Cadet Summer Training – EWU Army ROTC

The U.S. Army Officially Cancels 2020 Cadet Summer Training at Ft. Knox

05/12/2020 by jstafford3

Today the U.S. Army Cadet Command (USACC) announced that both Advanced and Basic Camp held at Ft. Knox, Kentucky each summer has been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was announced by video by Major General John Evans the Commanding General of USACC. Click image below to watch the video:

Advanced Camp

An important fact to take from this decision is that even though Advanced and Basic Camp are cancelled this year, this doesn’t mean the Cadets that were scheduled to attend will not conduct training. Instead all the ROTC battalions across the country will train their Cadets on the required training tasks during on campus training and two 96 hour Field Training Exercises (FTX) in the fall and spring quarters.

In anticipation of a possible decision like this, the leadership from both EWU and Gonzaga Army ROTC battalions have already developed a joint training plan for next year. The combined units are called Taskforce Spokane and the battalions will train together to ensure all Advanced Camp tasks are completed. EWU Cadets will be briefed on the plan during our Thursday training meeting. All efforts are being made to conduct Taskforce Spokane training responsibly and safely to keep our MS-III Cadets effected by this decision healthy and on-track to commission on time.

Additionally the Cadets that commission in academic year 2021 will conduct supplemental training as part of their Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC). The supplemental training will be 2-weeks long and include training tasks such as a live hand grenade throw, a night infiltration course, and a buddy team live fire.

Basic Camp

For our EWU Basic Camp Cadets, they will be trained on their required skills locally in September by our EWU Army ROTC Cadre. The completion of the local Basic Camp training will still allow those Cadets to move forward towards contracting. Each Cadet will be briefed on the details of the training plan later this week.

Additional Cancelled Training

The cancellation of Basic and Advanced Camp comes in addition to the previously announced cancellations of internships, the Nurse Summer Training Program (NSTP), advanced military training schools such as Airborne and Air Assault school, and Cadet Troop Leader Training (CTLT). EWU Army ROTC will continue to maintain close communication with our Cadets to keep them informed of Cadet Summer Training developments. If anyone has any questions feel free to reach out to your Military Science instructor or leave a comment.

Go Fighting Eags!

“Fighting Eagles” Battalion Army ROTC Cadet Graduates from Air Assault School

09/12/2019 by jstafford3

The Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program is proud to announce that one of its Cadets, Valentino Olmstead graduated from the Sabalauski Air Assault School at Fort Campbell, Kentucky this week. Air Assault School is a 10-day course designed to prepare Soldiers for insertion, evacuation, and pathfinder missions that call for the use of helicopters.

EWU Army ROTC Cadet Valentino Olmstead

The school has three phases: during the first phase Cadet Olmstead learned helicopter safety techniques, aero-medical evacuation skills, pathfinder operations, and combat assault operations. During the second phase he learned to conduct helicopter sling load operations. He trained to rig equipment loads of 1,000 to 8,000 pounds to the underbelly of a helicopter. During the third phase Cadet Olmstead trained on master rappelling techniques. During the phase he successfully completed two rappels from a 34-foot tower and two rappels from a UH-60 Blackhawk, hovering at 70-90 feet. After completing the 10-days of training, the final test that Cadet Olmstead had to pass was to complete a 12-mile ruck march in full combat gear in less than 3 hours to graduate and receive the coveted Air Assault Badge.

Air Assault Badge

Any student enrolled in Eastern can sign up for an ROTC class to explore military service with no obligation to join the Army. For those that find that military service is something they want to pursue they can choose to contract in ROTC. Attending advanced military training like Cadet Olmstead experienced at Air Assault School is one of the benefits of contracting into the EWU Army ROTC program. For anyone interested in learning more about Army ROTC contracting options and scholarship benefits please click the below links:

Finally Congratulations to Cadet Olmstead on the prestigious accomplishment of completing Air Assault School. Well done!

Go ROTC! Go Fighting Eags!

Cadet Olmstead at the Sabalauski Air Assault School at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky.

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!

Good Advice for Cadets Planning to Attend Cadet Summer Training

09/01/2018 by jstafford3

On the Army.mil website there is an article posted about the end of the 2018 Cadet Summer Training (CST) cycle at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. In the article there is some great advice from our very own 8th ROTC Brigade Command Sergeant Major Mark Cashman who served as this year’s CST Senior Enlisted Advisor:

“We’ve got all kinds of weather out here,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Cashman, the Senior Enlisted Advisor for Cadet Summer Training. “We want to make sure Cadets are protected from lightning, that we’re modifying training based on the heat and humidity and that the must-pass events aren’t started in the heat of the day.”

In addition to safety, Cashman also considered his own Basic Training experience to ensure Cadets get the most out of their 31 days at Fort Knox.

“In basic training, you’re given two weeks to work on marksmanship,” explained Cashman. This year, Cadets only had two days to participate in marksmanship. “Next year we’re going to give them four days instead.”

When asked about what Cadets should work on most before arriving for at CST, Cashman stressed the importance of preparing yourself physically.

“The more physically fit you are, the more mentally tough you’re going to be,” concluded Cashman. “If you know you can do something, mentally, you’re there.”

In running a program that graduates nearly 8,000 Cadets in under 90 days, Cashman is reminded of the true purpose of CST.

“It prepares Cadets to become a second lieutenant and life beyond that,” said Cashman. “It teaches them the things you need to know, like fitness, leadership characteristics and attributes, the Army values and what it’s like bringing together a team made up of people from all different backgrounds.”

“Bringing that team together to complete a mission, I believe, is the key to what we’re doing here.” [Army.mil]

You can read more at the link.

Eastern Washington University ROTC Cadet Recognized for Outstanding Performance at US Army Air Assault School

08/23/2018 by jstafford3

This summer Kyle Stanton, a Cadet in the Eastern Washington University ROTC program, not only graduated from the US Army Air Assault School, but received an Army Achievement Medal (AAM) in recognition for placing first is the 12-mile road march event. His story was even featured on the official US Army website:

Cadet Kyle Stanton, a senior at Eastern Washington University (EWU), returned home on July 26th after successfully completing the US Army Air Assault School in Fort Hood, Texas. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)

Cheney, Wash — Cadet Kyle Stanton, a senior at Eastern Washington University (EWU), returned home on July 26th after successfully completing the US Army Air Assault School in Fort Hood, Texas. In addition to the air assault qualification Cadet Stanton received the Army Achievement Medal for placing first out of 62 Soldiers in the twelve-mile road march.

Air Assault School is a 10-day course designed to prepare Soldiers for insertion, evacuation, and pathfinder missions that call for the use of multipurpose transportation and assault helicopters. Air Assault training focuses on the mastery of rappelling techniques and sling load procedures, skills that involve intense concentration and a commitment to safety and preparation. It consists of three phases; the combat assault, sling load operations, and rappelling phases. The school culminates with a twelve-mile road march that must be completed in under three hours on the morning of graduation. Cadet Stanton finished this final road march in only two hours and 26 minutes. [US Army.mil]

The rest of the article can be read at the link, but congratulations to Cadet Stanton for graduating Air Assault School and receiving an AAM.