News – Page 40 – EWU Army ROTC

EWU ROTC Cadets Selected for the Forensic Internship Program

02/07/2019 by jstafford3

EWU ROTC is proud to announce the selection of Cadets Cheyenne Sweet and Valentino Olmstead for the Forensic Internship Program.

This summer both Cadets will intern at the National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC) located in Largo, Florida. The internship will expose the Cadets to the latest cutting edge technology utilized for biometric and forensic identification. They will be taught how to examine and develop fingerprints, chemical detection and analysis, media/cellular exploitation, improvised explosive device (IED) investigations, and the capabilities of deployable forensic laboratories.

Both Cadets were selected for the Forensic Internship Program through a Cadet Command sponsored competitive nomination process that required them to demonstrate academic excellence, physical fitness, and high character. Congratulations to Cadets Sweet and Olmstead for being selected to this prestigious internship.

Go ROTC! Go Fighting Eags!

8th ROTC Brigade Command Sergeant Major Visits EWU Army ROTC Battalion

02/01/2019 by jstafford3

Physical Training

The Eastern Washington University (EWU) ROTC “Fighting Eagles” Battalion had the honor of hosting the 8th ROTC Brigade Command Sergeant Major, CSM Mark Cashman. As the senior non-commissioned officer (NCO) in the 8th ROTC Brigade, CSM Cashman is responsible for providing mentorship to the brigade’s NCOs and Cadets in 30 different ROTC battalions in the western United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam. Being a career Infantryman, CSM Cashman looked forward to starting his day by doing early morning physical training (PT) with the Fighting Eagles Cadets in the EWU Fieldhouse. CSM Cashman showed the Cadets what true leadership is by putting in hard work at PT and then hosting a question and answer session with the Cadets afterwards.

CSM Mark Cashman (center) conducted physical training with the EWU ROTC “Fighting Eagle” Cadets.

Campus Visit

Later that morning, CSM Cashman met with one of our great ROTC partners on campus, the Dean of the College of Social Sciences (CSS), Dr. Jonathan Anderson. Dr. Anderson was presented with a 8th ROTC Brigade coin by CSM Cashman due to the support he has provided the university’s ROTC program over the years. The visit with Dean Anderson also allowed CSM Cashman an opportunity to see the beautiful EWU campus.

8th ROTC Brigade Coin

Leadership Lab

Later that day CSM Cashman was able to sit in on a class with the MS-III (3rd year) Cadets, attend a luncheon with a sub-set of Cadets from the battalion, followed by attending the weekly leadership laboratory at John F. Kennedy (JFK) Field. During the lab the Cadets trained on how to conduct what the Army calls “special teams”. The special teams lab taught the Cadets how to execute aid and litter, perform Enemy Prisoner of War (EPW) procedures, and conducting site exploitation.

EWU ROTC Cadets Collin Galbreath (left) and Ian House (right) participate Special Teams training.

At first formation, the officer in charge of the training, Cadet Tyler Roylance briefed the unit on what they will be conducting during the lab. After the brief the Cadets split up in their respective platoons and went to their assigned stations. At each station there were two senior Cadets to demonstrate what they will be doing at their station. This allowed the more junior Cadets an opportunity to see what the performance standards were for the station and how the training should look if properly executed. Every cadet was given the performance measures a week prior to lab so they were able to train on their own in preparation for the lab.

EWU ROTC Cadets participate in the weekly leadership lab training.

The first station conducted was aid and litter training. At this station Cadets had to conduct life saving measures on a simulated casualty that had fallen in combat. They had to treat the casualty’s injures so they could be moved to safer location and be evacuated to a simulated helicopter MEDEVAC (Medical Evacuation). Once the casualty was moved to a different location the Cadets had to call up a MEDEVAC order known as a 9-Line, which they had learned at the prior week’s lab. The next station was EPW training, where Cadets learned how to search captured enemy combatants. The training focused on how to search the person for any information they may have on them, while making sure they had 360 degree security so that they were not in any immediate danger.

Cadet Marcos Sanchez communicates a medical evacuation during the weekly leadership lab.

The final station was site exploitation. This station was where Cadets were trained on how to look for vital information and enemy equipment on the objective after they had secured the area. This trained Cadets to thoroughly search for any sensitive information or equipment such as maps, explosives, etc. The training is important because it teaches the Cadets how to handle these sensitive items and properly report it up the chain of command in case it could be useful for future operations. Overall the lab’s training allowed Cadets to better their skills in special teams, which is always used after any engagement they encounter in squad operations.

Award Ceremony

After the conclusion of the lab a short award ceremony was held to recognize some of the battalion’s outstanding Cadets. First the top two squad leaders from the leadership lab training were recognized with a commander’s coin from the EWU ROTC Professor of Military Science Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Jonathan Stafford. Cadets Hunter Smith and Christian Goldbach received the highest total scores from the evaluators located at each station and were this week’s “Heroes of the Lab”.

Cadets Hunter Smith (left) and Christian Goldback (right).

Additionally during the award ceremony CSM Cashman recognized three high achieving Cadets with an 8th ROTC Brigade coin. The recipients were Madelynn Woodland who is a highly motivated first year Cadet, Jameson Palmer who is a third year Cadet who has been doing a phenomenal job as the Fighting Eagles First Sergeant, and fourth year Cadet Megan Anderson who has excelled at managing the battalion’s training activities each week.

CSM Mark Cashman (far left) recognizes Cadets Madelynn Woodland (2nd from left), Jameson Palmer (center) and Megan Anderson (right).

EWU ROTC thanks CSM Cashman for taking the time to visit the great Cadets of the Fighting Eagles battalion. The Cadets had a fantastic day hosting and receiving mentorship from one of the most senior leaders in Cadet Command. Leaders make time for things that are important and visiting the brigade’s Cadets is a major priority for CSM Cashman.

Go ROTC! Go Fighting Eagles!

Throwback Thursday: EWU ROTC Cadets Scuba Dive in Williams Lake (1970)

01/31/2019 by jstafford3

This picture shows Cadets from the EWU ROTC program back in 1970 doing scuba diving training in Williams Lake during what appears to be a snowstorm. Any alumni remember doing this training back then?

Fighting Eagle Cadets Sharpen Army Radio Skills at Leadership Lab

01/18/2019 by jstafford3

On Thursday, January 17, 2019, Eastern Washington University (EWU) Cadets learned how to operate a ASIP radio and proper reporting procedures during their weekly Leadership Laboratory. The Cadets are part of the Army’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Fighting Eagles Battalion that trains students on the EWU to become future Army officers.

MS-IV Cadet Commanding Officer Haley Bent briefs Cadets before conducting weekly Leadership Laboratory.

The primary trainers for the lab were the MS-III (Junior) Cadets. The lab gave them practice preparing and executing the training plan for the MS-I (Freshman) and MS-II (Sophomore) Cadets. During the lab, the EWU ROTC Cadets rotated through three stations where they received instruction on how to operate the ASIP radio, perform a SALUTE report, and a situation report (SITREP). During the first station each Cadet had the chance to put an ASIP radio together and set it up to the right channels and frequency to communicate with each other. In the SALUTE report station, Cadets were placed on a hill overlooking a mock scene replicating an enemy position and had to collect information using binoculars. The Cadets then had to use proper SALUTE procedures to report what they saw at the enemy position to their higher headquarters.

MS-III Cadet Chad Triplett trains EWU ROTC Cadets on how to operate an ASIPS radio.

The last station Cadets were trained on was the SITREP station. Cadets were taking the SALUTE report they created at the last station and formed it into a SITREP. This report provides for detailed information for the chain of command. A sitrep is used for giving the commander a report of what their unit is seeing. These stations are bettering the Cadets to use proper communication with the ASIP radio and what reports to use on the radio system.

EWU Cadets train on how to identify and report enemy troop activity.

In the Army we have a saying “Shoot, Move, and Communicate”. During the Fall quarter the EWU ROTC Cadets did plenty of shooting and moving. During Winter quarter the Cadets are now learning how to properly communicate. All the skills the Cadets are learning will prepare them for squad operations training in future labs and for the winter field training exercise (FTX) that is coming up in March.

Go Fighting Eags!

Throwback Thursday: The 1960 EWU ROTC Drill Team

01/17/2019 by jstafford3

This picture was taken in 1960 of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) drill team. Back then Eastern Washington University (EWU) was called Eastern Washington College-Cheney. Do any alumni remember wearing this drill team uniform back in the 1960’s?

EWU ROTC Fighting Eagles Battalion Gets Off to A Fast Start to Winter Quarter 2019

01/11/2019 by jstafford3

This week, the Cadets from the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) began Winter Quarter 2019. After a three week holiday break the Cadets began the new quarter by taking an Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). The first two events of the APFT tests the Cadets on how many pushups and situps they can do in 2-minutes. The final event is to run 2-miles as fast as possible to conclude the test.

EWU ROTC Cadet Sarah Mullen conducts the pushup event during the welcome back APFT.

EWU ROTC Cadet Tyler Bergman conducts the pushup event during the welcome back APFT.

EWU ROTC Cadets conduct the situp event during the welcome back APFT.

The rest of the week the Cadets conducted challenging physical training (PT) each morning to include over at Reese Court.

At Reese Court the Cadets conducted a stair workout by running up and down the stairs that extend around the basketball court.

On Thursday the Cadets conducted a welcome back lab to start off the 2019 Winter Quarter. The lab was used to welcome returning Cadets and introduce new Cadets to the program. During the lab, Cadets were introduced to their new platoons and squads and were able to meet their leadership. To help facilitate getting know each other better, icebreaker exercises were conducted by each squad. To help the freshman and sophomore Cadets, training was conducted to help them identify and then set a path on how each of them can achieve their goals this quarter. Additional training was held for the junior Cadets on squad tactics. This was a refresher course to prepare them to conduct future labs this quarter and the Winter Field Training Exercise (FTX) that focuses heavily on squad operations.

MS III Cadets review squad tactics.

At the end of lab, the Fighting Eagles Battalion held an award ceremony for Sergeant First Class (SFC) Jason Hennig. SFC Hennig was awarded the Bronze de Fleury Medal. The medal is awarded to Soldiers who have provided significant contributions to the Engineer branch. Presentation of this medal is indicative of the respect and admiration that SFC Hennig has garnered from his superiors, peers and subordinates alike in the Engineer branch.

The EWU ROTC Professor of Military Science, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Stafford congratulates Sergeant First Class Jason Hennig.

Finally the Fighting Eagles Battalion’s, Assistant Professor of Military Science, Captain Nicholas Carbaugh was recognized for being selected for promotion to the rank of Major. This is a significant achievement in Captain Carbaugh’s military career that is well deserved by a great officer.

All these events made for a busy and fantastic first week for the Fighting Eagles Battalion. The Cadets have many more busy weeks to come with a total of 20 classes and ten leadership labs scheduled, a winter FTX, and a military dining out to execute.

Go Fighting Eags!