Fall 2020 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
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.
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.
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.
He was pinned his rank by his mother Lisah Moegling.
His best friend Tim Trainer, Private First Class, United States Army gave 2nd Lieutenant Brazier his first salute.
Congratulations to 2nd Lieutenant 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.
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 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.
Tyler Crooks, Airman First Class United States Air Force and 2nd Lieutenant Crooks’ brother rendered the first salute.
Congratulations to 2nd Lieutenant Kylie Crooks.
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!
Note: Pictures from the ceremony can be downloaded at our EWU Army ROTC Flickr page.
