Instructor of the Year – EWU Army ROTC

The Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), “Fighting Eagles” battalion is pleased to announce that for the second year in a row one of our faculty members has been recognized with a U.S. Army Cadet Command Instructor of the Year Award. Major (MAJ) Nicholas Carbaugh was recognized as the 2020 Officer Instructor of the Year out of all 274 ROTC battalion across the country.

As MAJ Carbaugh advanced through the different levels of the award process he had to submit multiple videos of himself instructing his students as well as letters of recommendation. A board at Cadet Command headquarters at Fort Knox, Kentucky review all the submissions from across the United States that made it to the final round and selected MAJ Carbaugh as the top instructor.

MAJ Carbaugh is a finance graduate from Virginia Tech who serves in the Field Artillery branch. He has been instructing at EWU for nearly two years. This year he has served as the lead instructor for our third year Cadets to prepare them to attend Advanced Camp training. For the past two years our Cadets have had well above average Advanced Camp scores assisted by MAJ Carbaugh’s instruction.

MAJ Carbaugh also represents the Department of Military Science as its representative on the Academic Senate. As a senator he is responsible for helping to formulate university policy and take part in the development of recommendations to be acted on by the Board of Trustees. In the local community he was elected as the Treasurer for the Montessori School Board where he is responsible for advising on how the school spends its budget. MAJ Carbaugh is clearly not only an outstanding instructor, but an important part of the university, and the community. Congratulations to MAJ Carbaugh for his well deserved recognition as the 2020 U.S. Army Cadet Command Officer Instructor of the Year.

MAJ Carbaugh driving our historic Jeep while conducting Cannon Crew duties at an EWU home football game.

MAJ Carbaugh’s award follows the Non-Commissioned Officer Instructor of the Year Award given to then Sergeant First Class (SFC) Jason Hennig last year. EWU Army ROTC is only program in the nation that has won a total of three national Cadet Command awards for excellence the past two years. Last year our Human Resources Administrator, Ms. Linda Moody won the award for the top Cadet Command HRA as well.

For anyone wanting to be part of our award winning ROTC program, it is still possible to sign up. ROTC is the one way to explore military service with no obligation to join. Any enrolled or incoming EWU student can sign up for a military science class. Please contact Ms. Linda Moody at (509) 359-6104 or by email at lmoody1@ewu.edu to determine which military science class is best for you.

Eagle Strong! Go Fighting Eags!

The Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) “Fighting Eagles” battalion is pleased to announce that one of our faculty members, Sergeant First Class (SFC) Jason Hennig has been selected as the 2018 US Army Cadet Command NCO Instructor of the Year. Each year US Army Cadet Command recognizes one non-commissioned officer (NCO), from its 274 ROTC battalions across the country for this award, with this year’s recognition deservedly going to SFC Hennig.

SFC Jason Hennig

ROTC Impact

Positively impacting the lives of young men and women is what we do in the Fighting Eagles battalion and over the past year SFC Hennig has done just that. For example he was a driving force in preparing our MS-III (Junior) Cadets for Advanced Camp. Advanced Camp is held each summer at Ft. Knox, Kentucky and the 37 day event is the culmination of three years of intense training in the ROTC program. All Cadets must pass Advanced Camp to commission as an officer into the US Army and must perform well to improve their chances of receiving their top branch choice. All 19 EWU ROTC Cadets passed Advanced Camp with 12 of 19 (63%) of them receiving outstanding or excellent scores. These high scores helped 11 of the 14 Cadets commissioning this year to receive their first branch choice in the Army. This 78% success rate was greater than the Cadet Command average of 60%.

SFC Hennig also helped with organizing many great Cadet activities such as the Expert Fighting Eagle Badge (EFEB) competition that tests Cadets on basic Soldier skills. Cadets that pass this test are awarded an EFEB to wear on their Cadet uniform. The challenging competition is one of the ways EWU ROTC Cadets are prepared to succeed at Advanced Camp. SFC Hennig also assisted with organizing the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (GAFPB) testing that saw 167 Cadets, Soldiers, Airmen, and Sailors travel to the EWU campus to compete for the badge. Due to SFC Hennig’s training plan, the Fighting Eagles battalion had the highest number pass the test with 26x personnel receiving a GAFPB.

University and Community Impact

Besides being a great instructor in the ROTC program, SFC Hennig has also been selected as a guest speaker for classes in the EWU Department of Women and Gender Studies. His guest lectures have focused on the US Army’s sexual assault prevention program and the role of women in the Army. He was also invited to serve as a motivational speaker for the women’s soccer team prior to their opening game in the conference tournament. SFC Hennig has been very active in the local community as well. He serves as a Cub Scout Leader for Pack 258 in Spokane, which consists of weekly den meetings and bi weekly weekend events such as Scouting Out Hunger and visiting senior centers.

The EWU ROTC Professor of Military Science, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Stafford (left) congratulates Sergeant First Class Jason Hennig (right) after he was awarded the Bronze de Fleury Medal this past January.

SFC Hennig is clearly a high performing leader and instructor that has made a positive impact on the Fighting Eagles battalion, Eastern Washington University, and the greater community. Once again congratulations to SFC Hennig for his well deserved recognition as the US Army Cadet Command NCO Instructor of the Year.

For Two Years in A Row, EWU Army ROTC Recognized with Top Instructor Award

EWU Army ROTC NCO Recognized as the Cadet Command Instructor of the Year

ROTC Impact

University and Community Impact

Go ROTC! Go Fighting Eags!