Reserve Officer Training Corps – Page 12

Eastern Washington University ROTC Graduate Returns Home to Command Local U.S. Army Recruiting Company

09/05/2019 by jstafford3

Today Captain (CPT) Anthony Fleck, a 2015 graduate from the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) battalion, took command of the Recruiting Company in charge of enlisting new U.S. Army Soldiers from the Greater Spokane region. After graduating from Eastern in 2015 with a degree in Psychology, Anthony commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Ordnance Branch through the university’s Army ROTC program.

After being selected for the Ordnance branch, CPT Fleck was then selected to attend the prestigious Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) School at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. After completing EOD training Anthony was then stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM). While stationed at JBLM he deployed to Kuwait and Iraq to conduct EOD duties in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Now as a Recruiting Company commander he will be in charge of all the recruiting stations in the Spokane area, northern Idaho, the Pullman-Lewiston region, as well as our local recruiting station here in Cheney. There is no one better than a Spokane local and a proud EWU graduate to enlist new Soldiers from the area into our great Army.

Welcome home CPT Anthony Fleck and congratulations on your new command!

Go Fighting Eags!

Army ROTC Cannon Crew Begins “The Clash of the Inland Northwest” Cross Country Meet

08/31/2019 by jstafford3

On Saturday, August 31, 2019 the Eastern Washington University (EWU) hosted a cross country meet called “The Clash of the Inland Northwest” that featured collegiate cross country teams from across the region. Great job by all our Eastern cross country athletes that competed in the race today. In support of the meet, the EWU Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Cannon Crew fired its historic World War II era pack howitzer to start each race.

Our historic pack howitzer first entered service during World War II with the 10th Mountain Division where it saw action against enemy forces during division operations in Italy.

Our cannon is pulled by our historic Army Jeep called “Lil Eag” that has been part of the Army ROTC program at Eastern since the 1960’s.

Any student who enrolls into the EWU ROTC program is allowed to participate as part of the Cannon Crew. The Cannon Crew will be in action again next weekend on September 7th for EWU’s home opening football game against Lindenwood University. Kickoff is at 13:05 and we invite alumni and friends of the EWU ROTC battalion to stop by and visit with our Cadets conducting Cannon Crew duties that day. It should be a great time!

Go ROTC! Go Fighting Eags!

Final Eastern Washington University Cadets Graduate From Advanced Camp 2019

08/29/2019 by jstafford3

Our final two Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Cadets completed Advanced Camp earlier this month at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. Cadets Marcos Sanchez and Collin Galbreath graduated from Advanced Camp’s 11th Regiment on August 18th.

From left: Cadet Collin Galbreath, 2nd Lieutenant Kyle Isaacson, and Cadet Marcos Sanchez

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. With the successful completion of Advanced Camp, Cadets Sanchez and Galbreath are one step closer to commissioning as Second Lieutenants after graduating from Eastern.

One of our 2019 Fighting Eagles Battalion alums, Second Lieutenant Kyle Isaacson was assigned to support Advanced Camp 2019 this summer after graduating from Eastern this past June. During Advanced Camp he had the opportunity to meet with Cadets Galbreath and Sanchez. After Advanced Camp 2nd Lieutenant Isaacson will attend the Field Artillery Basic Officer Leadership Course at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.

Congratulations to Cadets Galbreath and Sanchez for completing Advanced Camp and we wish all the best to 2nd Lieutenant Isaacson as he conducts his basic officer training to become a Field Artilleryman.

Go ROTC! Go Fighting Eags!

Five More “Fighting Eagles” Battalion Cadets Graduate from ROTC Advanced Camp

08/27/2019 by jstafford3

The Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) recently had 5 more Cadets graduate from Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Cadets Ian House, Joseph Jordan, Jazmin Castrejon, Coy Odiorne, and Melinda Leen all graduated as part of Advanced Camp’s 9th Regiment on August 8th.

From left: Ian House, Joseph Jordan, Jazmin Castrejon, Coy Odiorne, and Melinda Leen pictured together following graduation from ROTC Advanced Camp at Ft. Knox, Kentucky

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. With the successful completion of Advanced Camp, Cadets House, Jordan, Castrejon, Odiorne, and Leen are one step closer to commissioning as Second Lieutenants after graduating from Eastern.

The completion of Advanced Camp however was not the end of summer training for some of these Cadets. After graduating from Advanced Camp three of the Cadets left to participate in Cadet Troop Leadership Training (CTLT). At CTLT a Cadet gets hands on experience with being an officer within an active duty U.S. Army unit. Cadet Odiorne is currently embedded with Taskforce Talon, a missile defense unit assigned to protect the island of Guam from ballistic missile attack. Cadet Castrejon and House both traveled to Ft. Hood, Texas to take part in a CTLT experience with transportation and chemical units.

Congratulations to all five Cadets for graduating from Advanced Camp and achieving one of the most important accomplishments of the ROTC program.

Eastern Washington University ROTC Cadet Graduates from the U.S. Army’s Airborne School

08/26/2019 by jstafford3

The Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program is pleased to announce that one of its Cadets, Chad Triplett has recently graduated from the U.S. Army’s Airborne School at Ft. Benning, Georgia. The completion of Airborne School makes Cadet Triplett a qualified paratrooper within the U.S. Army authorized to wear the Parachutist Badge on his uniform.

EWU ROTC Cadet, Chad Triplett (right) pictured with a fellow Cadet after after graduating from the U.S. Army’s Airborne School.

Airborne School is a 3-week long course that challenges Soldiers both mentally and physically to become paratroopers within the U.S. Army. The course teaches Soldiers the techniques involved with parachuting from airplanes and safely landing in combat conditions. The U.S. Army has been training paratroopers since June 1940 when its first Airborne test unit was activated. In the following years Airborne units were established and saw heavy combat during World War II, particularly during the Allied invasions of Italy and France. Airborne units continue to be an important part of today’s U.S. Army.

The U.S. Army’s Parachutist Badge worn by all Airborne qualified personnel.

Being able to attend advanced Army training such as Airborne School is one of the benefits of contracting into the ROTC program. Cadets can initially enroll into ROTC in a non-contracted status to explore if military service is for them. ROTC is the only place where a person can explore military service WITHOUT actually being in the military. For Cadets who determine that they want to contract into the U.S. Army, advanced military training such as Airborne, Air Assault, Mountain Warfare, Combat Diver, and other schools are open to them to apply for. Please read the EWU ROTC Contracting Page for more information on how to enroll or contract into the ROTC program.

Cadet Triplett is an incoming senior Cadet at Eastern Washington University studying criminal justice. He has excelled not only in ROTC, but in the classroom as well where he was selected earlier this year for the prestigious Chertok Scholarship from EWU’s College of Social Sciences. EWU ROTC congratulates Cadet Triplett for his impressive accomplishment of completing Airborne School and becoming a U.S. Army paratrooper.

Go ROTC! Go Fighting Eags!

Throwback Thursday: The Eastern Washington University Campus in 1964

08/15/2019 by jstafford3

EWU Campus 1964

Here is a picture of what the Eastern Washington University (EWU) campus looked like back in 1964. Back then the school was called Eastern Washington State College. Cadet Hall is pictured next to the old Fieldhouse that burned down back in 1970’s. The Computing and Engineering Building was built in its place next to Cadet Hall in 2006. The football stadium that is pictured was replaced by today’s Roos Field constructed on the other side of Washington Street from the EWU campus. The old football stadium has been knocked down and replaced with the construction of the JFK Library and a grassy area known today as JFK Field. This field is where we hold some our weekly ROTC leadership labs at during the year.