From 1-3 November, 2018 the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) battalion conducted its annual Expert Fighting Eagle Badge (EFEB) testing. The EFEB test challenges Cadets to pass 5 mandatory events and 10 of 13 additional events in order to wear the highly coveted EFEB badge on their Cadet uniforms.
The Expert Fighting Eagle Badge
This third year of EFEB testing saw 65 Cadets attempt to earn the badge. Each event was organized, executed, and evaluated by Cadets that had previously been awarded the EFEB. The first event was the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) conducted at Roos Field on the morning of November 1st. It is a mandatory requirement for the Cadets to pass the APFT to be eligible to be awarded the EFEB.
EWU ROTC Cadets take the APFT at Roos Field on November, 1, 2018.
The rest of the day on Thursday featured one last train up for all the Cadets on various skills before testing on all the events over the next two days.
Cadet Melinda Leen (center) gives train up EFEB briefing to EWU ROTC Cadets.
Cadet Tyler Roylance briefs EWU ROTC Cadets on how to assemble an M4 rifle.
On Friday, November 2nd the actual testing began. Before conducting the EFEB test the Cadets geared up and put on their camouflage face paint.
EWU ROTC ready to conduct Expert Fighting Eagle Badge testing.
The first EFEB tests were held at Cadet Hall. The tests included:
- ASIP Radio procedures
- SALUTE Report
- M4 Assembly/Disassembly
- M240 Assembly/Disassembly
- M249 Assembly/Disassembly
- Hand and Arm Signals
- Written Land Nav test
EWU Cadets take the written land navigation test.
Cadets Liam Hewey (left) and Isabelle Erickson (right) take the written land navigation test.
Cadet Jazmin Castrejon conducts weapons assembly/disassembly testing.
Cadet Everett Kuhnel conducts weapons assembly while Cadet Coy Odiorne watches (right).
Cadet Libby Glover (left) is tested on Hand and Arm Signals.
Cadet Megan Baker conducts the ASIP radio test.
After completing the testing of events at Cadet Hall the EWU ROTC Cadets then moved out to the woodlands located at the Cheney Waterworks. After setting up camp the Cadets then bed down for the night in the forest to rest up for the next day’s activities.
Command post tent in the woodlands of the Cheney Waterworks.
Cadets warm up by the fire at the camp at the Cheney Waterworks.
At 0330 in the morning on Saturday, November 2nd the Cadets were woken up to get ready to execute night land navigation. To pass the night land navigation event each Cadet had to successfully find 3 of 4 points within a two hour timeframe. Night land navigation was one of the mandatory events that Cadets had to pass to be awarded the EFEB.
Cadet Andrew Norby briefs a terrain model of the night land navigation course prior to the event.
Cadets Kyle Stanton and Carly Garland grade night land navigation results in the command post tent.
After each event, Cadet Erling Anderson inputted scores into a specially designed database that provided instant scoring feedback.
EWU ROTC Cadets warm up by the fire after completing night land navigation.
After the Cadets completed night land navigation they then were able to eat an egg and sausage burrito breakfast cooked up by the EWU ROTC Cadre.
Assistant Professor of Military Science, Captain Gregory Benjamin cooks up eggs for breakfast for the Cadets.
After completing night land navigation and eating breakfast, the Cadets then conducted their day land navigation testing. For day land navigation they had to find 4 of 5 points to pass the event. Day land navigation was another mandatory event that had to be passed to be awarded the EFEB.
EWU Cadet plots points during day land navigation.
EWU ROTC Cadet finds a point on the day land navigation course.
After day land navigation the Cadets then conducted a hand grenade course. The Cadets had to successfully throw simulated hand grenades at three targets of various distances to pass the event.
Cadet Everett Kuhnel throws a grenade.
Cadet Amayia Roberts throws a grenade.
The next station the Cadets were tested on was the Tactical Combat Casualty Care lane. Cadets had to successfully evaluate and properly treat injuries to pass the event.
Cadet Jameson Palmer evaluates a casualty.
Cadet Olivia Roble evaluates a casualty.
The final lane at the Cheney Waterworks was the individual movement techniques lane. Cadets had to successfully demonstrate proficiency in tactical movement techniques to pass the lane.
Cadet Samantha Knight conducts the individual movement techniques lane.
Cadet Hayley Primm low crawls at the Cheney Waterworks.
After completing the training at the Cheney Waterworks, the Cadets then had to complete a 6-mile road march back to Cadet Hall. Completing the road march was another mandatory event that had to be passed.
EWU ROTC Cadets prepare to conduct the 6-mile road march.
Cadets Carly Garland and Hayley Primm conduct the 6-mile road march.
Cadet Josiah Bryan conducts the 6-mile road march.
Cadet Destin Garcia gives a thumbs up during the 6-mile road march.
Cadet Candace Madriaga smiles during the 6-mile road march.
After completing the road march the Cadets then had to successfully cross over the monkey bars outside of Cadet Hall, then climb over two walls, and then climb a rope.
Cadet Josiah Bryan crosses the monkey bars.
Cadets conduct the wall and ropes course below Cadet Hall.
Following the completion of the EFEB testing an award ceremony was held at Cadet Hall to recognize the Cadets that achieved all the standards for the EFEB. Demonstrating how difficult it is to receive the Expert Fighting Eagle Badge, out of 65 Cadets only 10 met all the standards to be awarded the badge. The Cadets that received the badge were:
- Jameson Palmer (True Red)
- Cesar Guzman
- Chad Triplett
- Christopher Milward
- Austin Pfennig
- Valentino Olmstead
- Marcos Sanchez (True Red)
- Kyle Isaacson
- Hunter Smith (True Red)
- Jacob Villasenor (True Red)
Of the ten awardees four of them received “True Red” status by receiving “Go’s” in every event during the testing.
(Back row from left to right: Jameson Palmer, Cesar Guzman, Chad Triplett, Christopher Milward, Austin Pfennig. Front Row from left to right: Valentino Olmstead, Marcos Sanchez, Kyle Isaacson, Hunter Smith, and Jacob Villasenor.)
The 2018 EFEB pass percentage of 15% is typical of past years which shows how hard it is to receive the badge. Cadets typically need 2-3 years in the ROTC to build up the skills necessary to receive the badge. The EWU ROTC Cadre is extremely proud of all 65 Cadets that tested for the EFEB and offers a big congratulations to the ten Cadets awarded the badge.
Go Fighting Eagles!
Great job. Most SROTC do not even train to earn this event.
Great idea to earn a great respectable badge.
Mr. Tetu, thanks for commenting. I am not sure how many other Senior ROTC programs do something like this, but the EFEB is a great challenge for the Cadets in the battalion to earn. Even those who don’t meet the standard still receive valuable training from participating.
Additionally the EFEB is a nice build up to the next major event for the Cadets we have planned for later this month, the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (GAFPB) testing. It will be held right here at EWU.