Spring FTX

Spring FTX Day 1

After a successful helicopter insertion operation from the Eastern Washington University (EWU) campus to Camp Seven Mile; Cadets from the EWU Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program began executing their Spring Field Training Exercise (FTX).

UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter drops off Fighting Eagles Cadets at Camp Seven Mile. (Photo courtesy of Mr. Jerry Mellick)

The Spring FTX was the third in a series of FTX’s to prepare MSIII (junior) Cadets for the rigors of Advanced Camp at Ft. Knox, Kentucky this summer. Advanced Camp is the major training event that all Cadets must pass in order to commission as an officer after their college graduation. The first FTX executed by EWU ROTC focused on individual soldier skills with the Expert Fighting Eagle Badge (EFEB) testing. The second FTX was our Winter FTX that focused on squad level operations (8-10 personnel). The Spring FTX trained Cadets on platoon level operations (30-40 personnel). Being a Platoon Leader is one of the first positions that Cadets will hold in the Army, after they commission as 2nd Lieutenants.

Terrain model of Camp Seven Mile.

The Spring FTX was held at Camp Seven Mile. Camp Seven Mile is military property that is part of Riverside State Park. The camp was established in 1933 to house Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) workers. After constructing the camp the CCC workers than began building the roads, trails, and replanting trees to create the beautiful state park seen today. In 1942 the CCC program was ended and the land turned over to the military. The land was used to train soldiers that deployed to World War II and the Korean War. The old camp property continues to be used for training purposes by Reserve, National Guard, and ROTC units in the region even though it is managed as part of the Washington State Park system.

The view looking down on the forested land of Camp Seven Mile from the helicopter Landing Zone.

Military boundary sign at Camp Seven Mile.

To make the training at Camp Seven Mile as realistic as possible all the training lanes were modeled after what the Cadets will see at Advanced Camp. As soon as they exited their helicopter, the Cadets immediately began to execute a training lane.

EWU ROTC Cadets pull landing zone security at Camp Seven Mile. (Picture from Mr. Jerry Mellick)

Shortly after leaving the landing zone to conduct their mission each platoon was attacked by Opposing Force (OPFOR) soldiers. We were very fortunate this year to have our OPFOR being executed by Soldiers from the Washington Army National Guard.

Soldiers form the Washington Army National Guard role play as the Opposing Force (OPFOR) during the EWU ROTC Spring FTX. (Picture from Mr. Jerry Mellick)

During the ambush the Cadets had to execute their react to ambush battle drills they learned in leadership labs earlier in the quarter.

EWU ROTC Cadets react to an ambush.

The Cadets for the FTX were issued M4 rifles and M249 Squad Automatic Weapons (SAW) with blank rounds along with SINCGARS radios. Carrying the real weapons, blank ammunition, and tactical radios allowed the Cadets to experience what it is like to carry the additional weight for an extended period of time. The weapons loaded with blank ammunition also allowed the Cadets to practice weapons safety by enforcing procedures to prevent negligent discharges.

A Cadet pull security at a patrol base with his M4 rifle loaded with blank ammunition.

A Cadet uses a SINCGARS radio during a mission.

Following the react to ambush lane the Fighting Eagles Cadets next participated in a night time land navigation course. Successfully completing day and night land navigation courses are major parts of passing Advanced Camp. The thickly forested Camp Seven Mile provides an area very similar to the conditions the Cadets will experience at Ft. Knox, Kentucky during Advanced Camp.

View of the forest at Camp Seven Mile.

MS IV Cadet Jordan Johnson gives a terrain model brief prior to the start of the night time land navigation course.

After the Cadets completed the night time land navigation course each platoon then bedded down for the night within their patrol bases.

Spring FTX Day 2

The next morning the Cadets woke up early to begin a busy day of training.

Cadets confer about an upcoming mission in their patrol base.

During Day 2 of the Spring FTX each platoon conducted various ambush, attack, raid, and defense lanes. To add to the realism of the training on Day 2, smoke and artillery simulators were used throughout the day.

OPFOR uses purple smoke to obscure their attack against a patrol base.

Cadets emerge from a cloud of yellow smoke during a raid mission.

To ensure that the MS-III Cadets received the maximum training possible, enough lanes were conducted to where the MS-III’s had a chance to either be a Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, or Platoon Leader. These leadership positions are what they will be evaluated on at Advanced Camp this summer. To help them improve in these leadership positions, after every lane an After Action Review was conducted by MS-IV and Cadre observer controllers. An AAR is used to describe what the Cadet did correctly and identify areas of improvement.

MS-IV Scott Hinshaw conducts an AAR after a platoon raid lane.

Once night came on Day 2 of the Spring FTX, the Cadets again conducted a nighttime land navigation course to give them further practice to master this important individual Soldier skill.

Spring FTX Day 3

On Day 3 of the Spring FTX, the platoons from the Fighting Eagles battalion each conducted one more training lane on that morning. The completion of the training lane concluded the platoon training portion of the Spring FTX.

EWU ROTC Cadets return fire during Day 3 of the Spring FTX.

An EWU ROTC Cadet reacts to contact during Day 3 of the Spring FTX.

During the execution of all these training lanes, each of the platoons had to call up their reports to the Tactical Operations Center (TOC). At the TOC, MS-IV Cadets took the reports and coordinated food, water, and ammunition resupply requested by the platoons. The TOC operations provided added realism to the training and practical TOC experience for our MS-IV Cadets.

Cadet Erling Anderson answers the radio at the TOC at Camp Seven Mile.

The final training event for Day 3 was for the Cadets to conduct a daytime land navigation course. For daytime land navigation, each Cadet had to find more points over a more expansive area than the nighttime course. The distances between points caused the land navigation course to not only be mentally challenging, but physically challenging as well. After already being out in the field for three days the daytime land navigation course was one last challenge that pushed the Cadets to reach new limits of their own personal endurance and resiliency.

View of the terrain used for the daytime land navigation course.

EWU ROTC Cadet conducts the daytime land navigation course at Camp Seven Mile.

After the completion of the land navigation course the exhausted Cadets were then transported by bus back to Cadet Hall at the EWU Campus. At Cadet Hall a well deserved dinner of Italian food was waiting for the hungry Cadets.

Cadets enjoy eating an Italian dinner at the conclusion of the Spring FTX.

EWU ROTC Cadets enjoy plates of noodles after completion of the Spring FTX.

Conclusion

The Spring FTX was a great success that provided great training in platoon level operations to the EWU ROTC Cadets. Our Cadets also received important training in day and night land navigation. Most importantly it provided our MS-III Cadets an opportunity to rotate through the leadership positions they will be evaluated on at Advanced Camp this summer. Their performance at the Spring FTX indicates that they are well prepared and ready to excel at Advanced Camp.

Go ROTC! Go Fighting Eags!

On April 25th, 2019 the “Fighting Eagles” Cadets from the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program began their 3-day Spring Field Training Exercise (FTX). To begin the exercise the Cadets would fly in UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the EWU campus in Cheney, Washington to Camp Seven Mile located north of Spokane.

EWU ROTC Cadets march towards Roos Field to await arrival of helicopters.

The Cheney Fire Department sprays down the landing zone prior to the arrival of the helicopters to limit the blowing of debris.

The helicopter landing on campus was made possible by coordination between EWU ROTC, campus authorities, the EWU police department, and Cheney Fire Department. The Blackhawk helicopters were piloted by soldiers from the Washington Army National Guard’s 96th Aviation Troop Command out of Joint Base Lewis-McCord (JBLM). They landed their helicopters in a parking lot adjacent to the iconic red turf of Roos Field, more popularly known as “The Inferno”.

UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters land on the EWU campus.

EWU ROTC “Fighting Eagles” Battalion Cadets ready to fly out to the Spring FTX.

VIPs Fly with the Fighting Eagles

Something special about this year’s flight out to the Spring FTX is that the EWU President, Dr. Mary Cullinan flew out with the Cadets to the FTX. Joining Dr. Cullinan on the flight out was EWU Provost, Dr. Scott Gordon, and Dean of the College of Social Sciences, Dr. Jonathan Anderson. Prominent EWU ROTC alumni, Brigadier General (retired) Neal Sealock and Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Jerry Mellick joined the university leadership on the flight out. BG Sealock is the current Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (CASA) for Eastern Washington.

From left: LTC(R) Jerry Mellick, Dr. Scott Gordon, Dr. Mary Cullinan, Dr. Jonathan Anderson, LTC Jonathan Stafford, BG(R) Neal Sealock

The VIPs were transported in UH-72 helicopters piloted by Washington National Guard soldiers out of Fairchild Air Force Base.

UH-72 Lakota helicopters land on the EWU campus.

After receiving “cold load” training to prepare for the flight, the Cadets then began to load up into their helicopters.

Cadets board a Blackhawk helicopter.

EWU ROTC Cadets ready for action.

High Above EWU

The VIPs loaded in the UH-72 Lakota helicopters took off first and watched the Blackhawks take off with the Cadets from the air.

Blackhawk helicopters can be seen on the upper right preparing to take off near Roos Field more commonly known as “The Inferno”.

The airborne perspective provided views of areas commonly used by EWU ROTC Cadets. For example the Palouse Hills to the west of Roos Field is a training area often used to conduct leadership labs at.

The Palouse Hills adjacent to the EWU campus.

The Cheney Waterworks is a wooded area located to the east of Cheney which is another area often used to conduct leadership labs at:

The wetlands that make up the Cheney Waterworks property.

Blackhawks take off from the EWU campus.

Eastern Washington University President, Dr. Mary Cullinan views the EWU campus from a UH-72 Lakota helicopter.

The view looking down on the center of the EWU campus.

The city of Cheney with the EWU campus located on the upper left.

Blackhawks carrying EWU ROTC Cadets fly over Cheney, Washington.

A closer look at the Blackhawks carrying Cadets from the EWU ROTC program.

Flying to Camp Seven Mile

From the EWU campus the Blackhawk helicopters followed the Lakotas towards Camp Seven Mile. During the flight the helicopters passed over the beautiful Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge and the city of Spokane, before following the Spokane River north towards Camp Seven Mile.

The beautiful wetlands of the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge.

The helicopters approach the South Hill area of Spokane with highway 195 that runs to Pullman visible on the left.

Downtown Spokane, Washington.

EWU President Dr. Mary Cullinan flying in a UH-72 Lakota helicopter over downtown Spokane, WA.

EWU Provost, Dr. Scott Gordon pictured flying in a UH-72 Lakota over downtown Spokane, WA.

Helicopters begin to follow the Spokane River towards Camp Seven Mile.

Flying over the Spokane River to Camp Seven Mile.

Arrival at Camp Seven Mile

After following the Spokane River north of Spokane, the helicopters soon arrived at Camp Seven Mile. Camp Seven Mile is military property that is part of Riverside State Park. The camp was established in 1933 to house Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) workers. After constructing the camp the CCC workers than began building the roads, trails, and replanting trees to create the beautiful state park seen today. In 1942 the CCC program was ended and the land turned over to the military. The land was used to train soldiers that deployed to World War II and the Korean War. The old camp property continues to be used for training purposes by Reserve, National Guard, and ROTC units in the region even though it is managed as part of the Washington State Park system.

Blackhawk helicopters carrying EWU ROTC Cadets fly over Camp Seven Mile.

Blackhawk helicopters carrying EWU ROTC Cadets land at Camp Seven Mile.

Fighting Eagles Cadets unload from their Blackhawk helicopter.

Blackhawk helicopter departs from Camp Seven Mile.

Successful Operation

The ride out to Camp Seven Mile via helicopter made for a memorable first day of the Spring FTX for the Cadets of the EWU ROTC program. The leadership from ROTC thanks all the campus authorities, EWU Police Department, Fire Department, and the 96th Aviation Troop Command for making the helicopter insertion to Camp Seven Mile possible. We also thank Dr. Cullinan, Dr. Gordon, Dr. Anderson, BG(R) Sealock, and LTC(R) Mellick for flying out with the Cadets during the first day of the Spring FTX. The success of our helicopter operations demonstrates the incredible community we have at Eastern that supports our ROTC program.