Eastern Washington University – Page 11

Top 10 Reasons to Join ROTC

09/25/202012/30/2019 by jstafford3

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.

ROTC Scholarship — 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.

RVT ROTC Scholarship — 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.

Another aspect of ROTC few people know about, are the amount of Cadet Command sponsored internships available to Cadets. In recent summers we have had Cadets attend internships at the National Forensic Science Technology Center, engineering internships, internship testing new Army communications technology, nursing internships at Army hospitals, etc. Cadets can also intern with active duty military units to experience what it is like to be an Army officer. Whatever your interest my be the Army likely has an internship for you.

5. Improve Your Physical Fitness

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.

9. Make Lifelong Friends

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.

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!

ROTC Minuteman Scholarships Guarantee Cadets Duty in the U.S. Army Reserves or National Guard

06/27/202312/20/2019 by jstafford3

Minuteman Scholarships

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.

EWU Army ROTC “Fighting Eagles” Battalion Conducts Fall 2019 Commissioning Ceremony

12/13/2019 by jstafford3

On December 13, 2019, the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) “Fighting Eagles” battalion conducted its Fall Commissioning Ceremony. The ceremony was held in the historic Showalter Hall auditorium on the beautiful EWU campus.

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. The ceremony began with the benediction given by Cadet Isabelle Erickson. Following the benediction, the EWU Army ROTC Professor of Military Science, Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Jonathan Stafford gave his remarks.

Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony — Cadet Isabelle Erickson gives the benediction.

Besides excelling in ROTC, Cadets from this group were very active on campus executing cannon crew duties during the home football games, participating in volunteer activities such as our annual blood drive, assisting with color guard, and being part of the Ranger Challenge team. They are a truly remarkable group of young leaders. Following the remarks from LTC Stafford, the Cadets each came forward to be administered the Army Oath of Office to officially commission them as a 2LT into the U.S. Army.

The Army Oath of Office

I (state your name), have been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States in the grade of Second Lieutenant do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter. So help me God.

Following the Officer Oath of Office family members then came up and put on the Second Lieutenant shoulder board rank on to the new officers. After the pinning of the new rank, each newly minted officer received their first salute from the enlisted person of their choice. Part of the tradition of the first salute is that the enlisted servicemember receives a silver dollar from the officer.

2LT Josiah Bryan

2LT Melinda Leen

2LT Andrew Norby

2LT Malisa Pfennig

Following the administering of the oath of office two special guests made a presentation to the new Army officers. EWU ROTC thanks retired Lieutenant Colonel Dave Millet from the EWU Veterans Resource Center for presenting the veterans coins and honor cords to the commissionees today. We also thank Lisa Cargill from the Office of Alumni Relations for presenting Eagle4Life pins to each of the new lieutenants.

Following the presentations from the two guests the newly commissioned officers joined the audience in singing the Army Song before receiving the closing benediction from Cadet Erickson.

Congratulations to our new United States Army officers. Go Eags!

EWU Army ROTC Class of Fall 2019

EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Cadets (Fall 2019) — From left: Andrew Norby, Josiah Bryan, Malisa Pfennig, & Melinda Leen

CDT Norby — 2LT Andrew Norby / Major: Recreation / Branch: Aviation

Note: All the pictures can be downloaded off of the EWU ROTC Flickr page.

EWU Army ROTC Holds 2019 Branching Ceremony for Commissioning Cadets

12/05/202212/07/2019 by jstafford3

On December 5, 2019 the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Army ROTC “Fighting Eagles” Battalion hosted a Branching Ceremony at Cadet Hall. The ceremony was held to recognize the 18 seniors from the EWU ROTC Class of 2020 by officially pinning on to their Cadet uniforms the branch the Army recently assigned them. To help pin on the branch insignia and recognize the Cadets being pinned were various alumni and friends of the EWU Army ROTC program, who either attended or participated via video.

The US Army has 17 different branches for Cadets to 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.

Combat Arms	Combat Support	Combat Service Support	Special Branches
Air Defense Artillery	Chemical Corps	Adjutant General	Army Nurse
Armor Corps	Military Intelligence	Finance Corps	Medical Service
Aviation	Military Police	Ordnance Corps
Corps of Engineers	Signal Corps	Quartermaster
Field Artillery		Transportation
Infantry

The Army’s accessions process ranks all Cadets across the nation based off of factors such as their GPA, physical fitness test score, Advanced Camp performance, volunteer work, Color Guard participation, Ranger Challenge team, etc. During the beginning of their senior year, Cadets rank in order of preference which of the 17 branches in the Army they want to assess into. The Army’s accessions process then uses the various factors mentioned to help decide which branch they will receive. EWU Army ROTC continues to score well above the Cadet Command average with the vast majority of our Cadets receiving their number one branch choice.

Transportation Corps

Jazmin Castrejon

The first Cadet to pin on their branch insignia during the ceremony was Cadet Jazmin Castrejon who branched into the Transportation Corps. Transportation officers are responsible for moving people, equipment, and supplies around the world by sea, air, and land. To pin the Cadet Castrejon was former Transportation officer and retired Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Mellick from the EWU ROTC class of 1967.

EWU ROTC Branching Ceremony 2019 — Retired LTC Jerry Mellick from the EWU ROTC class of 1967 pins the Transportation Corps insignia on to Cadet Castrejon.

Ordnance Corps

Megan Anderson

The next Cadet to receive their branch was Megan Anderson who branched into the Ordnance Corps. Ordnance officers are responsible for the maintenance of Army weapon systems, ammunition, missiles, and vehicles. Via a video presentation, fellow Ordnance officer, 2nd Lieutenant Tyler Bergman from the EWU Class of 2019 congratulated Cadet Anderson on receiving her branch and what it means to be a Ordnance officer.

guest1 — 2nd Lieutenant Tyler Bergman congratulates Cadet Megan Anderson via video during the 2019 EWU Army ROTC Branching Ceremony.

Chemical Corps

Joseph Jordan

Cadet Joseph Jordan was not able to attend the ceremony, but he branched into the Chemical Corps. The Chemical Corps is the branch of the United States Army tasked with defending against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) weapons. Some branches do not need as many 2nd Lieutenants as others, thus Cadet Jordan will spend approximately 3-4 years in the Chemical Corps before transferring to his control branch which is the Signal Corps. This is called serving a branch detail.

Joseph Jordan – Branch detail Chemical; control branch of Signal Corps

Armor

Robert Wheeler

Jameson Palmer
(Distinguished Military Graduate)

Cadets Robert Wheeler and Jameson Palmer both branched into Armor. Armor’s mission is to close with and destroy the enemy using fire, maneuver, and shock action in armored vehicles. Cadet Palmer was not able to attend the ceremony, but Cadet Wheeler was pinned on his Armor insignia by LTC Stafford. Cadet Wheeler is also serving a branch detail and once complete with his 3-4 years in Armor he will transfer over to the Signal Corps. Besides branching Armor, Cadet Palmer was also selected as a Distinguished Military Graduate which means he ranked in the Top 20% of Cadets across the nation.

Cadet Jameson Palmer was unable to attend the ceremony, but was also branched into Armor.

Infantry

Chad Triplett
(Distinguished Military Graduate)

The next Cadet to branch was Chad Triplett into the Infantry. Branching into the Infantry is one of the most competitive branches in the Army to be assessed into. As an Infantry officer he will be responsible for leading the infantry and combined armed forces during land combat. Cadet Triplett was also recognized as a Distinguished Military Graduate. To pin Cadet Triplett was retired Brigadier General (BG) Neal Sealock. BG Sealock was a 1974 graduate of EWU that commissioned as an Infantry officer through the university’s ROTC program.

guest2 — Via video 2nd Lieutenants from the EWU Army ROTC class of 2019 currently attending Infantry training at Ft. Benning, Georgia congratulate Cadet Triplett. (from left: 2LT Bryce Stanton, 2LT Scott Hinshaw, and 2LT Kyle Stanton)

Engineers

Marcos Sanchez

Erling Anderson
(Distinguished Military Graduate)

Samuel Coutts

The next Cadets to pin on their branch insignia were Marcos Sanchez, Erling Anderson, and Samuel Coutts who branched into the Corps of Engineers. Cadet Erling Anderson was also recognized as a Distinguished Military Graduate making him one of the Top 20% of Cadets across the nation. An Engineer officer is responsible for providing full support to the wide range of engineering duties in the Army. They can help build structures, develop civil works programs and even provide combat support. On hand to pin the Engineers insignia on to the Cadets were Captain Samuel Prichard and Captain Kennith Brown from the Walla Walla District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Both officers made the drive up from Walla Walla to not only pin our Cadets branching into the Engineers, but also to educate our other Cadets on hand for the ceremony of the opportunities in the Corps of Engineers.

The next Cadets to receive their branch were Austin Pfennig and Cesar Guzman who both branched into the Signal Corps. A Signal officer is responsible for providing communications and computer capabilities to Army forces spread across the world.

Field Artillery

Cheyenne Sweet

Ian House

The next Cadets to pin their branch insignia were Cadets Cheyenne Sweet and Ian House who branched into the Field Artillery. Cadet Sweet is branching straight into Field Artillery while Cadet House is on a branch detail for 3-4 years before transferring into his control branch of Military Intelligence. A Field Artillery officer is able to employ indirect firepower with cannons, rockets, and missile systems. They are also able to coordinate for supporting fires from air power and naval gunfire. On hand to pin the branches on to both Cadets were Field Artillery officers, 1st Lieutenant Miranda Munsell from the EWU Army ROTC Class of 2016 and current ROTC Cadre member Captain (Promotable) Nicholas Carbaugh. Both Cadets additionally received a further congratulations on branching into the Field Artillery from 2nd Lieutenant Kyle Isaacson via video who is currently attending Field Artillery training at Ft Sill, Oklahoma.

guest3 — 2nd Lieutenant Kyle Isaacson congratulates Cadets Sweet and House via video from Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.

Military Intelligence

Jacob Villasenor

Melinda Leen

The next Cadets to receive their branch was Jacob Villasenor and Melinda Leen into the Military Intelligence branch. A Military Intelligence officer has a wide variety of functions they are responsible for. An MI officer provides tactical intelligence, counter-intelligence, signals and reconnaissance information to support unit commanders. To congratulate the Cadets for branching into Military Intelligence via video, was 2nd Lieutenant Haley Isaacson from the EWU Army ROTC class of 2019.

guest4 — Current Military Intelligence officer and alumni from the EWU Army ROTC class of 2019, 2nd Lieutenant Haley Isaacson congratulated Cadets Villasenor and Leen via video from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Army Nurse Corps

Josiah Bryan

Sarah Mullen

The next Cadets to receive their branch were Josiah Bryan and Sarah Mullen. Both Cadets are part of the largest degree program in EWU Army ROTC, nursing. Both will serve as healthcare professionals by branching into the Army Nurse Corps. An Army Nurse officer serves in military hospitals around the world where they will train and serve in various clinical specialties such as in the Emergency Room, Operating Room, Community Health, etc.

Air Defense Artillery

Coy Odiorne

The 18th and final Cadet to have their branch pinned was Coy Odiorne who branched into the Air Defense Artillery. The mission of Air Defense Artillery is to protect the force and selected geopolitical assets from aerial attack, missile attack, and surveillance. EWU Army ROTC Professor of Military Science and Air Defense Artillery officer, LTC Jonathan Stafford pinned the crossed cannons and missile insignia onto Cadet Odiorne.

Following the Branching Ceremony the Cadets shared cake and drink with their fellow Cadets, alumni, university officials, friends, and family that attended the ceremony. The EWU Army ROTC Cadre would like to thank BG(R) Neal Sealock, LTC(R) Jerry Mellick, CPT Samuel Pritchard, CPT Kennith Brown, and 1LT Miranda Munsell for traveling to Cadet Hall to participate in the pinning ceremony. We would also like to thank 2LT Bryce Stanton, 2LT Scott Hinshaw, 2LT Kyle Stanton, 2LT Tyler Bergman, 2LT Kyle Isaacson, and 2LT Haley Isaacson for providing videos congratulating the Cadets as well.

Leaders make time for things that are important and congratulating these Cadets on the significance of their branching shows how important it was to these great leaders. Thank you and Go Fighting Eags!

Eastern Washington University Army ROTC Cadets Deliver 704 Pound Food Donation to Cheney Food Bank

12/02/2019 by jstafford3

Great job by our Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Cadets that supported the food drive for the local Cheney Food Bank. The EWU Army ROTC program gathered 613 items that weighed a total of 704 pounds. Then on Thanksgiving day, seven Cadets that remained in the Spokane area over the holiday break, delivered the food to the Cheney Food Bank. After delivering the food they then participated in the Turkey Trot fundraiser where they rucked 5 kilometers around Cheney. Big thank you to Cadets Michael Beier, Josh Browning, Amayia Roberts, Kaylie Watters, Andrew Norby, Liam Hewey, and Nelson Hergert for supporting the Turkey Trot. It was a great event that once again demonstrated the positive impact our EWU Army ROTC Cadets are having in the local community.

Go Fighting Eags!

EWU ROTC Turkey Trot 2019 Picture — Picture of food donated to the Cheney Food Bank.

Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity Awards Scholarship to EWU Army ROTC Cadet

11/22/2019 by jstafford3

The Eastern Washington University (EWU) “Fighting Eagles” Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) battalion is pleased to announce that Cadet James P. Dutton has been awarded a 2019 Randy Van Turner ROTC Scholarship.

The scholarship is in honor of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity’s EWU chapter co-founder First Lieutenant Randy Van Turner. Randy was a 1968 graduate from the EWU ROTC program who was a recipient of the Silver Star and was killed in action in 1969 during the Vietnam War. His fraternity brothers decided to honor his service by establishing an ROTC scholarship in his name. The scholarship is awarded to EWU ROTC Cadets that demonstrate academic excellence, high physical fitness, leadership, and financial need. Through a board process, Cadet Dutton was chosen as the fourth Randy Van Turner ROTC Scholarship recipient this year. He will receive one-year of paid tuition to EWU.

Cadet Dutton comes from a military family with his dad having spent 22 years in the U.S. Air Force. He moved to Washington two years ago from Colorado to pursue a double major in Environmental Science and Biology at EWU. James this past summer excelled at Basic Camp at Ft. Knox, Kentucky and is currently preparing to attend Advanced Camp next summer. James’ goal is commission as an officer and pursue a career in Aviation in the Washington Army National Guard. The Randy Van Turner ROTC Scholarship has helped lift the financial burden of paying for his college tuition over the next year so he can spend more time focusing on ROTC and pursuing his dream of becoming a pilot and a wildlife biologist.

Note: If you are interested in donating to the Randy Van Turner ROTC Scholarship please contact the EWU Foundation at 509-359-6703 for more information.