Apr. 14, 2016
CWU Battalions Honor Founding of ROTC April 15
In recognition of the 100th anniversary of ROTC, Central Washington University’s award-winning Army and Air Force ROTC units are sponsoring a 100-mile run at Tomlinson Stadium on Friday, April 15.
“This is a way that we, as cadets, can show respect to the history of the Army ROTC and the military in general,” said CWU senior Joey Bauer, from Newcastle, Washington, who is an Army ROTC cadet helping coordinate the run.
More than 100 CWU Army and Air Force cadets are expected to participate. Members of the Junior ROTC from Yakima’s West Valley High School, and several area National Guard recruiters will take part as well.
In addition, CWU President James L. Gaudino, who is a United States Air Force veteran, is among the university administrators who will be on hand.
The event begins at 8:00 a.m. and is expected to take about four hours. Entrants will start their mile-long runs at two-minute intervals.
“Local community and student veterans are more than welcome to join in,” Bauer added. “They can run as individuals, buddy pairs or as part of a group.”
Those wanting to participate are asked to visit the sign-in table near the concessions stands at track.
Army ROTC is the American military’s largest officer-producing organization. It has commissioned more than 500,000 second lieutenants since its inception. CWU’s Army ROTC unit was established 35 years ago. CWU’s Air Force battalion has been on campus for 65 years.
The United States Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program was initiated with President Woodrow Wilson’s signing of the National Defense Act of 1916.
Media contact: Robert Lowery, director of Radio Services and Integrated Communications, 509-963-1487, loweryr@cwu.edu
April 14, 2016