2019 EWU ROTC MILITARY SCIENCE
ewu.edu/rotc
FIGHTING EAGLES CADETS CONDUCT SQUAD OPERATIONS ACROSS THE PALOUSE HILLS On Feb. 28, 2019, the Eastern Washington University Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) battalion conducted its weekly leadership lab on the Montague’s Farm property located to the west of the university’s campus.
For this lab, the Fighting Eagle Cadets were tested on their skills in properly conducting squad assault battle drills and reacting to indirect fire. Each squad was assigned an MS-IV (senior) Cadet who evaluated and helped the MS-III (junior) Cadets conduct their mission. Each MS-III had a chance to rotate through leadership positions to give them further practice before attending advanced camp at Ft. Knox, Kentucky this summer. The 37-day camp is a requirement for all MS-III Cadets to pass before they can be commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army. During the battle-drill lanes, the cadets patrolled along the Palouse hills of Montague’s Farm.
drills. These focused on getting down, returning fire, getting the squad on line, and yelling out the enemy’s description, direction and distance. After eliminating the OPFOR, each MS-III squad leader had to lead their squad-size element through the objective, implement prior lab training to set up 360 security and go through special teams. When the lane was completed, an MS-IV evaluator conducted an after-action report (AAR) that is used to describe what the cadet did correctly, and to identify areas in need of improvement. The next lane the cadets rotated to was the “indirect-fire” lane. When a simulated indirect-fire attack began, the MS-III squad leader in charge had to yell out to the rest of their squad the distance and direction of a location that was deemed safe.
EWU ROTC cadets patrol the Palouse hills to the east of Cheney, Washington.
Fighting Eagles cadet rushes up a hill covered in deep snow.
Overall, it was a great lab that further trained cadets on basic patrolling skills.
While patrolling the Palouse hills the squads were engaged by an “enemy opposing force” (OPFOR). This triggered the squad leaders to execute their battle
A squad of EWU ROTC cadets patrol through a section of wooded terrain.
Cadets patrol through deep snow.
Cadets engage OPFOR that ambushed them in the tree-line.
2019 EWU ROTC MILITARY SCIENCE
ewu.edu/rotc
CHENEY WATER WORKS BECOMES TRAINING GROUND FOR EWU ROTC BATTALION On Feb. 21, 2019, the Eastern Washington University ROTC battalion conducted its weekly leadership lab at the Cheney Water Works (CWW). The CWW provides the “Fighting Eagles” cadets a forested area near the EWU campus to practice the squad operations skills they learned from previous leadership labs. After first formation, each squad moved to their designated area in the woods. Each squad was assigned an MS-IV (senior) cadet who evaluated and helped the MS-III (Junior) cadets conduct their mission. The MS-III cadets had a chance to rotate through leadership roles to give them practice in leading a squadsize element at either the ambush lane or the recon lane. The ambush lane involves cadets positioning their squad at the objective through which the “enemy” will be traveling. The MS-III cadet had to go through troop leading procedures (TLPs) — which they learned in their military science class from the cadet Command NCO Instructor of the Year, Sergeant
First Class( SFC) Jason Hennig. After the MS-III cadets planned the mission, they then led their squad through the mission.
Other cadets in the Opposing Force (OPFOR) role played the enemy troops traveling down the road. Once the OPFOR reached the ambush site, the squad initiated their attack. After the execution of the mission, the MS-IV cadet prepared an after-action report (AAR). The report is used to describe what the cadet did correctly during the execution of the lane while also identifying areas in need of improvement.
Cadet Erling Anderson (far right) briefs the Fighting Eagles cadets prior to executing the weekly leadership lab.
During the recon mission, cadets also had to locate an enemy force without being seen. While observing the enemy, the cadets had to collect Priority Intelligence Requirements (PIR). Training in basic soldier and leadership skills is an important element in preparing the MS-III cadets for their upcoming attendance at Advanced Camp at Ft. Knox, Kentucky this summer. The 37-day camp is a requirement for all MS-III cadets to pass before | they can be commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army.
Cadet Nicholas Null (center) briefs his squad after returning from reconnaissance mission.
Heavy snow covers an open area at the Cheney Water Works. If you would like to support the EWU ROTC program with a donation, please contact Director of Philanthropy Courtney Susemiehl at 509.359.6703 or by email at csusemie@ewu.edu. Please recycle.
Department of Military Science 202 Cadet Hall Cheney, WA 99004
13015/11.18