Teaching The Leaders Of Tomorrow

The Fighting Eagle Battalion at Eastern Washington University provides an environment for learning, growth, leadership development, physical and mental challenges; and ultimately producing the finest Commissioned Officers within the United States Army.  The Cadet Battalion averages about 60 cadets and we commission on average 8-10 officers a year.  This provides for a close-knit group of student/cadets who grow and learn together with the complete support of the Eastern Washington University Staff and Faculty.

Army ROTC has been a part of Eastern Washington University since 16 June 1952.  When the agreement was signed in 1952, it established a legacy and history of professional officers who graduated and were commissioned into the Armed Forces.  Throughout the years hundreds of men and women have been commissioned into the United States Army and have and are serving their country proudly.  The Fighting Eagle Battalion has a history of producing quality officers, serving both in peace and wartime, throughout the world.  Over the years four distinguished Fighting Eagle Cadets have reached the rank of General Officer – each serving for over 25 years of honorable service.

The Eastern Washington University ROTC Program is only as strong as its faculty and staff.  These dedicated professionals are here to support the student/cadet in achieving their goals of receiving their college degrees and becoming Commissioned Officers in the US Army.  The ROTC Cadre collectively bring years of military experience to the program, their diverse backgrounds help prepare cadets for all facets of military life.  Supporting the program are our civilian employees who are also committed to ensuring our student/cadets succeed.

EWU senior and ROTC Cadet Yoshinobu Hara earned the rank of top cadet in the seventh regimen at Warrior Forge at Fort Lewis in Tacoma Washington by placing first among more than 320 other senior cadets.  He was then awarded the opportunity to participate in an internship with an active military unit in Korea as a platoon leader and a motor officer.   Cadet Hara, 21, put EWU on the map for ROTC but he is also teaching basic skills and leadership to freshmen cadets at EWU and working to complete his BA in History degree.  Cadet Hara plans to complete a formal education so that he can better serve his platoon as an officer.  After graduation he will train for the Air Defense Artillery at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.

Brigadier General (R) Gratton O'Neal Sealock, II, entered the U.S. Army in 1974 upon graduating from Eastern Washington State College as a Distinguished Military Graduate and receiving a Regular Commission in Infantry.  After the Infantry Officer Basic Course, BG (R) Sealock was assigned to the 1st Battalion (Airborne) 508th Infantry, 82d Airborne Division, serving as a rifle platoon leader, weapons platoon leader, and heavy mortar platoon leader before receiving orders to attend flight training. Completing flight school and the AH-1 Cobra Course in 1977, he was assigned to C Company, 3d Aviation Battalion (Combat), Schweinfurt, FRG. He joined the battalion staff in Kitzingen in 1979.

Upon completion of the Infantry Officer Advanced Course in 1981, BG (R) Sealock was assigned to the Army Aviation Center, Fort Rucker, Alabama, as an attack helicopter instructor pilot and flight commander. He served as operations officer for the Hanchey Division and assumed command of 64th Company, 6th Battalion in May 1993.  From late 1984 through 1986, BG (R) Sealock studied Mandarin Chinese at the Defense Language Institute, the Ministry of Defense (UK) Chinese Language School in Hong Kong, and Fudan University in Shanghai, PRC through the Army's Foreign Area Officer Program. He graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College in 1987. 

Returning overseas, he served as the executive officer, 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry at Camp Garry Owen, ROK. Subsequently, BG (R) Sealock was assigned to DIA as the China Country Officer in Washington, D.C. In August 1990, he returned to Hong Kong as the Assistant Army Attaché and Director of the China FAO Training Program. From May 1992 through April 1994, BG (R) Sealock commanded the 4th Squadron, 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Bliss, Texas.

April 1994 — June 1995, as a National Security Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University in lieu of the Army War College. Afterward, he was assigned as the China Desk Officer and the Northeast Asia Branch Chief, Asia Pacific Division in the Directorate for Strategy and Policy, J-5, the Joint Staff from June 1995 through May 1997.

BG (R) Sealock returned to Fort Rucker and assumed command of the 1st Aviation Brigade June 26, 1997 through June 1999.   From August 1999 through May 2000, BG (R) Sealock was assigned as the United States Army Attaché for the United States Embassy, in Australia.  From June through September 2000, BG (R) Sealock was assigned as the United States Army Attaché for the Defense Intelligence Agency, in Washington, D.C.  From September 2000 to August 2002, BG (R) Sealock was assigned as the United States Defense Attaché, Defense Intelligence Agency, in Beijing, China.

BG (R) Sealock assumed the position as Deputy Commanding General, Cadet Command, Fort Monroe, Virginia on August 2002. BG (R) Sealock retired in the Spring of 2005 and resides in Medical Lake, Washington.  He is now the Director of the Spokane International Airport.