Fighting Eagles Cadet Contracts into Army ROTC to Pursue A Masters Degree

Cadet Becker

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!

Cadet Zackary Becker salutes the American flag.

More pictures from the ceremony can be seen and downloaded from our EWU Army ROTC Flickr page.

EWU Army ROTC Conducts 2020 Contracting Ceremony

2020 EWU Army ROTC Contracting Ceremony

On September 24, 2020 the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program contracted 6 Cadets into the U.S. Army.  The Contracting Ceremony was held in front of the historic Showalter Hall on the EWU campus.  Showalter Hall is the oldest building on EWU’s campus that was built back in 1915 when EWU was a teacher’s college.  Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the Contracting Ceremony was attending by a small number of Cadets and family members and masks and social distancing requirements were followed.  Full video of the ceremony can be viewed below:

During the ceremony the 6 Cadets recited the Oath of Enlistment given to them by Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Stafford, the Professor of Military Science for the EWU Army ROTC program.  The first Oath of Enlistment was developed during the Revolutionary War when the Continental Congress established different oaths for the enlisted men and officers of the Continental Army.  The first Oath of Enlistment under the Constitution was approved by an Act of Congress on 29 September 1789. It applied to all commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted Soldiers in the United States military.

EWU Army ROTC Cadets, Isabell Pannell, Caleb Geringer, Nik Chapple, Charles Golding, Giovanni Beegen, and Kyle Collins stand in formation preparing to contract.

Contracting Cadets salute the unfurling of the U.S. flag.

Contracting ceremony officer in charge (OIC) Cadet Crystal Cruz turns over the formation to LTC Jonathan Stafford.

The oath would receive minor modifications during the 1800’s, but the current oath recited by the contracting Cadets has remained unchanged since 1959.  Here is the current Oath of Enlistment:

“I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

Cadets are given the Oath of Enlistment by LTC Jonathan Stafford.

LTC Jonathan Stafford contracts 6 Cadets into EWU Army ROTC.

Following the reciting of the Oath of Enlistment, the 6 Cadets were then given their right shoulder sleeve EWU Army ROTC patch. The patch was presented by Master Sergeant Michael Zehring who explained the importance of the right shoulder sleeve patch that recognizes combat service in the active U.S. Army. In the EWU ROTC program the right should sleeve patch recognizes these Cadets’ commitment to serve their country by contracting into EWU ROTC.

Cadet Charles Golding proudly displays his EWU ROTC patch after contracting.

By contracting the Cadets can now activate scholarship benefits, receive a $420 a month monetary stipend, attend advanced training, internships, and other opportunities to help them towards their goal of becoming a U.S. Army officer after graduating from EWU.  Congratulations to all six of our newly contracted Cadets!

Isabell Pannell
Caleb Geringer
Nik Chapple
Charles Golding
Giovanni Beegen
Kyle Collins

Note: More pictures from the ceremony can be viewed on our Flickr page.

How to Contract into ROTC

When Cadets first enroll into an ROTC class, they have no military obligation.  Taking an ROTC class is the one way to explore military service without having to contract into the military.  For students who find that military service is something they want to pursue they can then contract into ROTC.  Contracting requires the Cadet to meet specified academic, physical fitness, character, and medical requirements.  The are various options to contract and a college student does not have to join ROTC as a first year student to explore military service.  We have many transfer students, sophomores, and juniors and even Masters students enroll into ROTC to explore military service before making a decision to contract.  Please read our Contracting page or reach EWU ROTC through our Contact page for more information on contracting options.

Eastern Washington University Army ROTC Holds 2019 Contracting Ceremony

2019 Army ROTC Contracting Ceremony

On September 26, 2019 the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program contracted 9 Cadets into the U.S. Army.  The Contracting Ceremony was held in front of the historic Showalter Hall on the EWU campus.  Showalter Hall is the oldest building on EWU’s campus that was built back in 1915 when EWU was a teacher’s college.  The Contracting Ceremony was attended by faculty, fellow Cadets, alumni, friends, and family.

Contractees Salute
Nine Contracting Cadets from the EWU Army ROTC program salute the flag during the playing of the National Anthem.

During the ceremony the 9 Cadets recited the Oath of Enlistment given to them by Captain (Promotable) Nicholas Carbaugh, the Assistant Professor of Military Science for the EWU Army ROTC program.  The first Oath of Enlistment was developed during the Revolutionary War when the Continental Congress established different oaths for the enlisted men and officers of the Continental Army.  The first Oath of Enlistment under the Constitution was approved by an Act of Congress on 29 September 1789. It applied to all commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted Soldiers in the United States military.

EWU ROTC Contracting Ceremony 2019
Emma LaTour, Liam Hewey, Kaylie Watters, Destin Garcia, JP Dutton, Everett Kuhnel, Jennafer Knight, Ethan Smart, Evan Lien take the Oath of Enlistment into the U.S. Army.

The oath would receive minor modifications during the 1800’s, but the current oath recited by the contracting Cadets has remained unchanged since 1959.  Here is the current Oath of Enlistment:

“I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

Contracting Picture
Emma LaTour, Liam Hewey, Kaylie Watters, Destin Garcia, and JP Dutton contract into the U.S. Army.

Contracting picture
JP Dutton, Everett Kuhnel, Jennafer Knight, Ethan Smart, and Evan Lien contract into the U.S. Army.

Following the reciting of the Oath of Enlistment, the 9 Cadets were then given their right shoulder sleeve EWU ROTC patch. The patch was presented by Master Sergeant Michael Zehring who explained the importance of the right shoulder sleeve patch that recognizes combat service in the active U.S. Army. In the EWU ROTC program the right should sleeve patch recognizes these Cadets’ commitment to serve their country by contracting into the EWU Army ROTC program.

By contracting the Cadets can now activate scholarship benefits, receive a $420 a month monetary stipend, attend advanced training, internships, and other opportunities to help them towards their goal of becoming a U.S. Army officer after graduating from EWU.  Congratulations to all nine of our newly contracted Cadets!

How to Contract into ROTC

When Cadets first enroll into an ROTC class, they have no military obligation.  Taking an ROTC class is the one way to explore military service without having to contract into the military.  For students who find that military service is something they want to pursue they can then contract into ROTC.  Contracting requires the Cadet to meet specified academic, physical fitness, character, and medical requirements.  The are various options to contract and a college student does not have to join ROTC as a first year student to explore military service.  We have many transfer students, sophomores, and juniors enroll into ROTC to explore military service before making a decision to contract.  Please read our Contracting page or reach EWU ROTC through our Contact page for more information on contracting options.

EWU ROTC Contracts 10 Cadets into the US Army In Front of Historic Showalter Hall

On September 20, 2018 the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program contracted 10 Cadets into the US Army.  A Contracting Ceremony was held in front of Showalter Hall which is the oldest building on EWU’s campus.  Showalter Hall was built back in 1915 when EWU was a teacher’s college.  (Note: All the following pictures provided by Mr. Rob Riedel)

The Contracting Ceremony was attended by senior university leadership, fellow Cadets, alumni, friends, and family.

All 10 Cadets recited the Oath of Enlistment given to them by Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Stafford, the Professor of Military Science and Department Chair for the EWU ROTC program.

The first Oath of Enlistment was developed during the Revolutionary War when the Continental Congress established different oaths for the enlisted men and officers of the Continental Army.  Here is what the original oath said:

“I _____, do acknowledge the Thirteen United States of America, namely, New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, to be free, independent, and sovereign states, and declare, that the people thereof owe no allegiance or obedience to George the third, king of Great Britain; and I renounce, refuse and abjure any allegiance or obedience to him; and I do swear that I will, to the utmost of my power, support, maintain, and defend the said United States against the said king, George the third, and his heirs and successors, and his and their abettors, assistants and adherents; and will serve the said United States in the office of _____, which I now hold, and in any other office which I may hereafter hold by their appointment, or under their authority, with fidelity and honour, and according to the best of my skill and understanding. So help me God.”

The first Oath of Enlistment under the Constitution was approved by an Act of Congress on 29 September 1789.  It applied to all commissioned officers, noncommissioned officers, and enlisted Soldiers in the United States military.

The oath would receive minor modifications during the 1800’s, but the current oath recited by the contracting Cadets has remained unchanged since 1959.  Here is the current Oath of Enlistment:

“I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

By contracting the Cadets can now activate scholarship benefits, receive a monthly monetary stipend, attend advanced training, and other opportunities to help them towards their goal of becoming a US Army officer after graduating from EWU.

Following the reciting of the Oath of Enlistment, the 10 Cadets were then given their right shoulder sleeve EWU ROTC patch.  The patch was presented by Sergeant First Class Jason Hennig who explained the importance of the right shoulder sleeve patch that recognizes combat service in the active US Army.  In the EWU ROTC program the right should sleeve patch recognizes these Cadets’ commitment to the program by contracting.

A video of the Contracting Ceremony can be viewed below:

Congratulations to all 10 of our great EWU ROTC Cadets who contracted into the US Army:

  • Jacob Villasenor
  • Samantha Knight
  • Christopher Milward
  • Isabelle Erickson
  • Adam Burnside
  • Chad Triplett
  • Jazmin Castrejon
  • Jameson Palmer
  • Matthew Jeffs
  • Andreas Brazier.