserves. Call 509-359-6110 our Enrollment Officer for more information.
Cadet Patrick Coleman (far left in uniform) is contracted into ROTC as a Minuteman Scholarship recipient by the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, Brigadier General (Retired) Neal Sealock at halftime of a Nov. 3, 2019 EWU football game. Patrick Coleman successfully graduated from EWU in 2022 and is serving part-time as an officer in the Adjutant General Corps.
Each year between October through March is the ROTC National Scholarship season where high school seniors apply for ROTC scholarships through the GoArmy website. The Eastern Washington University Army ROTC office helps dozens of applicants each year navigate the ROTC scholarship process. Based on this experience we have some tips we recommend to all ROTC National Scholarship applicants to maximize their opportunity to be awarded an ROTC scholarship.
1. Submit Your Application Early: The first scholarship board usually meets in October, the second board in January, and the third board in March. Getting your application completed before the first board will increase your chances of receiving a scholarship because the application will be seen three times. Additionally the first board is where a lot of four year scholarships are awarded from as well. If you really want a four year scholarship get your application complete prior to the first board. Key things that need to be done to have the scholarship ready for the first board is to upload your high school transcripts, upload your SAT or ACT scores, complete the physical fitness test, and conduct an interview. Here at Eastern we can complete both the fitness test and interview for you. Contact us at rotc@ewu.edu to schedule.
The Go Army website
2. List 5 or More Schools on Your Application: Applicants need to be realistic when putting down universities on their application. Putting down only Harvard and MIT on the ROTC application, but only having an 1150 on the SAT means you are probably not getting a scholarship for those universities. However, if you list Harvard & MIT plus three or more other schools you could likely get admitted to with an 1150 SAT score will increase your chance of receiving a scholarship to a school other than Harvard or MIT. A scholarship to your third of fourth school is better than no scholarship at all. Each university’s ROTC office has a Recruiting Officer called a “ROO” that can assist with learning what the admissions requirements are for each university.
3. Find Out What Type of ROTC Program You Are Applying to: Something to keep in mind is that not all ROTC programs are created equal. If you are planning to attend a university that has a host ROTC program you are likely going to have more military cadre and resources to better prepare you for the challenges ahead in ROTC. Other universities have ROTC programs that are extension or satellite campuses. Extension programs may require their students to drive to the host program to take courses. If going to an extension program find out how far you have to drive to do physical training and ROTC classes. The amount of driving to do ROTC may influence your decision to attend that school. Satellite campuses may have very limited cadre, as little as two full time ROTC instructors. If going to a satellite campus find out how many instructors they have assigned. At EWU Army ROTC we are a fully staffed host program with a proven track record of getting Cadets ready to succeed in both ROTC and the Army.
4. Visit Multiple ROTC Programs: The best way to figure out if an ROTC program is right for you is to visit it. If possible try to visit multiple ROTC programs to compare and contrast them. This will also help you determine if you are attending a host, extension, or satellite program. If attending a host program make an appointment with the ROO and ask to meet with the Professor of Military Science (PMS) who is usually a Lieutenant Colonel in charge of the ROTC battalion. Ask about how well the program scores at Advanced Camp? How many first branch choices did the MS-IV class receive? Ask about where they train at? How many Cadets are on scholarship? How does the program perform at Ranger Challenge competitions? This should give you an idea of how well the ROTC program is performing. Also bring your parents to the ROTC program to meet the ROO and PMS. At EWU Army ROTC, our ROO and PMS always makes time to visit with parents. We want you and your parents to be as comfortable as possible with your decision to dedicate four years of your life being part of our ROTC program.
EWU Army ROTC’s Cadet Hall
5. Ask What Other Scholarships Are Available: Even if you do not receive an ROTC National Scholarship talk to the ROTC program you are interested in about other scholarship options. They should be able to inform you about ROTC campus based scholarships, Minuteman Scholarships, and Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) Scholarships. Some schools also have various academic and alumni scholarships that Cadets can apply for as well. For example at EWU we have four Cadets on a fraternity sponsored Randy Van Turner ROTC Scholarship and another on the Chertok Memorial Scholarship which is an academic scholarship awarded through the College of Social Sciences.
6. Train to Take Your Fitness Test: Applicants that are not in the best of shape should spend a month training to improve their fitness prior to taking the fitness test. ROTC scholarships are highly competitive and running a seven minute mile could be the difference between receiving a 4 year or 3 year scholarship. If possible try and take the scholarship fitness test while visiting the ROTC program you are most interested in. Fitness is a very important attribute of being an Army officer and preparing for the test and doing well on it will make a good first impression with the ROTC Cadre.
7. Prepare for Your Interview: The interview for the ROTC National Scholarship is very important since it is worth 200 points. Additionally the interviewer who is usually a Professor of Military Science, will write an assessment of you that will be read by the scholarship board. Making a good first impression is critical, show up on time and come dressed for success. Don’t wear torn up jeans and t-shirts to an ROTC interview. Business dress for both males and females is very appropriate for a scholarship interview. Don’t be taking calls or answering texts on your phone during the interview. Yes I have seen this happen! Be prepared to answer simple questions like, “Tell me a little about yourself”. Remember you are selling yourself to the PMS to write the best assessment possible of you to the scholarship board. Be well prepared to answer questions and think on your feet. Finally be prepared to ask the interviewer some questions at the end of the interview. This further demonstrates how prepared you were for the interview.
8. Spend Time Writing a Quality Essay: On the ROTC application you will have the opportunity to write a little bit about yourself. Make sure to spend the time to write a quality essay, personal statement, and achievements. You especially should highlight why you want to be an Army officer. Make sure you use proper grammar and don’t have misspellings. Writing is an important skill for Army officers to have, so show the board you can write a quality narrative. In the narrative make sure to highlight aspects about you that will make you stand out from the crowd. Mentions things like if you ranked nationally in some event, how many hours you were per week at your job, any awards you have received, volunteer service, etc.
9. Play a Sport: Points are awarded on the ROTC scholarship application for sports played. Remember that Cadets in ROTC are scholar athletes, just like members of the university’s sports teams. The Army wants its officers to be athletic. If you know you plan to apply in the future for an ROTC Scholarship than find a sport to play in high school, preferably two of them. Having all-conference and all-state sports honors on an ROTC application will really help the application stand apart from the crowd.
10. Get Involved in Organizations: On the scholarship interview there are points that can be awarded for being involved in school and community activities. For example being elected to student government and being a member of the National Honor Society are worth points. Being involved in Scouting or Civil Air Patrol are examples on community organizations that points can be awarded for. Volunteering for local organizations are other great things to include on the application and mention during interviews.
2019 ROTC National Scholarship recipient to Eastern Washington University received a 4-year scholarship worth $77,000.
Following these tips will help you be competitive for an ROTC scholarship. However, these tips cannot overcome poor performance in the classroom. Keeping a high GPA and scoring well on the SAT or ACT are very important for being competitive for an ROTC scholarship. The Army is looking for Scholar, Athlete, Leaders so try to work towards meeting all three of these criteria in your application. Good luck to everyone pursuing an ROTC scholarship and feel free to leave a comment or email us at rotc@ewu.edu with any questions.
