This year in conjunction with the restart of the Big Sky football season, EWU Army ROTC is sponsoring the Eagles Madden Challenge 2021 video game tournament. The tournament will begin on March 19th and registration is currently open until March 18th at 7PM Pacific time. Anyone can enter the tournament; so if you are current student at Eastern, someone still in high school, or alumni it doesn’t matter you can enter. There is also cash prizes for the winners with the overall winner receiving $150.
The tournament will be played over X-box One with the following rules:
Exhibition Mode
Fatigue: On
Injuries: Off
Quarter Length: 5 Minutes
Game Skill: All-Madden
Accelerated Clock: Off
Weather: Clear
Full details of the rules, the various cash prizes, and how to register for the tournament can be found at this link. Feel free to comment or send us a message through our Contact page with any questions you may have. Go Eags!
Myth #1: Enrolling into ROTC the Same As Enlisting into the Army
Enrolling into ROTC is not the same as enlisting into the Army. ROTC is the one way for college students to explore military service without having to sign any contract. Signing up for a Military Science class is exactly that, it is a class. Students enrolled in the Military Science Basic Course are those exploring the ROTC program’s 100 and 200 level courses. Enrolled students ARE NOT obligated to contract, meaning to enter a commitment and finish the program. Students can drop after one term, or they can complete the entire two years of the Basic Course before making their decision. Enrolled students earn elective credit towards their degree while in the Basic Course. Enrolled students are NOT receiving any type of financial assistance from the Army for college. Enrolling into Military Science Advanced Course of 300 and 400 level courses does require the student to make a decision to contract into ROTC.
Myth #2: Contracting into ROTC the Same as Enlisting into the Army
Contracting into Army ROTC is not, strictly speaking, joining the Army. You will not be sent to boot camp. However, the primary purpose of the Army ROTC program is to produce Army officers, so you must agree to serve as an officer in the Army after graduation. In return the Army will provide financial assistance and scholarships to qualified Cadets to help them complete their college degree.
Being an Army officer means that you will become the civilian equivalent of a manager, not a military policeman. Officers are tasked with making important decisions in stressful situations and are responsible for the well being and safety of the Soldiers under their command. Being officer requires exercising discipline and learning leadership skills that carry over very well in civilian service after the Army. After graduation ROTC Cadets will commission into the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. After completing their initial military training a 2nd Lieutenant will generally hold the position of Platoon Leader and be responsible for approximately 30 Soldiers.
Myth #4: Everyone goes into the Infantry
Prior to commissioning Cadets will go through an accessions process where they will compete for one of the 18 branches they want to be part of. If a Cadet does not want to branch into the Infantry they do not have to.
Former EWU Army ROTC Cadets Kyle Stanton, Bryce Stanton, and Scott Hinshaw are pinned their infantry rifles by retired Brigadier General Neal Sealock during the 2018 Branching Ceremony.
Myth #5: College is Free to All Cadets
Joining ROTC does not mean that a Cadet automatically receives a scholarship to pay for school. Cadets have to compete for scholarships either through the national high school scholarship process or the campus based scholarship process. Cadets that excel in academics, fitness, and leadership have increased odds of either receiving 4, 3, or a 2 year scholarship. Just joining ROTC does not guarantee anyone a scholarship; the Cadet has to put the work in first to earn one.
Cierra Neumann is a 4-year Army ROTC National Scholarship recipient to Eastern Washington University who received scholarship benefits worth $77,000.
Myth #6: Army ROTC Cadets are Deployable
No, it is Army policy that Cadets cannot be deployed while enrolled in ROTC. Only after commissioning as an officer after college graduation and then completing nearly a year of advanced training will someone become eligible to deploy.
EWU Army ROTC Cadet, Rebekah Hardin takes a test.
Myth #7: Athletes Cannot Participate in ROTC
Yes, student athlete can still enroll into ROTC. For example a Duke University basketball player joined ROTC and commissioned as an officer in the National Guard while playing in the NBA for the New York Knicks. ROTC will work with student athletes to adjust assignment due dates and class attendance to not interfere with practice and games during the athletic season.
Mahliek Roberts from the Class of 2018 was an athlete and a Cadet during his time at EWU. He is now a successful commissioned officer serving in the Military Police branch.
Myth #8: National Guard or Reservists Cannot Join Army ROTC
EWU Army ROTC has many Cadets that are part of the National Guard or Reserves. They participate in ROTC through the Simultaneous Membership Program. SMP Cadets not only conduct ROTC training activities, but also participate in one weekend a month and two weeks annual drill with their Reserve or National Guard unit. Contracted SMP Cadets not only receive $420 a month from ROTC, but also receive money from the Army Reserve or National Guard for their drill days. SMP Cadets also can choose to accept a Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duties (GRFD) Scholarship that will allow them to pay for college and then commission as an officer in the National Guard or U.S. Army Reserves after graduation. If an SMP Cadet accepts a GRFD they cannot commission into the Active Duty Army.
Thomas Luce is an SMP Cadet that serves in the Washington State National Guard.
Myth #9: There is Not Enough Time to Work a Job and Still Do ROTC
Most of our Cadets have jobs and still are full time students and conduct their ROTC requirements. If there are work scheduling issues that come up the ROTC Cadre will accommodate Cadets on a case-by-case basis.
Myth #10: It is too Late to Enroll in ROTC If You Don’t Join as a Freshman
Students who are already in their second year of study can still join ROTC. If the Basic Course curriculum is not able to be compressed before the student’s projected graduation date, they may have to attend Basic Camp at Ft. Knox, Kentucky during the summer to catch them up. Basic Camp is not Basic Training. It is a four-week summer leadership training camp that enables Cadets that joined ROTC late to enter the Advanced Course (300-400 level courses) and compete for an ROTC scholarship. All Cadets who attend Basic Camp are paid along with all transportation, lodging, and food provided by the Army. About half of our Cadets join ROTC later in their college careers so this is nothing new or unusual. Contact our EWU Army ROTC office at rotc@ewu.edu or 509-359-6110 to discuss your options for joining ROTC.
Note:There are many myths out there about ROTC and want this to be a forum to address them. If anyone has any questions of things they heard about ROTC please leave a comment below and we will answer it. ROTC is definitely not for everyone, but having accurate information will help you make a better decision on whether you want to enroll or not.
Congratulations to Zachary Becker for being the latest Cadet to contract into ROTC. With his contracting Cadet Becker is activating a full tuition scholarship to EWU to pursue his Masters Degree in Accounting. He will also receive a $420 a month stipend and $1,200 annually for books to assist him financially on his path to receiving his Masters.
Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Stafford (right) the EWU Army ROTC Professor of Military Science gives the Oath of Enlistment to Cadet Zackary Becker (left).
We offer Masters degree scholarships that will pay for full tuition with no obligation to serve on active duty. Cadets have the option of serving in the National Guard or Reserves if they are looking to start a civilian career after the completion of their Masters degree. Get in contact with us at 509-359-6109 or rotc@ewu.edu to learn more. Go ROTC! Go Fighting Eags!
This month Cadets from the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Program (ROTC) Fighting Eagle Battalion continued its participation in the Adopt-A-Highway program sponsored by the Washington State Department of Transportation. On November 7, 2020 the Cadets cleaned a section of Lt. Col. Michael P. Anderson Memorial Highway of debris and litter. The section of the road, also known as Highway 904, is located just north of Cheney in Four Lakes.
EWU Army ROTC Cadets pick up garbage along Highway 904 through Four Lakes, Washington.
The Cadets woke up early Saturday morning, donned their safety equipment, and drove to Four Lakes to begin the clean up. The group then spread out over both sides of the highway to pick up any garbage they saw. Whether it was litter on the road or bulk garbage, EWU ROTC Cadets spent the next couple of hours cleaning up any trash in sight.
EWU Army ROTC Cadets Witcher (left) and Beier (right) pick up garbage along Highway 904.
Despite the chilly weather the Cadets ended the clean up in high spirits by helping keep the roadside through Four Lakes clean. The Fighting Eagles battalion looks forward to continuing its partnership with the Washington State Department of Transportation to maintain the cleanliness of this busy stretch highway for the local community
EWU Army ROTC Cadets (from left) Palmer, Becker, Watters, Lindsey, Schoup, Witcher, and Beier pose for a picture after completing the clean up of Highway 904 through Four Lakes.
The Eastern Washington University (EWU) Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) commissions Army officers not only onto Active Duty, but into the Army Reserves and the National Guard. This video shows the various training events conducted in ROTC and is narrated by 2018 EWU Army ROTC graduate First Lieutenant (1LT) Rebecca Troutt who is an officer in the Washington Army National Guard.
The National Guard provides a great opportunity for EWU students to serve their state and local communities while still pursuing a civilian career. The coronavirus pandemic and the wildfires in the Pacific Northwest has demonstrated what an important role the National Guard has in supporting communities in the region.
For students considering National Guard service as an officer, contact us at rotc@ewu.edu or 509-359-6110 to learn more about EWU Army ROTC. We offer scholarship designed exclusively for students pursuing National Guard service. Scholarships are available! Contact us to learn more!
The below video taken on September 13, 2020 shows how smoke covered the the Eastern Washington University campus. The smoke is from wildfires burning across the Pacific Northwest. EWU Army ROTC wishes the best to everyone negatively impacted by these wildfires. We also offer our condolences to the friends and family of anyone that lost their life from the fires. We encourage our Cadets to closely monitor their messages and emails for updates on upcoming training activities that may be impacted by the dangerous smoke levels.
