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.
On January 21st, 2021 Eastern Washington University (EWU) Fighting Eagles Battalion Cadets conducted Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TC3) training. TC3 was created by the U.S. Department of Defense in order to teach soldiers life-saving techniques and strategies to be used on the battlefield or wherever necessary. Cadets will need to be proficient with these techniques when they become commissioned officers leading soldiers.
Fighting Eagles Cadets stand in formation as they prepare for the start of Leadership Lab.Cadet reacts to contact during TC3 training.
During the lab Cadets were first attacked by an opposing force (OPFOR) enemy. This forced to Cadets to practice their react to contact battle drills. The steps included returning fire, getting to cover and shouting the distance, direction and description of the enemy (three D’s). After the attack the Cadets then had to demonstrate the TC3 skills they learned to administer first aid to themselves or their buddy.
Cadets Chapple (left) and Kuhnel (right) evaluate a casualty.
As the winter quarter progresses, the Cadets will learn more squad level skills such as special teams, clearing objectives, handling of enemy prisoners of war, and performing aid and litter. All the skills learned during this quarter’s leadership labs will culminate in our Winter Field Training Exercise (FTX) in March.
On January 14, 2021 the Fighting Eagles Cadets from the Eastern Washington University Army ROTC program conducted their second leadership lab of the Winter Quarter, the Communications and Reporting Lab. During this training the Cadets were divided up into their three platoons in three different outdoor areas to mitigate COVID-19 infection. They also wore masks and socially distanced to further mitigate COVID spread during the training.
Cadets stand in formation before the start of training.Cadets prepare to start training.
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.
MS-III Cadet, Olivia Roble was one of the primary trainers during the Communications and Reporting Lab.
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. The Cadets then had to use proper SALUTE procedures to report what they saw at the enemy position to their higher headquarters.
MS-IV Cadet, Christopher Millward demonstrates how to use the ASIPS radio.
The last station the 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.
MS-III Cadet, Zachary Becker low crawls and rights down surveillance information for his SALUTE report.
During the upcoming Winter quarter labs, the Cadets will learn additional skills in addition to radio reporting to prepare them for squad operations training. All the skills they are learning in the labs this quarter will culminate with executing the winter field training exercise (FTX) that is scheduled in March.
It was an auspicious start to the 2021 Winter Quarter with some nice sunrises seen over the campus of Eastern Washington University.
Cadet HallThe view across the EWU campus.The view over the Communications Building and southern Cheney.
ACFT
Before Cadets from the EWU Army ROTC “Fighting Eagles” battalion could see any sunrise, they had to get up early to take the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT). The ACFT was held under the bright lights shining on the Inferno at Roos Field. It is always a great experience for the Cadets to do physical training on the famous red turf of Eastern’s home football field.
Cadets conduct the hand release pushup event on the Inferno at Roos Field.
The ACFT is supposed to become the test of record for the U.S. Army within the next two years. The ACFT assesses Soldiers on six events:
Deadlift
Power Throw
Hand Release Pushups
Sprint-Drag-Carry
Leg Tuck
2-Mile Run
Unlike the prior Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), the ACFT is both age and gender neutral for scoring. Scoring instead of age and gender will be based on a Soldier’s job. Non-combat MOS’s have the lowest minimum standards while Combat Arms have the highest standards. EWU Army ROTC conducts ACFT testing every quarter to ensure Cadets can continue to assess their progress at improving in each event of this new test.
Leadership Lab
During the weekly leadership lab held each Thursday, the Fighting Eagles Cadets conducted a welcome back lab. During the lab the Cadets conducted icebreaker events to welcome new Cadets into the program. .
Cadets line up for first formation.Cadet Olivia Roble conducts icebreakers with her squad to welcome new Cadets.
After conducting these icebreakers they then conducted a review or upcoming training events and some initial skills training with the new Cadets.
Cadets conduct initial movement skills training.
After the lab the new Cadets began their process of receiving their initial entry gear from the Cadet Hall supply room. It was great to see a high number of new Cadets at lab and we hope they all have a great experience in ROTC. You can view more pictures from the lab on our EWU Army ROTC Flickr page.
On December 18, 2020 the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) “Fighting Eagles” battalion conducted its annual Spring commissioning ceremony. The ceremony is normally held in the historic Showalter Hall auditorium on the beautiful EWU campus. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions the ceremony was held at the EWU Fieldhouse and limited to a group of 10 people following required social distancing and masking requirements. During the ceremony Cadets Andreas Brazier and Kylie Crooks were commissioned as Army officers.
The path to this day was not an easy one for the commissionees. All the Cadets conducted up to 4 years of military training in the ROTC program, had to meet rigorous academic requirements, build strong physical fitness, pass the 37-day long ROTC Advanced Camp at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, among a host of other challenging requirements before they could commission as a Second Lieutenant (2LT) in the U.S. Army.
EWU Army ROTC Recruiting and Operations Officer, Ms. Linda Moody narrates the Fall 2020 Commissioning Ceremony.
The ceremony was narrated by the EWU Army ROTC Recruiting and Operations Officer, Ms. Linda Moody and opening marks were given by the EWU Army ROTC Professor of Military Science, Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Jonathan Stafford.
LTC Jonathan Stafford gives his opening remarks.
The first cadet to commission was Andreas Brazier who has graduated from EWU with a Political Science degree and a minor in Military Science. He commissioned virtually over Zoom from his family’s home on the west side of Washington. Andreas was a high performing Cadet that received the highest rating of “Outstanding” at Advanced Camp at Ft. Knox, Kentucky and was one of our fittest Cadets by regularly maxing the Army Physical Fitness Test. He was also a member of the Ranger Challenge team that finished second during last year’s regional competition; Eastern’s highest finish in 20 years. Andreas received his first branch choice and will serve in the U.S. Army as an Infantry Officer. The oath of office was administered by his friend Captain David Herron, United States Marine Corps.
2LT Brazier receives his officer oath of enlistment.
He was pinned his rank by his mother Lisah Moegling.
2LT Brazier receives a hug after being pinned his rank by his mother.
His best friend Tim Trainer, Private First Class, United States Army gave 2nd Lieutenant Brazier his first salute.
Congratulations to 2nd Lieutenant Andreas Brazier.
2LT Andreas Brazier
The second Cadet to commission was Kylie Crooks who graduated from both EWU and Washington State University College of Nursing in Spokane. Cadet Crooks is a high performing Cadet who is also a member of the U.S. Army Reserve where she drives tugboats for a Transportation Company in Tacoma. Now as a commissioned officer she has branched into the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. During her time in EWU Army ROTC, Kylie has received many awards and scholarships to include receiving the 2019 Randy Van Turner ROTC Scholarship and the newly established 2020 Citizen Soldier Scholarship. She also received the highest rating of “Outstanding” at ROTC Advanced Camp and was recognized this year with the Major General Barbara R. Holcomb Army Nurse Cadet Excellence Award.
Table with awards for Cadet Crooks.
This award recognized 2nd Lieutenant Crooks as the top nursing Cadet in the 8th ROTC Brigade that covers all 30 ROTC programs across the West Coast and Inland Northwest of the United States. For winning the award she was presented with a stethoscope during the ceremony.
The Major General Barbara R. Holcomb Army Nurse Cadet Excellence Award presented to 2nd Lieutenant Kylie Crooks.
The oath of office was administered to 2nd Lieutenant Crooks’ by her uncle Captain Matt Crooks, who is an officer in the United States Army Nurse Corps.
Her 2nd Lieutenant rank was pinned by her mother Marianne and father Jarrod Crooks.
2nd Lieutenant Crooks’ parents pin her new rank.
Tyler Crooks, Airman First Class United States Air Force and 2nd Lieutenant Crooks’ brother rendered the first salute.
2LT Crooks’ brother rendered the first salute.
Congratulations to 2nd Lieutenant Kylie Crooks.
2nd Lieutenant Crooks signs her commissioning contract.2nd Lieutenant Kylie Crooks the Army’s newest nursing officer.
EWU Army ROTC thanks the university Provost office for approving the hosting of this small ceremony at the Fieldhouse. Even a small ceremony with risk mitigation measures in place made this a special event for the Cadet. We also thank all the friends, family, alumni, and guests that viewed the ceremony over Zoom. We hope to see you all in-person in the near future once the pandemic conditions improve. We also thank the EWU Veterans Resource Center for providing the veteran coins and honor cords for graduation that was given to each new lieutenant. Finally one more congratulations to both of our new 2nd Lieutenants, we are all so very proud of you. Eagle Strong!
In October the Army implemented its new Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) which made the prior Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) obsolete. Besides being the fitness test of record for many years, the APFT was also used as the fitness test to contract college students into Army ROTC. Recently U.S. Army Cadet Command revised its fitness test requirement to reflect the ending of the APFT. The new fitness test is called the Cadet Command Fitness Assessment (CCFA).
EWU Army ROTC Cadet, Marcos Sanchez conducts the pushup event during an Army Physical Fitness Test.
All new Cadets who wish to contract will now have to pass the CCFA. The events in this new test include 1-minute of pushups, 1-minute of modified situps, and a 1-mile run. Just like the old APFT the standards to pass the assessment are based on gender. The below chart shows the minimum standards to pass the CCFA:
The new CCFA requires Cadets to pass a minimum number of pushups and modified situps in 1-minute and complete a 1-mile run.
For retention and commissioning the ACFT will be the test of record for contracted Cadets. Cadets will be required to take an ACFT at least once a semester or quarter. Cadets commissioning will need to complete an ACFT at least 120 days before graduation. Currently no administrative action will be taken against Cadets that fail an ACFT, they just need to complete it. Cadets will be allowed to commission as long as they meet all the other appointment criteria outlined in USACC Regulation 145-9 and CC Form 145-5-1 (USACC Appointment Checklist).
If any Cadets have questioned about the new fitness test requirements feel free to leave a comment or contact your Military Science instructor for more information.
