West Point Cadets David Nelson 18, left, of Valley Stream, and John Knepper 17, kneeling, of Clovis, CA, arrange plants Saturday Aug 28 at the Orange County Arboretum in Thomas Bull Memorial Park in Montgomery.  The cadets were helpint go clean up the gardens near the park's Sept 11 Memorial.  (Chet Gordon/Times Herald-Record)  The globe in the background is a magnificently carved stone map of the Earth that slowly spins on a bed of water, surrounded by placques of the names of those lost in Orange County during the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center.

ZOO NEWSLETTER, Company F2 Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue 1, 23 August 2010
Affirmation. A-Day. Ring Weekend. Term Begins.

Read a PDF of the 2-page Zoo Newsletter...

The Green Gray Line: West Point, N.Y. - The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., is looking for a few good Soldiers.Soldier admissions officer Maj. Brian Easley '99 has 85 slots for active-duty Soldiers and 85 slots for reserve-component Soldiers in every class. But he can't fill them-something he finds "heartbreaking," especially because he knows there are many young Soldiers who would excel at West Point and become great officers.

Photos: Cadet Brandi-el Cook conducts an experiment in her Chemistry II class at West Point. The former specialist completed her entire application while deployed and arrived only a couple weeks after leaving Iraq. (photo: Sgt. Vincent Fusco); [former] Capt. Charles Eadie '07, now deployed with the 82nd Airborne Division, joined the Army after graduating from high school with a 1.86 GPA. After an officer helped him get into West Point, he graduated number two in his class and was the receipient of Truman and Marshall Scholarships. (Photo Sgt 1st Class Patrick Malone)

More on soldiers to cadets: the Green-Gray Line at Army.mil...

Rich DeMarco for Knight Vision chats with West Point football Coach Ellerson after the Black Knights' practice on Saturday, Aug 21.
   
Additional video clips -- interviews with linebackers Steven Erzinger & Stephen Anderson, offensive lineman Jason Johnson, quaterback Max Jenkins as Trent Steelman recovers from injury...

'Silverlight' is required to view videos--free download software is at the site link. 
Video Interview at GoArmySports...

WEST POINT — Would you look closer at a college where summers are spent teaching kids in the Congo, exploring caves in Honduras and interning at Google?  West Point is betting on it.

The cadet blogs are a prime recruitment tool for West Point, helping to squash the misconception that summers are dedicated to military exercises.

For these purposes, West Point has already built a presence on social-networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. But the blogs offer a unique, unedited view of cadets applying their skills in the field.  (RecordOnline/Adam Bosch)

Read about Cadet Emeline Hood's Nicaragua experience and Cadet Avinash Chaurasia's experience in the Congo...  and visit the Army Strong Stories website to read other Cadet
adventure blogs.

Lt. Col Brian Tribus '92 spoke on behalf of West Point during the 'Birdies for the Brave' ceremony Aug. 25 at The Barclays PGA Tournament during Military Appreciation Day in Paramus, N.J.  Profesional golfers Rory Sabbatini (left) and Jimmy Walker pose for a group shot with cadets from the West Point cadet drill team, color guard and the golf team. Photo by Tommy Gilligan/PV.

'Birdies for the Brave' has partnered with the PGA Tours since 2005 to help "honor those who serve & protect us."

West Point Public Affairs - Flickr site for more photos
...and Visit Birdies for the Brave on Facebook...

Saugerties, NY – August 25, 2010 – - An already spectacular day in Saugerties, New York, got just that much more impressive with the announcement that the West Point Cadet Equestrian Team will kick off the dazzling opening ceremonies on Sunday, September 12th, prior to the start of the richest show jumping event in the world, the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix at the HITS facility in Saugerties.

The West Point cadets are excited about their participation in the Pfizer Million, according to Sherry Cashman, who, along with husband Peter, coaches the team. “The cadets could not contain their excitement when I told them that we were going to attend the Pfizer Million. They are honored to participate in the opening ceremonies and they’re thrilled with the opportunity to watch such amazing talent,” she said.

Some of the Army team members will be handling color guard duties, while the team’s own Naomi Fuhrman, class of 2013, will be singing the National Anthem. “It is going to be a beautiful start to a spectacular day,” said Cashman.

Read more about the Cadet Equestrian Team Opening the Pfizer $1 M Grand Prix...

"We have some very talented cadets at West Point as you know. Here is a video created by Cadet Charles Nadd, [Class of 2011] about getting back to West Point in time for class to begin in August." 
~Superintendent BG William Rap '84, Facebook   View Cadet Nadd's video "The Run Back"

Photo: Stephen Anderson, Class of 2011, is a captain of the Army Black Knights football team. ...readies for year at West Point, beyond

When Stephen Anderson steps onto the turf at Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti, Mich., on Sept. 4, the U.S. Military Academy senior will have completed one of the toughest 10-month stretches of his 22-years of life.  ... After sitting out spring practice for rehabilitation, Anderson says he is 100 percent and returned for fall camp to his customary place at the heart and soul of the Black Knights defense.

"I'm able to cut and explode," Anderson said. "I haven't missed a tackle yet. ... I don't see any problems."  (Source: Gazette.Net--Maryland)  Gazette Article about Steve Anderson

In previous weeks - The Parachute Team conducted their annual summer training in Geneseo, NY from 25 Jul thru 7 Aug. All twelve 3rd class cadet members successfully terminated their student status and are now qualified to jump solo. During the 2 week period, the group executed 1228 jumps with no injuries.  SSG Melton (in black) observes a 3rd class cadet’s exit from the CH53.

Week of August 18th...The Triathlon Team hosted the annual West Point Triathlon this past weekend [Aug 14-15] and the race was a huge success. 1,020 participants competed / no injuries.

Hundreds of Family members and friends await the Class
of 2011 prior to the start of the Class Ring Ceremony on
Aug. 20 at Trophy Point.

At right, Corps of Cadets First Captain Marc Beaudoin, Class of 2011 speaks with Barbara Bauchspies, who donated her late husband's class ring to the Memorial Class Ring Program. Retired Col. Richard E. Bauchspies was a Class of 1958 graduate, who passed away in March of 2009. He told his grandson, Firstie Brandon Lawrence, that one of his final wishes was to donate his ring to the program, which annually melts and combines the gold from donated class rings to be added to the gold of future class rings. Photo by Mike Strasser/West Point Directorate of Public Affairs and Communications

View photos at West Point Public Affairs Flickr...
More about the Memorial Ring Program...

From the week of August 18th--The Cycling Team competedthis past weekend in conference velodrome races in Trexlertown, PA hosted by the Penn State Cycling Team. Racing was fast & furious but cut short because of inclement weather. Although most cycling competitions are held rain or shine, velodrome racing is performed on a banked surface that becomes dangerous when wet resulting in postponing or cancelations of races. Outstanding results before cancellation included Cadet Nick Garcia's posting the 3rd fastest 200 meter time of the day with 12.1 seconds & Cadet Stacie Burak's win in women's sprint competition. In collegiate men's point's race finals, Cadet Greg Keith and Garcia finished 3rd & 4th respectively.

"From June 14 to July 6, 2010 I was assigned by the behavioral science unit of the FBI. The experience I had was amazing. The agent I was assigned to "shadow" was hosting a conference in NC that was intended to find ways to improve the current airline security system. On June 14 I arrived at the conference to attend a meet and greet. There I met many different people who were attending the conference. Each one of them could be categorized; academic, government, or TSA. The next day the conference began and so did the analysis of the current system, over the next few days they discussed issues and ideas. From the discussion the group ended the conference by assigning individuals paper topics to work on."   ~Cadet Irene Colonna, Class of 2011

AIAD's are supported by your generous donations to West Point.  Thank you! 

Read about the Margin of Excellence...

[On July 23] I started a three week robotics AIAD at the Waltham, MA location of QinetiQ-North America (QNA). Formerly known as Foster Miller, this branch of QinetiQ specializes in robots for the Armed Forces, with the Dragon Runner, MAARS, and the TALON machines on its impressive resume. Upon arriving at the company, I expected an experience similar to my CTLT experience: briefings, questions, lunch hour, briefings, questions, dinner, rinse and repeat. I had to wear my uniform and even had a sponsor for the AIAD. Everything was shaping up to for a repeat CTLT experience. 
~ Cadet Grace Lu '12 (AIAD-Academic Individual Advanced Development)

Read more of Cadet Grace Lu's Blog at Army Strong Stories

Cadets enjoy a wide variety of club sports through the Directorate of Cadet Activities (DCA) under the direction of Col Craig Flowers.  On August 16th they had opportunity to see demonstrations from many of the clubs from mountain climbing* to Judo, to Paint Ball...thanks in part to your generous donations, as DCA sports are only partially funded by the Academy. (Photo: a cadet demonstrates reppelling on the wall in Ike Hall!  Updated 23 Aug to add some captions to the slide show.  Unfortunately, we don't have any of the cadet's names --e-mail us if you have them!

Slide show of Club Sports demonstrations...
 

Cultural Immersion in Egypt - Class of 2012 cadet Bennett Holcomb poses for a photo with his new Bedouin friend at the Pyramids of Giza during a recent cultural and language immersion opportunity in Egypt. As well as enjoying the cultural sites, 17 West Point cadets spent part of their summer in Egypt improving their language and culture skills through an immersion program sponsored by the Department of Foreign Languages. (Courtesy photo)

Upon their arrival in Cairo, the cadets visited with U.S. Embassy personnel for a country team briefing on U.S.-Egyptian relations and current affairs. They interacted with other U.S. military and civilian personnel at the embassy and were able to visit a fellow West Point cadet’s Family currently working and residing in Cairo.  Upon their arrival in Cairo, the cadets... (links to Pointer View article)

It's official!  The Cadets of 2014 were accepted into the Corps of Cadets on Saturday, 14 August 2010, Acceptance Day, with a Parade on the Plain and family picnic.  Enjoy the photos by J.Phoenix, Esq., WPAOG Publications 2010.

See Photos of A-Day:  Parade and Picnic...

More than 1,300 new cadets completed Cadet Basic Training with the 12.2-mile March Back from Camp Buckner to Washington Hall on Monday. During an awards ceremony Sunday, Alpha Company was named Best Overall Company during CBT and lead the Class of 2014 in the march. Following the traditional talent show, the new cadet regiment unveiled their class motto: “Forever One Team.” (Photo by Tommy Gilligan/Pointer View)
Cadet Basic Training Video...
Photos from West Point Public Affairs Office...
Update: 263 new March Back photos added
Update 11 Aug: Thank you for 700 more--from Cadet dad Greg Mathieson  Photos by Greg Mathieson

Working at ESPN for my AIAD isn't always work. There are many opportunities for a sports enthusiast such as myself to experience some once in a lifetime opportunities. ESPN is an incredible place to work and it was only my second week at ESPN when I opened up Internet Explorer and saw the ESPN internal home page.
I saw that the Indy 500 car drivers were all going to be in attendance at lunch so during my lunch hour, I decided to stop by and check it out. How many times do you get to see all the Indy drivers?   ~ Jev Valles  (Photo: or meet Danica Patrick)

Read more...
Read about other AIADs on our Website!

West Point cadet takes charge of summer training for Class of 2014

West Point Cadet Brittany Fraser, Class of 2011, assumed command of the Cadet Basic Training Regiment July 18 and will steer the cadet cadre in charge of the new cadets to the end of summer training.

WEST POINT, N.Y. (Aug. 5, 2010) -- A few hundred grew to over a thousand strong outside Washington Hall, posing the first hurdle for the new cadet cadre after the change of command ceremony July 18. The Ice Cream Social marked the first event planned and executed by the new Cadet Basic Training detail, and it proved to be a successful start for the cadets in charge.

Firstie Brittany Fraser, the CBTII Regimental Commander, said it also provided them with a boost of confidence that has carried them midway through the summer training known as "Beast Barracks."  (By Mike Strasser, West Point Directorate of Public Affairs and Communications)

Read more...

Army’s annual football media day gave fans and the press a glimpse at what to expect in 2010 — read about the day here in Monday’s entry. Here’s a few more bonus photos from the morning at Michie Stadium in West Point, focusing on some of the key player’s for the cadets’ upcoming season. (Photo: Pat Mealy '11, by Danny Wild)

Photos & Story-Danny Wild's Blog...
Read more at goarmysports.com...

Major Hills (English and Philosophy Dept.) accompanied 4 Cadets (Kyra Barone (1st Class), Frederick Beebe (2nd Class), Timothy Berry (1st Class), and Brandi-el Cook (1st Class)) to Ghana West Africa where they achieved the objective of enhancing their understanding of the African human condition.  This objective was met through a myriad of events to include visits to the Cape Coast and Elmina Slave Castles, the W.E.B. Dubois Center for Pan African Culture, and a one week service project in the New Akrade Community where they taught Language Arts, Literature, Information and Communications Technology, primary education classes, and worked construction.  This team not only contributed by giving their time, experience, and labor but they also donated a desktop computer for use in the Junior High School, and books and school supplies for use in the Primary School. This experience has educated future Army Officers for a changing world so they can foster productive techniques to interpret and understand difference to improve the human condition.  (Photo:  Cadet Tim Berry and friends)

Our thanks to Major Chrystal Hills for providing this story and photos.  Read more... 

AIADs are supported by private donations... Read more about this and other AIADs.

 More on this AIAD...

Aug. 2, 2010 - WEST POINT, N.Y. – Cadet Marc C. Beaudoin '11, the son Michael Beaudoin, of Chelsea, Maine has been selected First Captain of the U.S. Military Academy’s Corps of Cadets for the 2010-2011 academic year, which begins Aug. 16, achieving the highest position in the cadet chain-of-command.

...“Cadet Marc Beaudoin has shown exceptional leadership skills and has a great reputation within the Corps of Cadets,” said Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. William E. Rapp.  “He was selected as the First Captain based on his outstanding record in underclass leadership positions during his first three years at the academy and, most recently, as the 2010 Cadet Basic Training First Detail ‘King of Beast.’”

Read Press Release...

Cadet Matthew “Joe” LeSage, United States Military Academy at West Point Class of 2011, was awarded the Air Assault Badge upon graduation from the Air Assault School at Fort Smith, N.Y., Thursday, July 15. The purpose of Air Assault School is to make soldiers qualified to conduct airborne helicopter operations. It includes aircraft orientation, slingload operations, proper rappelling techniques and fast-rope techniques. The 10-day course of instruction is one of the most physically challenging ten days in the Army concluding with a 12-mile march in full battle gear in less than three hours. Matthew now is qualified to wear both Parachutist wings and Air Assault wings. He will be on assignment for three weeks with the 25th Infantry Division in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, until classes resume in the fall at West Point. (Source: Farragut Press, TN)

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS -- A local West Point cadet was recently exposed to a new culture, providing clean water to Central American residents.

Cadet Bradley Potts of Highland Heights went to Honduras May 23 to June 10 to take part in an Academic Individual Advanced Development trip through the United States Military Academy at West Point and the non-profit organization Water for People. 

Potts said West Point students apply to go on trips all over the world through different academic departments to gain a cultural experience outside of the usual academic surroundings.

He said the trip to Honduras was focused on water sanitation and clean water delivery.

“During the project, we assessed maintenance, performance and house satisfaction with Water for People,” he said. “We did a lot of surveying and testing with water tank management and then wrote a report.”  (This is an update to the story we posted on Cadet Potts and the 2010 Water for People AIAD, June 25th--also in this news column)

Read more...
Read more of Cadet Potts' Army Strong Blog...

WEST POINT, N.Y.   ...He was an Army noncommissioned officer, but today, Mark Cox is a new cadet at West Point. Not yet a plebe in the Corps of Cadets until he completes Beast Barracks, Cox is among 17 combat veterans and nearly 50 active-duty military who made the decision to distinguish themselves as future members of the Long Gray Line.

Among the Class of 2014 are 17 combat veterans and nearly 50 active-duty military members. The Soldier Admission Program opens 170 slots each year for all members of the armed forces to apply to West Point or the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School. (Photo: Tommy Gilligan, WP Directorate of Public Affairs & Communication) Updated 30 Jul to correct the story link.

Read more...

Tomorrow we start our journey down to Nicaragua.  Four of us cadets were selected to join a team from the University of Connecticut's chapter of Engineers Without Borders to venture down to Central America.  This has been a project we've been working on for the better part of this past semester and the idea seems simple; come up with a technical assessment on how to fix a road that keeps flooding. 

...In the afternoon we all met with the major of Granada.  He told us how important it was to them to have this road fixed.  And as this dilemma has been addressed before, finances have always been a halting problem to the project.  ~ Firstie Emeline Hood, Class of 2011

Read more at Army Strong Stories...

"At the close of my two-week AIAD with the LAPD, which focused on the tenants of crisis negotiation, I noted that the most applicable training to myself as a future military officer was the suicide prevention training that all members of LAPD's Crisis Negotation Team underwent; I didn't expect hostage or barricade situations for which the Los Angeles Department trains ceaselessly to handle to arise in the type of setting that a Platoon Leader would ever work in.  That view shifted as I was thrown into a number of mock scenarios over the past month at our cadet field training." Cadet Emily McCarthy

Army Strong Stories...

Cadet Sean McCoy, Class of 2012, has been helping to get the word out as part of a public service project. Blackboard Connect is the system that can send alerts via phone calls to a business or house land line, mobile phones or e-mail. The system also can send text messages to a registered user’s mobile phone.

...The registration effort has been helped by West Point cadet Sgt. Sean McCoy. The Iraq War veteran is helping the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s community outreach program as part of a community service project.

McCoy, a native of Sarasota, Fla., went to several peninsula churches, urging residents to register for Blackboard Connect as well as sign up for the county’s disaster housing program. For most of his visits, he was in his full West Point wool uniform.

Read more...

Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) Officer Cadets were also joined on the exercise by a detachment of American Officer Cadets from West Point Military Academy.

(Photo: RMAS Officer Cadet Jamie Thomas and West Point Officer Cadet Kevin Dolan '11 are pictured defusing an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) during Exercise DYNAMIC VICTORY.)                                   Photos...

Lt. Gen. David. H. Huntoon '73 West Point's 58th Superintendent pumps his fist as he runs next CFT Commander Firstie Kyle Volle during the final push down Washington road during the annual Cadet Field Training run back, July 23. (Photo by Tommy Gilligan/PV)

Photos at West Point-The U.S. Military Academy
Facebook page...

From the Commandant's Facebook page:

"BG William Rapp '84 Here are the four platoons of 6th Co, CFT, out at Stewart Airfield on the buildings that we are using to practice room and building clearance operations. The yearlings are almost done! Today is the last full day of training and tomorrow is the awards ceremony and Camp Illumination dance. Friday AM is the 7.5 mile run back from Buckner."  ~BG William Rapp - Facebook 7-21

WEST POINT, N.Y.  - Four recruits, a goalie, defenseman and two forwards, comprise the newest Army Hockey recruiting class, head coach Brian Riley announced.

Anthony Cadieux, Mike Henderson, Dax Lauwers and Brian Schultz will join the Army hockey program.

"We only lost three players to graduation so this class is relatively small," said Riley who enters his seventh season. "It's a good class of young men who will work hard and compete for ice time this season. As a staff, we are excited to watch them learn and develop and help us to our goals of winning the Atlantic Hockey Association."  (Photo--Courtesy: Army Athletic Communications, Release: 07/13/10)

Read more...

Hey all, this is my first blog about my experience out in Cali with Google. First off, I'm not a CS major nor do I know anything about computers or coding. I'm working on the business side of things, jumping around from team to team learning about Sales and marketing. I'm here with three other cadets who I'm sure will be blogging soon.  ~ Cadet Kyle Carlson, Class of 2011

Cadet Carlson's blog at Army Strong Stories...
More from Cadet Steven Convery...

AIADs offer unique enriched learning opportunities for our cadets and are only made possible through generous donations.  More about donating to West Point.  

Guest instructor and Hostess works with New Cadets of C Co. in their dining etiquette class.

CBT Etiquette classes continue this week; guest instructor Sharyn Amoroso from California assisted with the instruction on 13 & 14 July.

Directorate of Cadet Activities - Update 14 July 10

DCA Buckner Support:  CFT Kayaking and Canoeing

DCA Club Sports...

"Having the summer off and doing what we're doing is completely different, but I honestly wouldn't trade it for anything," said West Point Cadet Becky Malone.

Story and Cadet Video Interviews...

Class of 2014 new cadets run up the stairs of Michie Stadium, named for Dennis Mahan Michie, Class of 1892 and the first Army football coach, during the Patton Challenge July 17. The competition between new cadet squads was designed to test their physical endurance as well as their knowledge of West Point and military skills that they have learned in their first three weeks at the Academy. (Photo by Sgt. Vincent Fusco/Dir. of Public Affairs & Communications)

West Point Public Affairs - Flickr photos...

Clint Moore of the Harwich Mariners brings leadership and maturity to the Cape League team, traits he's honed as a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.

HARWICH — It's a blistering hot Cape Cod morning, humidity hanging from the trees, but to Harwich Mariners infielder Clint Moore, life could not be better.

He finds a little shade from the sun beating down on Whitehouse Field, pulls up a chair, flashes a smile and gives a nod. He's ready and willing to talk, and for the next 40 minutes weaves his way through his life, and what's in store from his perspective as a senior-to-be at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.

Read more...

FORT SILL, Okla.--They greeted U.S. Military Academy football Coach Rich Ellerson almost as they would a general. A consistent "Hi, coach" came out from the group of West Point football players...

Running in the grass; metal and sweat; early morning hours. These all sound consistent with a normal Army day, except these cadets are still in training. They came to Fort Sill to get a taste of what a "normal" Army day is actually like. It's part of Cadet Troop Leader Training, a West Point requirement for cadets going into their junior or senior years. They shadow officers to find out more about the branches they are interested in joining when they graduate the academy as second lieutenants.

(Photos: Cadet George Fletcher, Class of 2012, West Point defensive back; Rich Ellerson, West Point football coach)

Story & photos at army.mil...
 

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Army head coach Rich Ellerson welcomed the newest members of the Black Knights' football program into the fold when he announced his club's 2010 recruiting class.

Twenty-eight recently graduated high school student-athletes and 27 others that attended the U.S. Military Academy Prep School last year help comprise the football-playing members of West Point’s Class of 2014 that arrived at the Military Academy for Reception Day activities on Monday.

Story & Roster...

BEACON FALLS — Sarah Melville lives by a single mantra: a quotation attributed to the ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes reading, “Give me but one firm spot on which to stand, and I will move the earth.”  This is fitting for Melville, who has set out on a personal mission to constantly try to make a difference and change the world for the better.

The most recent exploit in this mission was the authorship of an essay  titled “Pictures of Stolen Children...” The essay was submitted to the United States Institute of Peace.  ... Melville’s submission surpassed all others in Connecticut, and she was elected the state-level winner. She was granted a week-long trip to Washington D.C. to attend an educational program on understanding conflict resolution and peace-building.

She was also granted a $1,000 scholarship to the university of her choice. Melville was not available for comment because the university she chose was the United States Military Academy, and she is currently in the thick of basic training at West Point.

(Photo: Melville poses with U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) in the congresswoman's Washington, D.C. office.)

Read more...

Firstie goaltender Alex Lostetter will be joined by new cadet Chelsea Sapirman in the nets during the 2010 Army women’s soccer season.

Army head women’s soccer coach Stefanie Golan was on hand Reception Day to welcome 12 cadet-athletes into her program with the arrival of the Class of 2014. Several of this elite class of recruits earned all-conference or all-district honors, along with three who were tabbed as all-state selections.

Read more - Pointer View...

As the class of nearly 1,400 new cadets tackles the rigors of Cadet Basic Training, known more descriptively at West Point as Beast Barracks, they’ll soon have something new to write home about. Scheduled for July 17 at the end of the first phase of CBT, the Patton Challenge has 128 teams running through one of four land navigation courses to find 21 historic sites around West Point. At each site, teams will be required to recite relatable material from their Knowledge Book. Spectators are invited to cheer the teams on at any number of locations, such as the Cadet Chapel, Trophy Point, Buffalo Soldier Field, Michie Stadium or Lusk Reservoir.  (Source: Pointer View July 8, 2010)

Event: Patton Challenge
Date: July 17
Time: First team starts around 5 a.m.

Best Locations to watch: Trophy Point, Cadet Chapel, Michie Stadium, Buffalo Soldier Field and Lusk Reservoir.

As the Summer Garrison Regimental Commander at West Point, Firstie Thomas Witkowski is determined to do “whatever it takes” to accomplish the mission.

"We know where every cadet is, how they’re doing in school, when they expect to graduate and their plans after graduation,” Witkowski said. “We can track the cadets across the globe, and those who are here in summer school. So there’s a lot of moving parts and we operate concurrently with the Cadet Field Training and Cadet Basic Training, constantly communicating with them if we need help or if we can help them.”  (Source: Pointer View, July 2010)  Read more...

CBT parents- most of you have gotten a phonecall from your new cadet already. The next phonecall will come on Sunday, 18 July, sometime between 1-5pm Eastern time. That is when the NC are visiting faculty homes for a little home cooking, desserts, and relax time during what is known as "the Ice Cream Social." Each staff/faculty member takes home for 4 hours between 2 and 10 new cadets.  Facebook 13 July

This morning, A-D Companies were down on the River Courts doing the muscular strength and endurance circuit this morning. E and F Companies were up on Daly Field doing cathlistenics and group runs. G and H Cos did not do PT, but headed out early to the field for land navigation.  Facebook 12 July

~ Photo and posts - BG William Rapp '84, Commandant

The West Point Association of Graduates cordially invites family members and friends of the Class of 2014 to a complimentary picnic immediately following the Acceptance Day Parade on Saturday, August 14, 2010 (10:30 am – 12:30 pm)—a light lunch will be served while supplies last.  Just look for the big white tent behind the bleachers.

Please click on the following links to view the invitation/flyer to the A-Day Picnic and the A-Day FAQ that will answer important questions you may have about A-Day. 

We look forward to seeing you!

A-Day FAQ

From the Beginning:  My internship and research with the Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) at Ft. Detrick, MD began [the week of 25 June].

Day 7:  ...Not only did we discuss the West Point Bionic Foot, but we also discussed the future of prosthetics and what the ideal prosthetic would look like and then how it could be possible to get there.  Doing so opened up some great ideas and possibilities for the future.  I am looking forward to receiving more feedback and ideas tomorrow as I will be travelling to Walter Reed and visiting with the Amputee Center at the Military Advanced Training Center.

Day 9:  I will be able to use this feedback in my own senior project as well as my work with TATRC as I try to help provide amputees with ideal prosthetics.  I am looking forward to Thursday when I will be coming back to WRAMC to shadow a Physical Therapist.

 News Video
Read more at Army Strong Stories.com...

2014 Cadets attend Chaplains Time. Chaplains time was held at Ike Hall due to the heat. The cadets were offered an opportunity to attend a brief worship service followed by fellowship and fun food.  Find your cadet on the West Point Parent Flickr Site.

West Point Parent Flickr

Two Anoka brothers have begun their adventure at West Point.

As children, Michael and Jeff Lesmeister shared every thing. Now they are embarking on an adventure of a lifetime together: West Point.

Read more...

D.J. Phee will follow in the footsteps of her father, John (left), and attend West Point, where she will play volleyball.

Down to the eyewear, John Phee '85 knows West Point. Contacts, he knows, aren't allowed throughout Beast Barracks. D.J. Phee [entering this year for the new class of 2014] will have to wear glasses. "These very attractive black military glasses," John says.  He mentions this, and they laugh together.

That was two weeks ago. D.J., an Allen graduate, is now at West Point, wearing the glasses. She's enduring the 4:30 a.m. wakeup calls and the cadres' piercing shouts of Beast Barracks. 

From left to right Cadet Nick Palesky, sister 1st LT Katie Palesky '08 who just returned from Iraq and West Point graduate Class of 2008, a cadet friend, and Cadet Tom Palesky '11.  Nick and Tom are on the Army Lacrosse team.  (Source WESH/ 2 Orlando)

Aberdeen Test Center (ATC), Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland:   MAJ Travis Rayfield '99 escorted 4 cadets to ATC to continue research to characterize temperate landforms and biomes.  These data support of IED detection methodology and safe inactivation in the development of military Technical Operating Procedures (TOP).  To apply geology to the military operations, cadets toured a site similar to the ATC’s geology, the Gettysburg battlefield, to directly relate military operations and geology.  Additionally, cadets observed current vehicle testing and operated multiple vehicles in the mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) fleet.  The Desert Research Institute funded this AIAD. 

COL (R) Cavin Coughenour relates the geology of Little Roundtop to the Battle of Gettysburg to (Back Row):  CDTs Robert Lennon; Evan Mistr; Aryn Davis; Jordan Pleasants; (Front Row)  Desert Research Institute Dr. Eric McDonald and Mr. Steve Bacon; not pictured – MAJ Travis Rayfield

Six cadets (three from the environmental engineering & science program and three language / foreign area studies majors) accompanied one faculty member from D/GEnE to Honduras from 23 May 10 through 10 Jun10.   The first part of the trip consisted of monitoring drinking water and sanitation projects completed throughout the rural areas of Cortés, Santa Barbara, and Yoro.  The projects had been constructed by the international non-profit hydro philanthropy organization Water For People.  The second portion of the trip consisted of a cultural immersion tour of significant historical, environmental, and agricultural sites unique to Honduras.  They toured ancient Mayan ruins at Copan, a century-old coffee plantation noted for its sustainable agricultural processes, a 43-meter waterfall, a mountain cave system, and a cloud forest.  The final two stops of the trip were at the Cayos Cochinos, a cultural and marine ecosystem preservation area in the Caribbean Sea and a white water rafting tour of the Cangrejal River. 

Today was very productive in the work process. We assigned one of the Tunisian Students to be a group leader and had them do most of the talking in the group to get them to see how it feels to be in charge of others. The students really liked this idea and hopefully they will get a lot out of it. Work on our robot is making progress. After misinterpreting the task matric and doing several useless tasks we were finally able to hook the robot up and begin moving it around viva wired control. Tomorrow we will begin setting up the wireless integration system and hopefully have most of the robot done if not entirely finished by the time we leave for the day. The second half of the group is almost finished working on assembling the robotic arm which will set us ahead of schedule once it is finished. AIAD is the Advanced Individual Academic Development program at West Point. Read more Army Strong Stories 

Funding for this and many other AIAD sessions are funded privately by alumni and parent gifts as part of Superintendents Fund. Please consider supporting the Superintendants Annual Fund

West Point cadet and show organizer Matthew Anderson-Davis, Class of 2011, said he's happy with the way it all came together. The 2nd annual Show and Shine car show was held on 19 June and raised more than $5,000.  Car enthusiasts displayed cars of all varieties and food and fun for the kids.  All proceeds are for the Wounded Warrior Project.

Read more of this exciting new AIAD...

Funding for this and many other AIAD sessions are funded privately by alumni and parent gifts as part of Superintendents Fund.  Please consider supporting the Superintendants Annual Fund. 

Cadet Aram Hatfield '11 visits West Point Society of Aiken-Augusta, GA President Sam Thomas '53 and his wife Nadine.  Cadet Hatfield is participating in an AIAD (Advanced Individual Academic Development) program opportunity at Fort Gordon, GA, where he is working for DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) on an initiative that will define the wireless networks that will be deployed on future battlefields to support war fighting commanders. The Program is called Wireless Network after Next (WNaN).

AIAD opportunities are made possible by the Margin of Excellence and your donations--Thank you!

FORT HOOD, Texas - West Point cadets participating in the Cadet Troop Leading Training enjoy a Texas barbecue and well deserved time off at a reception held in their honor, June 10.  Col. John Thomson, commanding officer of the 41st Fires Brigade, his wife Holly, as well as the Heart of Texas West Point Society, hosted a reception at the Thomson's residence for the U.S. Military Academy cadets.  (Photo Credit: Sgt. Lucas Hoskins, 41st Fires Bde. PAO.)

Before the rising firsties and cows can lead the yearling class through Cadet Field Training this summer, they must first complete a two-week block of training to prepare them for their leadership roles. To start, the cadets revisited the water confidence course they endured when first encountering CFT. They negotiated the Slide for Life, climbing a 75 foot tower then riding down a steel cable on a trolley for 150 feet before dropping into the water. The cadets also traversed an 80 foot beam suspended 25 feet above water. The cadets also undertook training in blocks of instruction including Introduction to Patrolling, Land Navigation, Urban Operations and a Leadership Academy, where they learned the fundamentals of being noncommissioned officers in the Corps of Cadets. Photos by Mike Strasser, West Point Public Affairs.

photos on flickr

Five Cadets performing an internship at General Electric met with Jeffrey Immelt, the Chairman and CEO on Friday, 11 June.

Cadet Alex Goldstein (USMA '13) is learning a lot this summer on an AIAD at the Army Research Lab. He and Cadet Ethan Heckmann, (USMA '12), have been working on cultivating bacterial and yeast samples that power fuel cells. While working under the direction of Dr. James Sumner, Cadets Goldstein and Heckman are integrated into a top notch research team that is providing instruction and direction to their research this summer.

AIAD opportunities are made possible by the Margin of Excellence and your donations--Thank you!

CDT Matt Bowman '11 went to Dallas, TX last Sunday to find his sponsor had a family emergency and canceled the IAD.  Dr. Wickiser (D/C&LS) re-tasked him that night to the Corps of Engineers in Vicksburg, MS (ERDC-WES).  There at the Environmental Lab, CDT Bowman was re-tasked to the Gulf to actively assist the environmental monitoring and cleanup operations.  He is using his Computer Science and Biology training at West Point to help them customize their bird database that holds all the information for the assessments of the effect of oil on wildlife for the National Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA). CDT Bowman is pictured describing how to organize the database at the Mobile Civic Center in the Incident Command for the Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill. The other two people in the picture are Anglela Matz, in charge of data management for the fish and wild life service NRDA ops, and Heather Theel, ERDC representative for the NRDA Effort.

Our next college football tradition takes us high in the sky where only the bravest of the brave have the courage to deliver the game ball. It’s the West Point Parachute Team and its tradition of delivering the game ball from the skies.

History:  In 1958 Henmar “Gabe” Gabriel petitioned the Army to start a sport parachuting club...Eventually thirteen men became the first Strategic Army Corps Sport Parachute Team just to compete in what was a communist-dominated sport in skydiving. After wowing West Point, the Army officially recognized the group in 1961 and renamed it the U.S. Army Parachute Team. ...The team will also deliver game balls to football games at the high school and college level all across the country.

Why it’s great:  Do we need to explain this much more? Cadets start 13,000 feet in the air and then land essentially on a dime to deliver a game ball. 

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Congratulations to new graduate Andrew Maisano '10--Lowe's Senior CLASS National Award Recipient in Lacrosse for 2010--it was announced 1 June.

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Update:  Photos--Graduation & the President's Speech...

West Point is encouraging friends and family to tweet from the Graduation exercises this Saturday!  The hashtag is #wpgrad.  All graduates are encouraged to tweet their own brief memories of graduation day and/or send congratulations to the Class of 2010.  Graduation exercises will also be streamed live on the internet beginning at 9:30 am on www.westpoint.edu

Col. Michael Deaton, Keller Army Community Hospital commander, presented Firstie A.J. Pisano with the Richard M. Mason Memorial Award May 11, which honors the cadet with the highest grade point average who is entering medical school. The future Medical Corps officer will be graduating West Point Saturday and continue his education at the School of Medicine at Georgetown University. Photo credit Mike Strasser, West Point Public Affairs.

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MAJ Khanh Diep '99, Class Secretary, presents Cadet Thomas Olmstead '10, the Class of 1999 Award given to the 4th Regimental Commander during the Awards Convocation on May 21, 2010.  This award was established as part of the Class Gift during the Class of 1999's Tenth Year Reunion.

*2LT Thomas Olmstead since 22 May 2010. 

Steve Demetriou, a third-year Cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point, speaks to Notre Dame Cathedral Latin students, Martin Wilson, 16, left, Erin Vanec, 16, and Matt Douglas, 15.

short video clip

Assemblyman Bob Reilly (D-Colonie) is joined by West Point Cadet, CBA graduate and Albany native Nicholas Coronato, Class of 2012, and his parents during West Point Day at the State Capitol.

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Check out the West Point Channel's THE POINT!  An 8-minute video from covering recent West Point Cadet activities and projects in the days and weeks leading up to Graduation on Saturday.  The Point is a TV Show based on the lives of the Cadets of The United States Military Academy. Anchor Alexandria Corneiro will take you through their daily lives. Located in West Point, NY.

...enjoyed their end of the year awards banquet, unveiling the 2010 National Championship banner and watched the national final match between West Point Black and West Point Gold. They also hailed the incoming head coach MAJ Mike Tilton '00 and farewelled the outgoing head coach MAJ Adam Hodges '98.

West Point Cadet, Brendan Podszus, an Exeter High School graduate, speaks about his experiences as a 2nd year cadet and hopes to share the information with other upcoming graduates

AMEXETER — As he finishes his second year at West Point, Cadet Brendan Podszus, 20, recently made a trip home to visit with local high school students and civic organizations to discuss the military academy and what he believes it can offer students.

The precedent for Podszus, a member of the Exeter High School Class of 2008, to enter into a career in the military was set long before he began thinking about attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point during the spring semester of his junior year in high school. Podszus' grandfather served in the Navy during World War II and his brother graduated from Norwich University in Vermont.

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WEST POINT — When Edward Winslow Lash receives his diploma at Michie Stadium on Saturday, he'll be carrying on a family military tradition. His dad, Fritz, is a retired lieutenant colonel and a West Point graduate, and his grandfather graduated from the Army's Officer Candidate School, among others.

Now it's Cadet Lash's turn to serve. He'll take the first step Saturday as he receives his commission as a second lieutenant in the Army. At the same time, the 24-year-old gets the added privilege of hearing from his commander-in-chief, as President Barack Obama delivers the commencement address to West Point's Class of 2010.

Cadet Lash's father, Fritz Lash '69, is a Major Giving Officer at the West Point Association of Graduates.

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Top West Point Triathletes traveled to Orlando over TEE leave to complete in 2010 Ironman Florida 70.3 Championships. This race was a half-ironman event consisting of a 1.2 mile swim, a 56-mile bike, and a 13.1-mile run. Lauren Looper had one of her best races, highlighted by a 2:28:14 bike (22.7 mph average) that was tops for her age group. Andrea Filozof saved her best for run where she closed the gap on her competition to finish just one minute back of Lauren with a 5:08:55 total time. Lauren and Andrea finished 6th and 7th. They were only ten minutes back of a World Championship qualification slot. In his first half-ironman race, plebe Alex Habecker showed tremendous fight and persistence. In unchartered territory and with the heat index rising towards 90-degrees, Alex stayed mentally tough and broke the five-hour barrier with a 4:53:24 finish time. This was good enough for 11th place. Drew Webster and Brittany Fraser rounded out the strong team effort by both finishing 14th in their age category. The team will next race at Ironman Moosemen in Newfound Lake, NH, 5 June.

New York Times | N.Y./Region -- The Army lacrosse team at practice. “We never go on the field saying, 'We're going to give them a heck of a fight,' ” one of the players said

There is sports and there is real life. Sometimes they’re on the same page, sometimes they’re on separate planets, and sometimes there’s a little of both, like the picture of the Apache helicopter on the wall and the Lady Gaga song pouring out of the locker room at the Truxtun Lacrosse Center at the United States Military Academy.

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Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski, D-New City, recently helped honor West Point Cadet Joesph Grimm '10, a native of Theills.

Grimm is a graduate of North Rockland High School and is set to graduate from the United States Military Academy this year. The Assembly honored Cadet Grimm and his colleagues on West Point Day in Albany

The National Council for US-Arab Relations in collaboration with the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) sponsored a West Point envoy to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) consisting of seven Cadet Seniors ("Firsties") and LTC Abbas Dahouk representing the Department of Foreign Languages. The purpose of the trip was to strengthen ties between the United States Military Academy, the National Council and the ECSSR and to provide a unique cultural immersion opportunity for Cadets.  The trip culminated with an interview in Arabic with Sabah Al Khair Ya Arab, the Good Morning America of the Middle East and the most popular show on Arabic TV, where the group showcased the Academy, discussed current events and the importance of maintaining strong relations with nations throughout the Middle East.

Read more about AIAD 

On 20 April, seven cadets and three faculty members from the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering were inducted into the Lambda Mu chapter of the Geographical Honor Society, Gamma Theta Upsilon, during our annual spring induction ceremony.  As a part of the ceremony and in the tradition of promoting academic excellence, those in attendance were addressed by Dr. Stephen Houston ‘84, Chief Executive of the Sustainable Development Group of Weston Solutions Inc.  Dr. Houston, a 1984 USMA graduate and a former GEnE faculty member, stressed how the leadership skills of a military officer with a geographic mindset can bring together various disciplines to solve complex problems such as sustainable development.  Photo: COL Fleming and COL Hummel present Cadet Hokensen with her GTU Certificate.

 On Monday, 26 April 2010, Cadet Justin Smith presented his DSE honors project to his client, the 101st Sustainment Brigade.  Cadet Smith built a scale model of the logistics network that the 101st SB will work with in Afghanistan when they deploy in the fall of 2010.  He met with the Brigade Commander (COL Brian Peterman), the Deputy Brigade Commander (LTC Kris Rogers), and several members of the Brigade Staff.  During the visit Justin delivered and explained his model, built in Microsoft EXCEL, as well as gathered information for future work on his project, which will be continued over the SIPR Network.  COL Peterman was impressed by and appreciated Cadet Smith’s efforts so much so that he awarded him an Army Achievement Medal.  Cadet Smith plans to present an unclassified version of his work at the American Society of Engineering Management (ASEM) Conference in the fall.

West Point Strings Club Concert:  The West Point Strings Club, under the direction of Ms. Ellen Gartner Phillips, held their 4th Annual Spring Concert on Sunday, the 1st of May 2010, in the Haig Room of the Jefferson Hall Library.  The program highlighted Peter Warlock’s Capriol Suite, W. A. Mozart’s Divertimento No. 2, a Beethoven duo and trio, and Coldplay’s Viva la Vida.  The concert was well attended and was especially appreciated by the USMA class of ’70, as they returned for their reunion activities.  The club has provided string music in chamber groups for numerous events at West Point to include receptions, dinners, weddings, and special events.  The club includes cadets who play violin, viola, cello and the string bass.   Photo: The West Point Strings Club performing in the Haig Room.

Cadets Dominate at IEEE:  On 23 April 2010, five capstone teams from the Department of Systems Engineering and one team from the Civil and Mechanical Engineering Department attended and presented at the IEEE Systems and Information Engineering Design Symposium (SIEDS) at The University of Virginia.  These teams presented in three of the five tracks and won best paper and presentation in two out of the three tracks in which they presented. Two of the Systems Engineering teams that won were Cadets Jason Sexton and Kenneth Howell in the Decision Analysis Track, who briefed their capstone project, “Design and Assessment of Transforming Projectiles,” with advisor Tim Elkins.  Likewise, Cadet Benjamin White presented his honors project, “Improving Ft Carson’s Soldier Readiness Point”, in the Modeling and Simulation Track. Cadet White was advised by MAJ Julia Oh and former DSE faculty member, MAJ Ken Gilliam.

A true multi-disciplinary C&ME team of six Mechanical Engineering majors and two Civil Engineering majors unveiled the results of their hard work this semester at the Statue of Liberty on Wednesday, 5 May 2010.  The cadets took on the challenging capstone project of building a casualty evacuation device for the Statue’s extremely narrow double-helix spiral staircase.  The resulting device is an ingenious lightweight, collapsible chair that rides along the helical handrail of the staircase much like a roller coaster rides along a track.  This device will allow Park Rangers and EMTs to extract any person suffering from a medical disorder from the crown of the statue, something that previously was very difficult.  Led by David Watts (ME ’10) and his assistant, Nick Reisweber (CE ’10), cadets Gregory Griffith, Alexander Mumford, Spurgeon Petty, Rick Storm (all ME’10), and Diana Worth (CE ’10) gave an excellent presentation and demonstration of the device to a crowd of Park Rangers, EMTs, support personnel and media at the statue on Wednesday.  The Park Rangers who will use the device in the event of a casualty in the statue were extremely pleased with the results.  MAJs Mark DeRocchi and Joel Dillon served as faculty advisors for the project. An interview with MAJ DeRocchi about the project was recorded and broadcasted by National Public Radio.  (source:  Dean's Significant Activities Update 14 May 2010.) 

Story and video ...

...West Point cadet wins second consecutive national college boxing championship Terrell Anthony leads Army team to third straight college boxing title.

Terrell Anthony laughed and said anyone with two brothers knows how to fight.  The 22-year-old Columbus High graduate certainly does. Recently, he won his second consecutive national college boxing championship.  In doing so, the junior at the U.S. Military Academy led his Army team to its third straight National Collegiate Boxing Association title.                                                            

(Photos by U.S. Military Academy/Special to the Ledger-Enquirer) Terrell Anthony '11, a junior at the U.S. Military Academy, lands a blow against an opponent. Anthony was named outstanding boxer in the National Collegiate Boxing Association tournament. The 22-year-old Columbus High graduate recently won his second consecutive national college boxing championship. In doing so, Anthony led his Army team to its third straight title.

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Fly Fishing a Great trip to the Rose River Farm in Virginia. Attended dinner with wounded veterans, guides and others attending the event; fished the stream on the Rose River Farm and helped the veterans and Project Healing Waters people. Everyone caught fish. The fish pictured above was eventually released but only after we put him in a sleeper hold for two minutes to test his will.  Source: 12 May 10- DCA Update

Story Updated 12 May 10: The West Point Glee Club under the direction of Constance Chase will present its free annual Graduation Concert at Eisenhower Hall at West Point at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Accompanied by pianist Andrea Shaut, the program includes songs from Broadway and the American Songbook as well as selections by the Knight Caps, the club's popular male a cappella group. The public is invited to attend the free concert.

Read more & photos at Times Herald Record

On Thursday, 22 APR 10, the Mechanical Engineering Club hosted Dr. Sidra Silton, from the Army Research Lab (ARL).  Dr. Silton is currently on an ARL-West Point exchange and is teaching in the Math Department.  She is an Aerodynamicist at ARL, where she has conducted research in the areas of the aerodynamic modeling of ammunition.  Her talk highlighted the work ARL has done to verify analytical models with experimental results. 

Seven Arabic Concentrators escorted by LTC Abbas Dahouk, Department of Foreign Languages, visited the UAE from 16 APR – 25 APR. The trip included numerous high level visits that included the Deputy Chief of Staff of the UAE Military as well as Ambassador Olson.  Cadets were treated as VIPs as they toured the entire country seeing all sides of UAE life from the luxurious Dubai to the Bedouin villages.  Their trip was published in the Al-Itihad news paper and LTC Dahouk was interviewed on a national news program.  Photo: The 7 Arabic Firsties and LTC Dahouk featured next to Deputy Chief of Staff of the UAE Military, GEN Ali Al-Kaabi and Dr. Duke Anthony.

Assemblyman Rory Lancman (D-Queens), formally introduced West Point Cadet Rachel Kim (class of 2013) on the Assembly floor yesterday as part of the state's annual "West Point Day" ceremony.  Cadet Kim is a resident of Whitestone and a graduate of New York City public schools.

Phi Delta Epsilon, the medical fraternity, and the Department of Chemistry and Life science sponsored 31 cadet aspiring medical corps officers on a visit to Washington, D.C., and Bethesda, MD. They visited Walter Reed Army Medical Center where they had breakfast with the hospital commander, COL Norvell Coots, spent the morning seeing patients with WRAMC doctors, and then toured the hospital. Some cadets toured Georgetown Medical School and others toured the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda.  The entire group visited the Uniformed Services University, National Capital Area Medical Simulation Center. This facility has cutting edge technology designed to train military medical students and resident physicians in basic and advanced medical techniques as well as immersion in a 3-D “holodeck” as a combat medic.  No other facility, civilian or military, like it exists.  The cadets later ate lunch with USMA grads attending the medical school, who shared their advice and mentorship to these aspiring doctors.  Dr. Fred Pugh, Associate Dean, and D/C&LS faculty COLs Andrew Friedman, Ronald Hann assisted the cadets on this trip.

Student Conference on Human Factors and Applied Psychology: On 15 April, 23 Cadets from the Engineering Psychology program traveled to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach for the 4th annual Florida Student Conference on Human Factors and Applied Psychology.  During the one-day conference cadets presented research in the form of 13 posters and 6 papers. Cadet researchers Adam Lary, William Schuh, and Matt Nulk received the Best Undergraduate Paper award for their paper titled: Dynavision D2: Enhancing Visuomotor Skills. On day two of the trip the cadets traveled to the Kennedy Space Center; after receiving a briefing from the Director (Robert D. Cabana, USNA class of ‘71) and Deputy-Director (Janet E. Petro, USMA class of ‘81), the cadets received a VIP tour that included visits to the Orbiter (space shuttle) Processing Facility and the Shuttle Stacking Facility.  

The 20th Annual Service Academy Student Mathematics Conference was hosted by the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO on 23 April 2010.  Four midshipmen from the Naval Academy, twelve cadets from the Air Force Academy and eleven cadets from West Point presented their mathematics capstone research.  The keynote speech was delivered by Dr. Brian Winkel, who is currently on leave from USMA and a Distinguished Visiting Professor at USAFA. The conference was capped off by a panel session on the role of mathematics in the careers of four military faculty members at USAFA.  Once again, the organizers and cadets at our host academy provided superb hospitality to all that attended.

 The Cadet Fine Arts Forum hosted the annual Night of the Arts in the Haig Room on the evening of 30 April 2010.  COL Kerin, Head, D/English and Philosophy presented awards to 15 cadets who demonstrated artistic excellence in the categories of poetry, prose, painting/drawing, photograph, and spoken word.  Also, the audience of approximately 130 cadets, faculty, family, and friends enjoyed the live piano, opera, and spoken word performances by some remarkably talented cadets. Attached are photos of the first place award winner for poetry, Colin Bennett, reading an excerpt of his winning poem, the first place award winner for photography, Kate Sweeney, receiving her award, and the first place award winner, Akeem Rutherford, for spoken word performing his winning piece.

Bronx “Bombers”: Last Monday, 35 Department of Law cadets visited the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office, where they: spoke in a private meeting with the Honorable Robert Johnson (District Attorney); received a class on evidence presentation from the Chief Trial Counsel; discussed evidence collection with two NYPD Detectives; reviewed forensic evidence with the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner; and observed various trials, including a murder case.  Following an informal lunch with judges and attorneys, the cadets walked to Yankee Stadium where they received a tour of the stadium including the dugout, field, and clubhouse.  Afterwards they visited the Yankees’ Legal Department and learned about their day-to-day operations. The cadets were escorted by LTC Troy Smith, MAJ Richard Meyer, and CPT Jonathan Gross.

Ceremonies for Margaret Corbin: Seven cadets from the Margaret Corbin Forum participated in the 84th Anniversary Ceremonies for Margaret Corbin Revolutionary Heroine at the Old Cadet Chapel and Cemetery hosted by the New York State Officers Club of the Daughters of the American Revolution on 4 May. LTC Diane Ryan laid a wreath at the Margaret Corbin Monument and was the keynote speaker at the luncheon that followed at the Thayer Hotel.

Dr Margie Carroll, D/Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, and 21 cadets attended the Hudson Valley Undergraduate Research Conference at Dominican College on 30 April 2010. Cadet Alex DeRosa, 2010, won second place for his presentation on the relationship between cynicism and character strengths.  (Source: Deans Significant Activities 6 May 10)

Update:  Left--Members of the Class of 2013 class committee and artist Warren Miller.
 

The Class of 2013 unveiled its Class Crest on Friday, 23 April.  Members of the class of 1963 were in attendance as part of the 50-Year Affiliation Program.

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CDT Artur Dominiak '10, past-president of the USMA Kosciuszko Squadron, appeared as panelist at the 7th Annual Conference of the American Association of Friends of Kosciuszko at West Point during which he reported on this year's club activities.

And, a dozen members of the Kosciuszko Squadron took part in ceremonies at West Point to commemorate the service of Thaddeus Kosciuszko in the name of freedom of the 3 nations represented this year: America, Lithuania and Poland.

Duke University Basketball Coach Mike Krzyzewski was at West Point April 27 to present six coaches and cadets with the 2010 Mike Krzyzewski Teaching Character Through Sport Award. Track and Field Coach Troy Engle and Firstie Matthew Kyler, a member of the Army Wrestling Team, were the second recipients representing intercollegiate athletics to have earned the award since it was introduced in 2007.
Look for more information and photos at the West Point Public Affairs photo site & Pointer View 

Inline Hockey traveled to San Jose, California to participate in the NCRH National Championships. The team played Eastern Michigan University, the University of Connecticut, and the University of California at Santa Barbara in round robin play.  Updated 21 April

Andy DiEugenio, a football player at Army and a State College graduate, was presented with the Col. Joel B. Stephens Memorial Award which is given annually to the MVP of the Scout Team Defense

   Former State College football player Andy DiEugenio was honored at halftime of Army’s annual Black and Gold spring football game recently.
   DiEugenio, who will graduate from West Point later this month, was presented with the Col. Joel B. Stephens Memorial Award which is given to the MVP of the Scout Team Defense each year.
   DiEugenio, who is a letter winner and Dean’s List student at West Point, will be commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant upon graduation and will report to Airborne School and will later attend Armored Officer’s School and Ranger School before being assigned to the 3rd Division.
 Centre Daily Times, 05 May 2010

Two U.S. Military Academy at West Point cadets from the Capital Region were among cadets honored by Gov. David Paterson and the state Legislature during a West Point Day ceremony Wednesday at the state Capitol in Albany.

Cadet Nicholas Coronato '12, son of Dale and Christopher Coronato of Albany, and Marc Meybaum '12, son of Eric and Susan Meybaum of Wilton, and 10 other cadets were guests of honor during a breakfast and a luncheon. They were recognized in a governor proclamation. Senate and Assembly lawmakers adopted West Point resolutions.

Army Brig. Gen. William Rapp '84, West Point commandant, addressed the Legislature.

West Point Day has been a tradition held at the Capitol since 1951 when it was started by Assemblyman James T. McNamara, a 1939 graduate of West Point.

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Army's Ali Villanueva, right, says that even though he's had a taste of the NFL, he will concentrate on his military assignment.  Ali Villanueva thought his football career was finished.

Villanueva, Army's leading receiver last season as a senior wideout, felt left out after the NFL draft and free-agent signing period. He understood. No team wanted a prospect who couldn't play for at least two years because of a military commitment, Villanueva thought.  Then the Cincinnati Bengals called. At first, they didn't know about Villanueva's military status, which doesn't allow him to sign a pro contract until he serves two years of active duty. Once they found out, they didn't care.  Inviting Villanueva to rookie minicamp, which ended Sunday, was the right thing to do, said Bengals tight end coach Jonathan Hayes.

And from the time he arrived last Thursday, Villanueva impressed.  (Source: Times Herald-Record, Army's Ali Villanueva, right, says that even though he's had a taste of the NFL, he will concentrate on his military assignment.  Times Herald-Record/JEFF GOULDING04 May 2010 )

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Cadet Alex Gephart, a senior midfielder, gets a lift from teammates following the Black Knights 11-8 victory over Navy in the Patriot League Championship on Sunday, 2 May, at Michie Stadium. ...With the victory, the team’s second win over Navy this season, Army earns an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament (Source USMA Facebook, Photo by Tommy Gilligan/Pointer View)

More on Army Lacrosse: 
Patriot League announces major lacrosse awards, All-Conference teams
Army junior Bill Henderson was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, while freshman attackman Garrett Thul garnered Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors as the conference announced its major award winners and all-conference teams, Tuesday.. The duo also comprised two of the Black Knights' six All-Patriot League selections. Henderson joined sophomore LSM/younger brother Tim Henderson and junior attackman Jeremy Boltus on the first-team, while Thul joined junior goalkeeper Tom Palesky and sophomore midfielder Sean O'Sullivan on the second team. It is the most all-conference selections under head coach Joe Alberici and the highest total Army has had since the 2003 squad landed seven players on the team. ~Metrowny.com, 28 April 2010

Go Army Lacrosse!
Cow goalkeeper Tom Palesky was named tournament MVP after leading the Black Knights to a 11-8 victory over Navy to win the 2010 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Championship this afternoon at Michie Stadium. Cow Jeremy Boltus garnered all-tournament honors after scoring five points on two goals and three assists as Army won its first-ever Patriot League Tournament crown. NCAAs are in two weeks!   ~BG William Rapp '84 / Facebook

Three Department of Foreign Languages cadets earned top recognition in the 11th Annual National Post-Secondary Russian Essay Contest.  From among 1,023 essays by students of 64 US colleges, theirs were ranked superior by judges in Russia.  Among Non-Heritage Learners Tyler Hartmann ’10, won second place at Level 4 (most experienced speakers).  Among Heritage Learners: Aleks Klevenskiy ’12, earned Second Place at Level 2, and Vlad Saveljevs ’10 gained Honorable Mention at Level 1.  It’s the bes USMA finish ever.   

4H Club Visit: On 20 April 2010 the members of Dr. Labare's 4H group, Animals Around the World, visited the Dept. of Chemistry and Life Science. The 4H members (4 in middle school and 1 in high school) are conducting a survey of antibiotic resistant bacteria in poultry feces as part of a STEM grant from West Point.  The girls sequenced the 16S rRNA gene from a number of isolates to identify the bacteria. Mr. Lance Richardson instructed the girls in the sequencing process.  Dr. Dawn Riegner briefed the girls in the chemistry behind some of the other tests they performed to identify the bacteria. The 4H members also joined the cadets in their CH375 Introduction to Biology laboratory exercise.  CDT Mary Thomas and others mentor the 4H members in a CH375 lab exercise.

For the past 7 years, the McCormick Tribune Foundation has hosted an academic conference for the service academies.  This year, 7 SOSH and 2 LAW cadets engaged in scholarly discussion and debate with 9 Midshipmen, 8 Air Force Cadets, and 4 Coast Guard Cadets.  The theme for this year’s conference was “Preventing Violence in the Era of Persistent Conflict.”  Prior to the conference, in teams of two, the student delegates wrote academic papers answering several research questions related to the conference theme.  At the conference, the students presented their papers and fielded questions from their counterparts.

In February 2010, the Naval Academy challenged West Point to its first-ever mock trial competition.  The Department of Law thereafter began actively seeking interested cadets, who were not only willing to answer the call, but who would in fact beat Navy.  In the end, six cadets were chosen: CDT Pamela Baker ’12, CDT Christian Bellavia ‘12, CDT Adam Gittleman ‘11, CDT Andrew Krumwied ‘11, CDT Miguel Moyeno ‘12, and CDT Manuel Ortiz ‘11. During the practice sessions, the cadets covered nearly every conceivable topic of importance to a military trial lawyer. Their performances were critiqued by their coaches, CPTs Chad Balfanz and Ryan Dunmire, as well as CPT Dan Mazzone, Chief, Military Justice, OSJA, and SFC Watkins, the OSJA NCOIC. The competition was held on Saturday, 17 Apr 2010, at the Valley Forge Military Academy and College.  Each team conducted a voir dire examination, an opening statement, direct and cross examinations of witnesses, and proffered a closing argument as to the findings.  The trials were presided over by MAJ Greg Hines, USMC, an actively serving military judge, and Mr. Jim Gordon, a former USMC JAG and currently practicing litigator in Philadelphia. In the final analysis, every one of these extraordinary individuals was a volunteer who gave up their free time simply to learn more about a topic of interest and to represent their future alma mater.  Unlike the midshipmen, the West Point cadets received no class credit and no grade.  Yet, they still won three out of the four trials in the competition and beat Navy in overall points by a margin of roughly twenty. 

Cadets proudly showed off their scholarly talents at the Projects Day exhibitions, part of the Annual Donor Tribute Day at West Point.  This year, members of the Reunion Class of 1970 attended, as they hold their 40th Reunion this weekend.

  First photos in from 29 August 2010

Navigators executed the (sponsored through the Cadet Chapel) Service Project Day at the Walter Hoving Home in Garrison. Cadets spent the day doing grounds maintenance and brush clearing at this non- profit halfway house.

Civil Engineering Club travelled to Maramoneck, New York to assist in the construction of a house for Habitat for Humanity. The house under construction had been flooded during record rainfall in 2008, and the new home will allow residents to stay above future flood waters. Cadets hung drywall, caulked and sealed the exterior of the house, cleared the nearby river of debris and assisted with other carpentry tasks.

Fencing CDT Peter Kerkhof qualified to the North America Cup (NAC) Division I tournament to meet up with the top fencers in the country, including all Olympic qualifiers and NCAA qualifiers in fencing. There has only been 1 other West Point epee fencer who has qualified to a NAC.

Fly Fishing traveled to East Haddam Connecticut and stayed at the East Haddam Fish and Game Club. They fished in the stream on their property and caught mostly brook trout and stayed at their club house and were served great meals.

Mens team handball proved its dominance over the collegiate handball landscape this weekend by taking both the gold and silver medals at the USATH Collegiate National Finals in Myrtle Beach, SC.

West Point Triathlon dominated the Collegiate Championship at the 2010 USA Duathlon National Championships. When the team race results are announced later this week, West Point Tri will undoubted be named Collegiate Nationals Championships for the second year in a row in this endurance sport discipline.

CDT Wales integrated laser rangefinder, GPS, digital compass and microcontroller called "DemonEye" that you can point at a target lup to a mile away, press the button and it will give you an exact location back. This is invaluable in marking targets rapidly and precisely, or identifying and marking IEDs, or transmitting coordinates of helicopter landing zones (MEDEVAC) while enroute. Although there are other devices that do this, they are bulky (eight pounds) and expensive ($15,000). DemonEye weighs less than two pounds and costs about $1,000.

Projects Day photos  ...

Our cadets continue to work on the cutting edge. The West Point Bionic Foot RUNNING Prototype Testing began on 13 April, when a Special Operations amputee soldier, outfitted with the bionic foot (running version), ran on the treadmill at speeds up to 4.9 mph to confirm software, control, electronics, sensor, and hardware integration. On 23 April, the same soldier achieved a speed of 8 mph. Their next goal is having this soldier pass the Army Physical Fitness Test! Great stuff!  ~Commandant BG William Rapp '84, Facebook

30-second video clip of the action...

Glee Club sang as part of the “American Celebration” Concert sponsored by Texas Roadhouse. The audience of over 2,000 included military members and families invited to enjoy Ellis Island as a tribute to all service men and women. In addition to the Glee Club, the All-Star band (musicians from groups from Blues Brothers Band, Doobie Brothers, Journey and Survivor) and the Charlie Daniels Band.

Women’s Triathlon won the Collegiate National Championship with over 110 other schools competing.

The Men’s Team took 2nd place behind the team from the University of Colorado at Boulder (whose athletes train at the Olympic Training Center; over half are professionals). Both teams beat Navy!  Go Army!

Whitewater Kayak and Canoe Club had a great trip to the Deerfield River near Charlemont, MA on Sunday to kayak. When we were gearing up, the temps were in the mid 40s, but the sun made some brief appearances, making the day on the river chilly but very enjoyable.

Women’s Lacrosse brought fighting spirit to the East Coast Women’s Lacrosse League Tournament. Victories over NYU and Rutgers left the Army team with an 8-3 record.

Climbing headed to the Shawangunk
[pronounced 'Shon-gum'] cliffside in New Paltz, New York for a training trip. During this trip cadets were able to work on their skills at traditional lead climbing. This style of climbing, forces the climber to constantly make decisions on whether gear is safe, to keep climbing, or which route is the best choice; however, hesitation has serious consequences as well.  DCA Update 21 April 2010

climbing from an earlier week...

Class of 2010 president Arron Conley takes a spin on the gyroscope at Spring Fest.

Inaugural USA Sevens Rugby Collegiate Championship Invitational

June 4-6 -- Columbus Crew Stadium

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Justin Schaaf '12 was doing his best Roger Goodell impression on the ride from West Point to New York for the NFL draft on Saturday.

Schaaf's reenactment of announcing of picks drew a few laughs from his Army teammates. Little did Schaaf, a sophomore defensive lineman, know he would share the same stage as Goodell hours later.Three picks prior to the Steelers' sixth-round selection, Schaaf was informed he would be calling out Pittsburgh's pick.

(Photo:  Army football players Lonnie Liggins, Justin Schaaf, Zach Peterson, Brad Kelly, L.B. Brown, Victor Ugenyi, Max Jenkins, Chad Littlejohn and James Whittington and Army academic adviser Cat Seymour with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell at the NFL draft on Saturday in New York.)

Schaaf, a die-hard Steelers fan who was wearing his Army white shirt over gray pants, stepped up the microphone with his Army teammates in the backdrop and told the world:  “And with the 188th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select Jonathan Dwyer, running back, Georgia Tech.”

“I was representing Army football and it was definitely a privilege to announce the pick,” said Schaaf, who grew up in Erie, Pa.

And it was pretty ironic.                                                  Read more...

Photo: Clint Moore '11, Army Athletic Communications

Game 1 Box Score -- Army 7, Lafayette 4
Game 2 Box Score -- Army 5, Lafayette 2

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Clint Moore went 5-for-7 with a home run, four runs scored and three runs batted in to lead Army's offense and the Black Knights clinched at least a share of their third consecutive regular season Patriot League championship and the top seed and home field advantage for next month's conference tournament with a doubleheader sweep of Lafayette, Sunday afternoon at Doubleday Field.

Completing its fifth Patriot League doubleheader sweep of the season, Army defeated Lafayette 7-4 in the first game, then posted a 5-2 victory in the nightcap. Sitting atop the conference standings with a 13-3 Patriot record, the Black Knights own a four-game lead over both Holy Cross (9-7) and Lehigh (9-7), which stand tied for second place with four games to play. Army holds the tie-breaker over both teams by virtue of the Black Knights' series wins earlier this month.

Read more at goarmysports.com...

On Monday April 19, AHEPA (the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association), Nicholas Karacostas, president of AHEPA, visited West Point Military academy in West Point, N.Y. to initiate Cadet CPL Demetrios Kolitsos '12 into the Order of AHEPA. CPL Kolitsos was initiated into AHEPA Zeus Chapter 88 in Warren, Ohio.

Read more...

Saturday [24 April], the club visits Fredericksburg. Army and Coast Guard academies' singers, sponsored by The George Washington Foundation, plan one-of-a-kind choral performance in Fredericksburg.  Musical history may be made this Saturday evening in Fredericksburg.

More than that, people are in for a huge treat--as the world-class voices of two American military academies join forces, in a one-hour public concert at James Monroe High School. Thanks to the generosity of The George Washington Foundation -- a group dedicated to the preservation of Kenmore Plantation and George Washington's Ferry Farm -- the cadet glee clubs of the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy will perform together.

Constance Chase, who has directed the West Point Cadet Glee Club for 11 years, told Weekender she believes this will be the first time the West Point and Coast Guard clubs have sung together.

by Yearling Aaron Pool, Combat Weapons Team PAO

What began as a cold, dreary day turned into a terrific glowing victory and a national championship for the cadets competing April 10 as part of the West Point Combat Weapons Team.  The team traveled to the Hartford Gun Club in Connecticut to take on other academy teams at the Joint Service Academy Combat Weapons Competition.

The competition consisted of eight different stages to include M9 pistol, M4 rifle and 12-gauge shotgun shooting.  Each stage was created by the competition's main sponsor, Smith and Wesson, to challenge the shooters to their fullest... "Adding a timer to the stages increases the complexity because you are forced to choose between getting all of your hits so you don't get penalized, and finishing in as little time as possible," Firstie Jimbo Hughes said.

photo: Photo credit Craig Jackson/WPCWT:  In one of the mixed M9 pistol and M4 rifle stages, Yearling Josh Mathews takes aim and sends rounds downrange with his M4 before he transitions to his pistol.

Read more...

Owner Tom Benson of the Saints hosted our Cadets-

Photo slide show at the official Saints website

 
Cadets Kyle Staron, Matt Archuleta, and Porter Smith (all class of 2010) look on as Rabbi Ken Brickman reads from the Torah in a synagogue in Jersey City.

   Fifteen West Point cadets spent three days in Jersey City last week getting a taste of the various religious cultures they might encounter when deployed overseas and learning how the different communities get along in Hudson County.

   The cadets, mostly seniors, were participants in an elective course at the U.S. Military Academy called “Winning the Peace.” The course, said instructor Maj. Angelica Martinez, is designed to give students different perspectives on how to interact with local populations with unfamiliar cultures, religions, and languages.

Read more...

Maisano is a decorated student at the United States Military Academy. He holds a 4.00 GPA in systems engineering, ranking him 19th academically in the USMA Class of 2010. He is in the top 5% of his class overall. He has received the Superintendent’s Award for Excellence every semester. Also, he is a three time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll selection, Dean’s List honoree every semester, Golden Key Honor Society member, and a Society of American Military Engineers member.

Serving as captain of the lacrosse team, Maisano is a member of the Brigade Chain of Command and is chair of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He completed Airborne School in the summer of 2008, is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and aspires to be a combat engineer upon graduation. Be sure to VOTE DAILY!

Read more and Vote for Cadet Andrew!

On Patriots Day, April 19, 2010, 17 cadets of the West Point Marathon Team and several officers joined over 23,000 runners in the 114th Boston Marathon, the world’s oldest annual marathon. ...the Marathon Team performed admirably and beat Navy in a competition passed on the top three runners from each academy. Plebe Colin Chapman, finished in 2:44:59, 330th overall. Matt Cincotta ’10 was close behind at 2:48:45, and Ben Troxell followed at 2:53:27. The women’s team was led by Diana Bunjovac ‘10, who ran a personal best of 3:17:41 despite an earlier stress fracture.

How did the rest of our Cadets do? 

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On April 6, Ms. Cat Seymour, ODIA/CEP Student-Athlete Counselor and Academic Coordinator for Army Football, recognized 44 Dean’s list corps-squad athletes from the Army Football Team. 19 upperclassmen and 25 underclassmen received certificates for achieving excellence in academics and athletics, while making significant contributions to the community.  Most notably, CDT SGTs Carson Homme '11 and Jordan Trimble '11 earned over a 3.8, while CDT CPL Andrew Rodriguez '12 earned over a 4.0 during their competitive season. All 3 are starters. Trimble and Rodriguez were also 2009 Academic All-America district recipients in the fall.

2010 Big Beam Team Travels to Oldcastle Building Systems.  Firsties Mark Garrison, Ross Hartman, and Razvan Cojocaru travelled to Oldcastle Building Systems in South Bethlehem, NY Tuesday, 6 April, to help cast their beam for the 2010 PCI Big Beam Design Competition.  The cadets are participating in the design competition as part of the CE489, Advanced Individual Study in CE, course.  The International Competition requires students to design a prestressed concrete beam within parameters established by the competition rules and then test the beam to failure.  Casting the beam was the culmination of several months of hard work.  Cadets Garrison, Hartman, and Cojocaru learned how to design prestressed concrete beam, a topic normally taught in graduate level Civil Engineering programs, examined different design options, and finally submitted technical drawings to Oldcastle Building Systems to have the beam constructed.  The team hopes to test their beam between 21 and 23 April in Mahan Hall. 

Mark Garrison (left) and Razvan Cojocaru (right) conduct final measurements of their beam prior to placing concrete in the formwork.  The cadets will test their beam in a few weeks at West Point.