EWU ROTC – Page 29 – EWU Army ROTC

Fighting Eagles Cadets Win Eastern Washington University Student Leader Excellence Awards

04/24/2019 by jstafford3

The Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program was extremely proud to have three Cadets selected as finalists for the annual EWU Student Leader Excellence Awards. The award ceremony was held on April 24th, 2019 in the Pence Union Building (PUB) on the beautiful EWU campus. The awards recognize Eastern students and organizations for their leadership accomplishments in various award categories. The EWU ROTC “Fighting Eagles” Battalion had the following Cadets selected as finalists for Student Leader Excellence Awards:

Haley Bent / EWU Everyday Leader Award
Melinda Leen / Soaring Eagle Individual Service Award
Kaylie Watters / City of Cheney Award

From left: Kaylie Watters, Haley Bent, Melinda Leen

Of our three finalists two of them would go on to win an award. Cadet Leen was first recognized as the recipient of the Soaring Eagle Individual Service Award. This award goes to the EWU student who has demonstrated leadership in community service in the local Cheney/Spokane community. Melinda was highly deserving of this recognition due to her role running the EWU ROTC volunteer program.

Cadet Melinda Leen receives her award as the 2019 Soaring Eagle Individual Service Award winner.

For example she spearheaded the battalion’s involvement in laying wreaths over Christmas on graves at the Washington State Veteran’s Cemetery. She also led the largest blood drive on campus since 2015 among a host of other volunteer activities she has conducted. Leen also volunteers as a member of the Washington State Honor Guard. The Honor Guard conducts internment ceremonies for deceased veterans. Over the past year she has participated in 36 funerals in the Eastern Washington region.

Cadet Kaylie Watters receive her 2019 City of Cheney Award from Mayor Chris Grover.

Kaylie Watters was our next Cadet to win an award. She was recognized as the 2019 City of Cheney Award winner. The award goes to the student or organization who models good citizenship and participates in community activities and service projects within Cheney.

Kaylie Watters is poses with her 2019 City of Cheney Award.

Since 2013 Watters has worked for the Cheney Parks and Recreation department as a lifeguard and swim instructor. As an instructor, she taught dozens of young children living in Cheney the important life skill of knowing how to swim. Kaylie has also since 2015 served as the Cheney Sharks Swim Team Coach. During the academic year she trains 20 kids on the team for two days every week. During the summer time she trains over 30 kids on the team for five days a week in preparation for regional swim meets. Watters also participated in the November 2018 Turkey Trot race that Cadet Leen organized ROTC involvement with that helped to collect 300 pounds of food that were donated to the Cheney Food Bank.

Our finalist and two award winners are perfect examples of the leadership and high character of our Fighting Eagles Cadets. Congratulations to these very deserving and outstanding Cadets. Go ROTC! Go Fighting Eags!

EWU ROTC Professor of Military Science, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Stafford (center) is pictured with award winners Melinda Leen (left) and Kaylie Watters (right).

EWU ROTC Cadet Commanding Officer Attends Mission Command Conference at West Point

04/23/2019 by jstafford3

United States Army Cadet Command (USACC) recently sent Cadets to attend the Mission Command Conference (MCC) held at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Only 100 Cadets from the thousands that make up the 274 Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs across the country were selected. The Eastern Washington University (EWU) ROTC program nominated Cadet Haley Bent to attend the MCC. Cadet Bent is a senior, studying Business who was the EWU ROTC “Fighting Eagles” Battalion Commanding Officer (CO). Earlier this year Bent was also recognized as a Distinguished Military Graduate, an honor given to only the Top 20% of Cadets across the country.

EWU ROTC Cadet, Haley Bent attends the Mission Command Conference at the US Military Academy.

Her nomination to attend the MCC was approved and she attended the conference between 17-18 April 2019 with 100 other ROTC Cadets and the 2019 US Military Academy commissioning class. Prior to the conference Cadets were tasked to read the book “Black Hearts” by Jim Frederick and optionally read “Platoon Leader” by retired Colonel James “Jim” McDonough. During the MCC, Cadet Bent participated in a fireside chat with Jim McDonough and was given the opportunity to ask questions and discuss McDonough’s experiences as a platoon leader in Vietnam and how he handled corruption, insubordination, and overall tactics during the war.

Cadets listen to panelists at the Mission Command Conference

Cadet Bent was also able to participate in a panel discussion with former Soldiers from the “Black Hearts” book. The Soldiers discussed events described in the book involving operations in Iraq’s “triangle of death” that led to some Soldiers from the platoon committing murder of Iraqi civilians. The Cadets in attendance were able to talk to the former Soldiers on the panel and ask them their views on why some Soldiers in their unit went into such a downward spiral that led to murder. Their multiple perspectives gave Cadets the chance to understand the events at a Soldier and leader level as well as discuss the moral and ethical decisions made by Soldiers in the unit. Following the panel, the ROTC Cadets were then taken to the West Point Visitors Center to explore the history of the Academy and the overall history of warfare.

The Mission Command Conference was a great opportunity for the Cadets in attendance to better their leadership skills and moral/ethical decision making. Cadets learn through the ROTC program that doing the right thing isn’t always easy, but it is always the best choice. Eastern Washington Army ROTC strives to build Second Lieutenants of character and we look forward to what our future commissioning officers, like Haley Bent will bring to our Army.

Fighting Eagles Cadets Ruck Donated Supplies to Spokane Veterans Home

04/18/2019 by jstafford3

Great job by the Fighting Eagles Cadets that participated in the community service ruck march on April 13, 2019. The Cadets rucked donated supplies they gathered from downtown Spokane to the Spokane Veterans Home in support of the Travis Manion Foundation and the Inland Empire Rucknuts organizations.

EWU ROTC Cadets take picture in front of the Spokane River after completing their ruck march over to the Spokane Veterans Home. Back Row (left to right): Cadets Austin Bristow, Ethan Smart, Hunter Smith, Riley Williams, Destin Garcia, Liam Hewey, Chad Triplett, Coy Odiorne; Front Row (left to right): Cadets Nikoly Andrade, Austin Pfennig, Samantha Knight, Melinda Leen, Andrew Norby, Ian House

Fighting Eagles Cadets Conduct Morning Ruck March Around the EWU Campus

04/11/2019 by jstafford3

This morning the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) conducted a 7-mile ruck march around the EWU campus. Each Cadet from the Fighting Eagles battalion carried 35 pounds plus additional equipment in their rucks during the march. Ruck marching tests the endurance and strength plus pushes these future Army leaders to new limits.

Being able to conduct ruck marches is a basic soldier skill trained as part of the EWU ROTC program. The morning ruck march is part of the build up to train Cadets for the end of quarter 12-mile ruck march. Besides being an important soldier skill, conducting a 12-mile ruck march is one of the events Cadets need to pass when they attend Advanced Camp at Ft. Knox, Kentucky.

For anyone looking to push themselves to new limits, become Eagle Strong by joining the EWU ROTC Fighting Eagles battalion.

Go ROTC! Go Fighting Eags!

Fighting Eagles Cadets Start Spring Quarter With Platoon Operations Training

04/10/2019 by jstafford3

On April 4, 2019, the Eastern Washington University AROTC battalion conducted their first leadership lab of the Spring quarter, kicking it off immediately with platoon operations on the Montague’s Farm property located adjacent to the EWU campus. Over the course of the next month, Cadets will be training on platoon tactics to prepare for our upcoming field training exercise (FTX).

Cadet Scott Hinshaw briefs Cadets on the task, conditions, and standards of the leadership lab.

Following first formation, the OIC of this lab, Cadet Scott Hinshaw, began instructing cadets on formations and order of movement (FOOM) as a platoon size element. Cadets were able to physically see these from a designated demonstration platoon that showed the step-by-step process of movements, as well as linear danger areas (LDAs), and actions on contact. Since these have slightly changed from Squad Operations from last quarter, Cadets were given time to practice these with platoon time in the early hour of the lab.

Cadet First Sergeant Cheyenne Sweet participates in platoon operations training.

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.

Fighting Eagles Cadets practice platoon formations on the EWU Intramural Fields.

The hills at Montague’s Farm gives Cadets enough space in their training area to get the fundamentals of basic soldier skills to successfully execute platoon missions. During these patrols, MS-III leadership is able to communicate with their platoon on standard operating procedures (SOPs) for their FTX to make tactics run smoothly and more effectively for their platoons.

EWU ROTC Cadets move in a platoon size formation across the Palouse Hills west of Cheney.

Once done with rotating through platoon time, movements, and LDAs, Cadets then rotated to actions on contact and how to conduct this in a platoon size element. MS-IVs (seniors), assisted MS-III leadership to further develop their knowledge and apply their skills they have learned in their weekly classes. Following the lane, the MS-IV Cadets conducted an after action review (AAR) to test the knowledge of what the Cadets just learned and correct/answer questions that were identified while being on the lane.

EWU ROTC Cadets move across the Montague’s Farm property adjacent to the EWU campus.

Overall, EWU ROTC kicked off their Spring Quarter with a great leadership lab, setting conditions for a successful Spring FTX. It will be challenging and will test the grit of the Cadets, but they are ready to excel at the Spring FTX.

EWU Ranked the 9th Best Public College for Women Studying Computer Science

04/06/2019 by jstafford3

There are plenty of great reasons to attend Eastern Washington University (EWU), but here is another reason; The Chronicle of Higher Education has recognized Eastern Washington University (EWU) as being the 9th best public college in the United States for women studying Computer Science.

The EWU Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program is a great option to consider pursuing a computer science degree through. We have many different scholarship programs to help students pay for tuition, books, and fees and even a monthly living expense stipend.

Give our Enrollment Officer a call at 509-359-6110 to learn more.