football – Page 2 – EWU Army ROTC

EWU ROTC Supports Football Team’s Quarterfinal Playoff Victory Over UC-Davis

12/08/2018 by jstafford3

The Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Cadets were out once again supporting the home football team during its quarterfinal game against University of California-Davis (UC-Davis) today at Roos Field. The two Big Sky Conference foes had played just a month earlier at Roos Field with Eastern winning by a score of 59-20. This game would prove to me much different. One of the differences was the weather which was much colder than the last time these two teams met. Throughout the day the temperatures remained below freezing with a thin layer of frost covering everything around the stadium. Despite the cold conditions the EWU ROTC Cannon Crew was ready to support the home team with our historic World War II era howitzer:

After a quick first touchdown by EWU the first half began to be controlled by UC-Davis by going up 14-7 before EWU made it a 14-14 tie game capped by an incredible defensive stand at the goal line just before halftime.

Cadet Polello fires the EWU ROTC howitzer after a home team touchdown.

Cadet Smart fires the EWU ROTC howitzer after a home team touchdown.

In the second half the sun went down making the temperatures even colder. However, our Cannon Crew was ready with a small fire to keep warm around:

The more the temperatures dropped though the more the game seemed heat up as Eastern and UC-Davis traded touchdowns.

Cadet Beier fires the historic EWU ROTC howitzer after a second half touchdown.

After UC-Davis went up by a score of 29-28 after a successful two point conversion with 1:13 left in the fourth quarter, prospects for the home team were not looking good. However, the resilient Eagles football team fought back to score a touchdown to win the game with :26 seconds left on the clock by a score of 34-29.

Cadet Beier fires the historic EWU ROTC howitzer after the final home team touchdown to win the game.

Congratulations to the EWU football team for an incredible win. The football team will be in action next weekend in the FCS Semifinals against the University of Maine. Since EWU is the higher ranked seed in the playoffs, they will host the playoff game at Roos Field in what will be the first ever meeting between the two teams. The EWU Color Guard and Cannon Crew teams will both be at the game supporting the football team. We look forward to welcoming Maine to Roos Field with the sound of our howitzer.

Go Cannon Crew! Go Fighting Eags!

EWU ROTC Supports Football Team’s Second Round Playoff Victory

12/02/2018 by jstafford3

It was a beautiful, but cold day yesterday at Roos Field as the Eastern Washington University (EWU) football team hosted a second round football playoff game against Nicholls State University.

Our EWU Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Color Guard supported the home team by presenting the colors just before the 2PM kickoff.

Our EWU ROTC Cannon Crew was also on hand to fire our historic pack howitzer after every home team touchdown. Unfortunately the Cannon Crew did not have much to do in the first half as EWU was down 14-3 and Nichols State was getting ready to kick a field goal as time was about to run out before halftime to go up 17-3. Incredibly the kicked was blocked and ran back for an EWU touchdown causing our cannon crew to do a quick crew drill to fire the cannon after the extremely exciting, but unexpected touchdown.

During the second half the sun lowered and with it the temperatures became even colder at Roos Field which is also known as “The Inferno” due to its signature red field. Our EWU ROTC Cadets were ready to heat up the Inferno with some more Cannon Crew action.

During the second half the colder it got, the hotter the EWU football team became as they want on a streak of 39 unanswered points keeping our Cadets very busy.

The Cannon Crew would continue to bring the heat to the home crowd at the Inferno by lighting up the sky and bringing our signature loud boom after each home team touchdown.

Congratulations to the EWU football team for its exciting 42-21 victory over Nicholls State. Our EWU ROTC Cadets look forward to supporting the football team next weekend as it takes on University California-Davis at Roos Field in the third round of the FCS playoffs. Let’s bring more heat to the Inferno next week.

Go Eags!

Eastern Washington University Honors Veterans and Cadets During 2018 Military Appreciation Day Game

11/11/2018 by jstafford3

November 10, 2018 was more than just a huge college football showdown between #4 ranked University of California-Davis (UC-Davis) and the #5 ranked Eastern Washington University (EWU), it was also the university’s annual Military Appreciation Day game. As part of the day’s festivities Cadets from the EWU Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Fighting Eagles Battalion were invited to the VIP alumni area before the game. The University President Dr. Mary Cullinan met with the Cadets and took pictures with them before they departed to support pre-game activities.

From left: Professor of Military Science, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Stafford, Samantha Knight, Megan Anderson, Dr. Mary Cullinan, Megan Baker, Cheyenne Sweet, and Melinda Leen.

As part of the pre-game activities Cadets, active duty military personnel, and veterans from the local community stretched an oversized American flag across Roos Field. The EWU ROTC Cadets had been practicing all week to execute the pre-game show despite the cold weather that has arrived in Eastern Washington this week. The practice paid off as both the Color Guard and the flag team performed flawlessly during the event.

EWU ROTC Cadets pose for a group photo before executing the pre-game show as part of Military Appreciation Day activities on November 10, 2018 at Eastern Washington University.

EWU ROTC Cadets Samantha Knight, Megan Anderson, Megan Baker, Cheyenne Sweet, and Melinda Leen prepare to conduct Color Guard duties. (Photo from Mr. Jerry Mellick)

Cadet Commanding Officer Haley Bent (center) poses with the EWU Color Guard. (Photo by Mr. Jerry Mellick)

EWU ROTC Cadets prepare to unfurl a large American flag as part of pre-game activities.

EWU ROTC Color Guard prepared to march on to Roos Field. (Photo by Mr. Jerry Mellick)

The EWU ROTC Color Guard and Cadets present flags during the singing of the National Anthem. (Photo by Mr. Rob Riedel)

Cadets Samantha Knight, Megan Anderson, Megan Baker, Cheyenne Sweet, and Melinda Leen execute Color Guard duties before the November 10, 2018 home football game. (Photo by Mr. Rob Riedel)

Besides conducting pre-game activities, the EWU ROTC battalion also executed its cannon crew duties during the game.

EWU ROTC Cadets pose with the battalion’s historic World War II pack howitzer. (Photo by Mr. Rob Riedel)

EWU mascot, Swoop made time to visit with the cannon crew. (Photo by Mr. Rob Riedel)

After every home team touchdown the cannon crew fires the cannon much to the jubilation of the home crowd.

Cadet Jazmin Castrejon fires the historic pack howitzer after a touchdown.

At halftime a contracting ceremony was held on the 50-yard line. Cadets Michael Beier and Kylie Crooks 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 battalion.

Michael Beier (left) and Kylie Crooks (right) take Oath of Enlistment from Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Stafford. (Photo by Mr. Rob Riedel)

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 September 29, 1789. It applied to all commissioned officers, noncommissioned officers, and enlisted Soldiers in the United States military.

EWU ROTC Cadets take the Oath of Enlistment at halftime of the EWU Military Appreciation Day game. (Photo by Mr. Rob Riedel)

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

“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.

EWU ROTC Cadets Michael Beier (left) and Kylie Crooks (right) repeat the Oath of Enlistment into the microphone. (Photo by Mr. Rob Riedel)

After the halftime contracting ceremony the Fighting Eagle Cadets would fire the cannon 5 more times after an offensive barrage of touchdowns from the home team.

Newly contracted Cadet, Kylie Crooks fires the historic pack howitzer after a 2nd half touchdown.

The EWU football team would ultimately defeat UC-Davis by a score of 59-17, which capped off a memorable Military Appreciation Day for everyone involved. For anyone wanting to see more pictures from the game, EWU ROTC alumni, Mr. Jerry Mellick has his photos posted at this link.

From all the Cadre at the EWU ROTC battalion we hope everyone has a great Veterans Day weekend.

Go ROTC! Go Eags!

EWU ROTC Cannon Crew Prepares for the September 1st Home Football Game

08/29/2018 by jstafford3

The Eastern Washington University football team begins the 2018 football season this weekend on September 1st against Central Washington University. Kickoff for the game is at 1:05 PM Pacific time at Roos Field in Cheney. In support of the football team the EWU ROTC will be firing our 75mm howitzer cannon after every touchdown. The Fighting Eagles Battalion is ready to fire a lot of rounds on Saturday in support of the football team. Go Eagles!