The Army West Point Women’s Basketball team picked up its second consecutive win last night, topping Rider, 70-55, in Alumni Gymnasium.

The contest was back and forth in the first half, with each team experiencing highs and lows shooting. At one point in the first quarter, Army hit four consecutive shots. In the second quarter, the Broncs started 3-of-5 from deep but had a scoring drought that last 6:01. Army used a spurt to take control of the lead but was held scoreless for final 3:52 of the first half.

Alisa Fallon and Kate Murray led Army's offensive charge in the second half. The duo combined for 29 of Army's 41 second-half points. Fallon had 16 points and Murray had 13. New Jersey native Lauren Lithgow added eight points, all of which came in the fourth quarter.

Fallon finished with a game high 25 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the floor. She was a point shy of matching her career high of 26, which she set against Colgate on Jan. 5, 2020. Murray ended the game with 18 points and 18 rebounds. Her 18 boards is tied for the 14th most in a single contest in program history.

Following the game, firstie captains Liz Layne and Jessica Rawls learned their branch assignment, as Wednesday was Branch Night back at the Academy. Both branched Ordnance, which was each of their top choices.

Army West Point Women’s Basketball added two more nonconference games to its slate Wednesday afternoon. The Black Knights are set to play Marist at 1 p.m. this Saturday, December 5, in Christl Arena. The Cadets will also take on Quinnipiac in Hamden, Conn., at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 12.

The Black Knights are up 9-6 in the series against Marist. This will mark the 16th meeting in program history. The two teams faced off against each other for the first time during the 1977-78 season. The last time the two schools met was on December 28, 1999, in McCann Arena, in Poughkeepsie. Army halted the Red Foxes from expanding their five-game win streak in the series, earning the 72-63 triumph in the contest.

Prior to taking over at the helm at West Point, Army Head Coach Dave Magarity served as the head coach of Marist's men's team from 1986-2004. During those years he held a record of 253-258 and lead them to two postseason berths, earning a spot in the 1987 NCAA Tournament and the 1996 NIT.

Army's matchup with Quinnipiac will be the seventh all-time meeting between the two schools. The Bobcats won the first five tilts in the series, but won the most recent game, 67-57, on Nov. 15, 2015. The Black Knights had a trio of double-digits scorers in that game led by Kelsey Minato (26), Brianna Johnson (15) and Aimee Oertner (10).

Game dates and times are subject to change.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Army-Navy Ball Run challenge is finally here! Lace up your shoes, hit the roads, and run to help us BEAT NAVY! The Army West Point Marathon Team is running the game ball around post this year to keep up the tradition of running the ball from USMA to the football field for Army-Navy game day. The team is encouraging everyone to join them virtually by running from December 1 - 10. Get started Old Grads - the race has begun!

Join the Strava club and log your miles at: https://www.strava.com/clubs/Army-NavyBallRunChallenge_2020.

If you are unable to access Strava, please log your miles here: https://tinyurl.com/y5w6v4hp.

The Army West Point Men’s Basketball team suffered its first loss of the 2020-21 season, falling to Florida in a tightly contested bout, 76-69, last night at Mohegan Sun Arena.

“Our guys came with the attitude that we wanted to win this basketball game and I'm proud of the way they competed,” Head Coach Jimmy Allen said. “I can't tell you how much respect I have for Coach White and the Florida program. Having the chance to compete against a program that has had as much success as they have had and be right there with a chance to win the game says a lot about our guys and where our program is right now. Certainly, with the young team that we have, it says a lot about where our program is headed.”

Coming off the team's first 3-0 start in five seasons, the Black Knights jumped out to a quick start in the game, taking a 12-2 lead early in the first half. The Gators fought back into the contest, before the sides traded leads throughout the second half. In total, there were 11 lead changes in the game before Florida was able to close out the game in the final minutes of the contest.

“As we go through the season, our ultimate goal is to put ourselves in a position to win a Patriot League Championship,” Allen said. “There are certainly a lot of positives that we can take from this game that will help us moving forward.”

Three Black Knights reached double-digit points in the contest, with firstie Lonnie Grayson leading the way with 13. He added a team-leading eight rebounds. Plebe Jalen Rucker scored eight of Army's first 12 points, finishing with 12 points and six assists. Read more.

Army West Point Men’s Basketball will play La Salle on Sunday, December 6 at Christl Arena. The contest is scheduled to tip off at 4 p.m.

The matchup will be streamed live on ESPN+ and will be closed to outside spectators. Game dates and times are subject to change.

The last time the two schools met was in 2011, when the Explorers defeated the Black Knights 76-64 in Philadelphia. Army's last victory over La Salle came in 1987.

The Black Knights will enter Sunday's game with a 3-1 record, coming off a tightly contested loss to Florida at Bubbleville at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Dr. Mary Lou Roberts, this year's Charles Boal Ewing Professor in Military History, gave a presentation to a mixed in-person and remote audience at West Point. Her talk was entitled “Sexual Violence and Allied Relations in World War II: The Leroy Henry Case.”

Earlier this month in commemoration of the November Pogroms in Germany, Austria, and the Sudetenland, known collectively as Kristallnacht, the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies teamed up with the Holocaust, Genocide and Interfaith Education Center at Manhattan College and the Kupferberg Holocaust Center at Queensborough Community College to offer a Kristallnacht commemorative program.

Photo: The West Point Jewish Chapel Choir performing “The Resistance Song” as part of the Kristallnacht commemoration

Yesterday, December 1, 2020 BG Jebb and COL Morales dedicated the Dr. Bruce Keith Library in Mahan Hall. Dr. Keith dedicated 16 years as a Professor of Sociology in the Department of Systems Engineering (2002-2018) and 15 years (1996-2011) on the Dean’s staff as both an Assistant Dean and an Associate Dean. He now serves as an Emeritus Professor of Sociology at West Point. The Dr. Bruce Keith Library is located on the 3rd floor of Mahan in room 304.

Ryan Hetrick ’21 of Army West Point Wrestling, Jordan Blackman ’21 of Army Football and Sam McGee ’21 of Army Men's Golf have been selected as the Corps Squad Athletes of the Month for November.

Ryan Hetrick has earned a 3.64 cumulative GPA during his 3+ years at USMA as an Engineering Management major. Over the course of his six completed semesters at West Point, he has made the Dean's List in each, with a term-best of 3.74 in the Fall 2019 semester. Hetrick has maintained a rigorous course load and has excelled in his academic major curriculum. His performance across all academic sub-disciplines has been remarkable. Hetrick currently serves as the Physical Development Officer for Company I4, leading the way for others through his example of excellence and supporting the physical fitness optimization of others.

“Ryan is a team leader in every aspect. He is disciplined, driven, and selfless all at the same time. He sets the example to follow academically, athletically, and is a standout member of his company. He intends to compete for an NCAA title this year on the mat and is competing for a post-graduate scholarship academically. Ryan truly embodies what it means to be an Army Wrestler and a Cadet-Athlete at West Point.” Said Head coach Kevin Ward

Jordan Blackman is a member of company H4. Blackman serves in the position of Company Respect Officer. Jordan has earned a 3.147 Cumulative GPA as an Engineering Psychology major. Blackman is a leader amongst his teammates, holding a position on the leadership council – a group of players voted on by their peers. In the 49-3 win over Mercer University, Jordan scored his first career touchdown in a third-and-goal play. Blackman's leadership and work ethic were seen in his teammates' reaction to his touchdown, carrying him off the field after the score. Blackman is a team player who brings out the best in those around him. He is a great cadet, football player, and student and is incredibly deserving of recognition.

CDT Samuel McGee entered his Firstie year maintaining a 3.293 Cumulative GPA. As a Law and Legal Studies major, he will commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army in May 2021. Sam has made the Dean's List in each of his first six semesters at the Academy. He posted his highest semester GPA in the fall of 2019, when he finished the semester with a 3.541 term GPA. He is a member of Company E2. Read more.

Last week, cadets in SS476: Conflict and Settlement simulated United Nations Security Council negotiations. Roleplaying as UN officials and permanent and non-permanent UNSC members, the cadets attempted to coordinate a multilateral response to the ongoing civil war in South Sudan.

CDT John “Jack” Mays (2024) and cadets from Company E4 cleaned out the cannons on Trophy Point. Jack was bothered by the trash he saw in the cannons, so he sought and received permission from the USMA Museum to clean them up. He recruited a dozen cadets from all classes, made a plan, built tools, and bought lunch for his team. Jack invited COL Musteen and CPT Wyatt Brown of the Department of History to explain the history of Trophy Point and its cannons, and then they spent their Sunday afternoon improving the most visited place at West Point.

Army West Point Men's Basketball head coach Jimmy Allen announced that the Black Knights will return to Bubbleville at Mohegan Sun Arena for a matchup with the Florida Gators tomorrow, Wednesday December 2.

The game is slated for a 2:30 p.m. tip off and will be broadcast live on ESPN2.

“We are excited about the opportunity to play a program of Florida's caliber,” Allen said. “We are extremely appreciative of the opportunity to compete right now and thankful for the support of the administration in our athletic department and in the Academy.”

The Black Knights will enter Wednesday’s contest as winners of their first three games, the team’s best start since the 2015-16 season. The contest will be Florida's first of the 2020-21 season. The last time these two teams met was during the 1971-72 season at Madison Square Garden where Florida won an 80-71 matchup.

Stay tuned at GoArmyWestPoint.com and @ArmyWP_MBB on Twitter for more information on Wednesday’s contest.

CDT William Joo, Class of ’24, Company E-2, was nominated by his company for the Dean’s “Brain Gainz” recognition. CDT Joo sacrificed personal study time to help peers prepare for their PL100 WPR. Despite the study session being conducted in a completely remote forum, CDT Joo rose to the challenge and helped classmates effectively review course material. Thank you for your leadership, William!

For the 2020 Army-Navy Game presented by USAA, the Army football team will honor the 25th Infantry Division with special uniforms for America's Game set for December 12 at 3 p.m. ET at Michie Stadium. The game will air live on CBS.

For more detail on the uniform, please visit www.tropiclightning.football.

Origins: The United States Army formed the Hawaiian Division in 1921 to protect the Islands and Growing Interests in the Pacific. On October 1, 1941, the Hawaiian Division was split, creating the 24th and 25th Infantry Divisions. The 25th Infantry Division was stationed at Schofield Barracks on the Island of Oahu. Just over two months old when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, the 25th Infantry Division would move to Guadalcanal and take part in some of the most bitter fighting in the Pacific Theatre.

“Electric Strawberry”: The 25th Infantry Division's iconic shoulder insignia is a lightning bolt superimposed on a taro leaf. The colors of gold and red were those of the late Hawaiian monarchy. While soldiers over the years have jokingly referred to the patch as the “Electric Strawberry.”

27th Infantry Regiments Wolfhounds: The 27th Infantry Regiment was the first American Regiment to completely defeat a full-scale NKPA (North Korean) attack. The 27th is a sub unit of the 25th Infantry Division. All of the sub units of the 25th ID will be honored with helmet stickers. Each unit has a unique history and info on each can be seen on the microsite. This is the first year we have a heavy emphasis on a sub unit (27th Wolfhounds) in addition to the overall division.

Wolfhounds: The 27th heavy fire was devastating. General Walker would use the Wolfhounds sent to trouble spots around the perimeter during the battle of Pusan (Major Korean War Battle). Read more.

The Army West Point Women's Basketball team notched its first win of the 2020-21 campaign, defeating Iona 67-52 at Christl Arena yesterday afternoon. After a slow shooting start for the Black Knights, cow Kate Murray ignited the Army attack, scoring 11 points in the third quarter en route to a 19-point, 12-rebound afternoon.

Fellow cow Natalie Stralkus posted 15 points of her own, knocking down two big three-pointers in the fourth quarter to clinch the victory. Alisa Fallon made her mark on the game in the fourth quarter as well, converting on back-to-back three-point plays to extend Army's lead from four to double digits.

The Black Knights had a huge advantage at the free throw line, making 20 free throws to Iona's one in the game. Army's 20 free throws were its most in a contest since it went 21-of-24 from the line opposite Lehigh on February 1, 2020. Murray registered her second career double-double and her first since November 12, 2018 vs. Columbia, the second game of her career. Her 12 rebounds matched her career high, which she also set in the Columbia contest. Murray was 3-of-4 from deep and 8-of-10 from the charity stripe. Stralkus' 15 points marks her 10th career double-digit scoring effort. The cow was 5-of-9 on the day and 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. Entering the season, only 10 of Stralkus' made field goals in her career came from inside the 3-point line. This season she has hit five shots from inside the arc. After being held scoreless in the first three quarters of play, Fallon scored eight in the fourth on 3-of-5 shooting. Read more.

The Army West Point Men's Basketball team (3-0) continued its hot start, defeating Buffalo 78-74 in the team's final game at Bubbleville at Mohegan Sun Arena this past Saturday.

The win gives the Black Knights their first 3-0 start since the 2015-2016 season.

“I could not be happier and more impressed by our guys and the toughness and resiliency they showed today,” Head Coach Jimmy Allen said. “Buffalo is a terrific basketball program. They won 20 games last season and were picked near the top of the MAC this year, so for us to play like we did today in our third game in four days, I am super excited for our team and the guys are pumped.”

The Black Knights continue to see contributions throughout their lineup, as four different players recorded double-digit points in the contest. Junior Josh Caldwell was key for Army in this one, leading the team with a career-high 19 points, 10 rebounds and five steals, recording his fourth career double-double. Alex King posted 10 of his 16 points in the second half and was instrumental in turning around a big run from Buffalo in the second half. After a 14-0 run gave Buffalo the lead, King stopped the run with a big three-pointer and gave Army the lead again when Caldwell found him driving to the basket for the dunk. Army held Buffalo scoreless for the final 4:31 of the game, closing out the win with an 8-0 run. Read more.

Army West Point Women's Basketball will play Rider on Wednesday, December 2, in Lawrenceville, N.J. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

This will be the eighth all-time meeting between the two schools. The Broncs have the slight 4-3 advantage in the series which dates back to the 1995-96 season.

The last time the two schools met was on Nov. 29, 2015, in Christl Arena. Army, which was receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll at the time, won the contest, 57-42. Jean Parker had a game-high 18 points, while Kelsey Minato also reached double-figures with 11.

This will be the first time since December 7, 2012 that the two schools will clash in Lawrenceville. Rider narrowly won that bout, 66-60.

Game dates and times are subject to change. Other non-conference contests will be announced in the near future.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Gazelle Group have announced the complete schedule of matchups for the season-opening event known as “Bubbleville.” The Army West Point Men's Basketball team will face Central Connecticut on Friday November 27 at 2 p.m. and Buffalo on Saturday November 28 at 3 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

Bubbleville will house several events relocated and reimagined due to COVID-19 and provides a controlled environment with teams and event staff adhering to tribal, government, and NCAA health and safety protocols and testing requirements. All games will be played without fans in attendance. The matchups will be streamed on FloHoops.

The event will feature 45 games in 11 days, showcasing 40 NCAA Division I men's and women's teams. The schedule is subject to change.

Army opened its 2020-21 campaign on Wednesday night with a 93-32 victory over Merchant Marine. The win tied the Christl Arena record for the largest margin of victory by an Army team. The Patriot League announced earlier this month that Army and Navy have been granted exceptions to the league's conference-play only rule for the 2020-21 season.

To learn more about Bubbleville, visit https://www.hoophall.com/events/bubbleville or follow @hoophall #Bubbleville on Twitter and Instagram.

The postponed Army vs. Air Force game has been rescheduled for Saturday, December 19 at 3 p.m. ET at Michie Stadium. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.

The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, November 7.

This season marks the 49th year of CIC competition between the three academies. The 121st iteration of Army-Navy is set for the week prior on December 12, also at Michie Stadium.

Like previous home games this season, a fan attendance decision will be announced at a later date.

In this week's Behind the Game, presented by USAA, Rich DeMarco looks back at the history of the Army Mule as the official Mascot of the Cadets which dates back to 1899. The Army Mules are trained by cadet Mule Riders, a part of the Spirit Support Activity of the U.S. Corps of Cadets. The current Army Mule Riders are: Cadet Denali Jackson ’20, Cadet Garrett Dolan 014621, Cadet Sarah Traynor ’22, and Cadet Kyle Kass ’23. Together they are present at many of West Point's athletic events, parades, and other ceremonial activities. The Mules serve not only as West Point's mascot, but also as the mascot for the entire United States Army.

Army West Point Hockey head coach Brian Riley has announced new dates for the team's postponed American Hockey Association games against Holy Cross and Sacred Heart.

The Black Knights matchups against Holy Cross will take place on the road in Worcester, Mass., on January 5 and at home on February 23. Army will take on Sacred Heart at Tate Rink on January 29 and in Bridgeport, Conn., on February 9. Game times for these contests will be announced at a later date.

“Going into this year, we knew that we were going to have to have some adaptability with our schedule,” Riley said. “I appreciate both Holy Cross and Sacred Heart for working with us to reschedule these games. We are very excited about having the opportunity to get back on the ice and to begin preparing for our Atlantic Hockey season.”

The cadets are slated to return to the ice on December 4 when they take on Bentley at home. 

The West Point Lieber Institute for Law and Land Warfare's Articles of War completes its symposium on the definition of "attack" that was recently discussed at the International Criminal Court. COL Shane Reeves and Professor Sean Watts provide an overview and highlight long-term consequences of the court's action in their wrap-up post. Read more.

Don’t forget to register for our first virtual Beat Navy Tailgate which begins at 1:30pm EST on Saturday, December 12. Registration closes on Sunday, December 6 at 10pm EST. And until we can resume the fun in person, enjoy these memories from the 2019 tailgate!

2022 Civil Engineering majors in CE403 Structural Analysis nailed their timber design block, learning how to design and efficiently fabricate wood trusses using expeditionary techniques. The cadets undertook true hands-on learning through cutting, framing, and loading their own truss designs to failure for the CE403 Truss Design Competition.

The Army West Point Men's Basketball team has announced a season-opening home contest against Merchant Marine tomorrow Wednesday, November 25 at 6:30 p.m. in Christl Arena.

The matchup will be streamed live on ESPN+ and will be closed to outside spectators.

This will be the 16th matchup between the Black Knights and the Mariners, with Army winning the first 15 contests between the academies. In last year's meeting, Army defeated Merchant Marine 80-43 for the Black Knights' first win of the season.

Game dates and times are subject to change. Other non-conference contests will be announced in the near future.

The Army Women's Basketball team added home contests with Hofstra and Iona to its non-league slate on Monday afternoon.

The Black Knights will open their season tomorrow Wednesday, November 25 vs. Hofstra at 2 p.m followed by a home contest with Iona on Sunday, November 29 at 3 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+.

This will be Army's first matchup with Hofstra since the 2001-02 season. The Black Knights own the 5-4 advantage in the all-time series with the Pride, although Hofstra has won the last two tilts. The contest with Iona will be the 16th all-time meeting between the two schools and the first since the 2005-06 season. Army is 10-5 all-time against the Gaels.

There will be no fan attendance permitted for either game.

Game dates and times are subject to change. Other non-conference contests will be announced in the near future.

Congratulations to CDT Bailey Schieve (ME, ’21) for being accepted to attend medical school at the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine of the Uniformed Services University (USU) next Fall. This is a tremendous accomplishment! The F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine is traditional in many ways, but it has unique tenets that make it a special place. Among its singular features is a curriculum that places special emphasis on military and public health medicine. This foundation prepares students for the important roles they will take on as uniformed physicians. The program melds the study of basic science, the clinical practice of medicine and military leadership training to produce innovative doctors. This signature blend of education and training distinguishes USU as a leader among institutions of learning. Their motto, “Learning to Care for Those in Harm's Way.”

The United States Military Academy is proud to announce the Rhodes Scholars for the Class of 2021, CDT Tyrese Bender and CDT Evan Walker. They are of 32 scholars from the United States and will be joining recipients from more than 60 other countries. The last time West Point had more than one Rhodes scholar was back in 2014.

From San Antonio, TX, Tyrese Bender is an Engineering Management major at the United States Military Academy. His experience on several different sports teams throughout his life, to include his experience as a two-year track team captain at the Academy, sparked his passion for improving team cohesion through a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. His research has allowed him to contribute to the Academy’s inaugural USCC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategy. Additionally, as the Cadet Leader Development Regimental Executive Officer this past summer, Tyrese facilitated conversations on various character development topics, providing individuals at the Academy the opportunity to navigate and connect through the challenges of a global pandemic and civil unrest. Tyrese is also the Deputy Brigade Commander at the Academy, making him the second-highest ranking cadet in the West Point chain of command. In hopes to foster more equitable, inclusive, and effective organizational and national policies, Tyrese will pursue MScs in Sociology and Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.

Born and raised in Rowlett, Texas, Evan Walker is an Operations Research Major at the United States Military Academy. With a passion for mentorship and leadership, her research and extracurriculars are centered around these topics as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through the Elevation Initiative, a club for high performing minority cadets, Evan has had the opportunity to mentor 3rd and 4th Class Cadets on both leadership and academics. As a two-year captain of the Army Boxing team, she has balanced physical training with development as she mentored members on her team. She continued by implementing a formal mentorship program as a Regimental Commander for the 1,100 Cadets she currently leads. This past summer, as the Cadet Basic Training Regimental Commander, she facilitated conversations on diversity equity and inclusion among the Cadet leaders and New Cadets amidst the global pandemic and civil unrest that occurred prior to the summer's training. At Oxford she will read for an MPhil in Comparative Social Policy with a focus on the intersection between policy and inequalities in the workplace and their influence on social inclusion and mobility for racial and gender minorities. More info.

Army West Point completed an incredible come-from-behind victory to defeat visiting Georgia Southern, 28-27 to remain unbeaten at home on Saturday afternoon at Michie Stadium.

The Black Knights went down 14-0 early in the first quarter as Georgia Southern took advantage of some early Army miscues.

However, the Black Knights battled back, capping off a 15-play, 75-yard, eight-minute drive with a one-yard touchdown rush by Sandon McCoy. The extra point by Quinn Maretzki made it a 14-7 contest.

The back-and-forth battle ensued, as Georgia Southern pulled out to a 21-7 lead on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Shai Werts to Cam Brown with 9:24 left in the half.

Three fumbles lost in the first half played a big part in the 21-7 deficit at the half for the Black Knights as they outgained the Eagles 147 total yards to 137 yards in the half, including 122 rushing yards to Georgia Southern's 96. Read more.

This week on Behind the Game, presented by USAA, Rich DeMarco highlights the Patriot Games, which began in 2008 to enhance the weekend experience at America's Game. A spectacular two-day competition between Cadets & Midshipmen. Points are entered through five events. The team with the most points wins bragging rights and are presented with the Patriot Games trophy on the field during the Army-Navy Game.

The question after a football game like the one that took place inside Michie Stadium on Saturday is this: Where in the world does one begin?

Do you start with the bizarre and breath-taking ending? Or do you begin with sophomore linebacker Andre Carter, who didn't play a down as a freshman and got his first college start Saturday. All he did was block the extra point that was the difference in Army's 28-27 victory over Georgia Southern and get what SHOULD have been a game-clinching interception.

Then there was sophomore quarterback Tyhier Tyler, also making his first start, turning the ball over three times in the first half before coming back to lead Army's rally from a 21-7 deficit in the second half. Or you could mention Coach Jeff Monken's decision to stick with Tyler after the three fumbles.

What about the defense, which gave up several big plays, but also made several plays of its own in the fourth quarter to allow the Black Knights to hang on…barely. There should be kudos for Army's offensive line; for the fullbacks and for several players who had barely touched the ball all season who made big plays.

Then again, it is impossible to escape Monken's self-confessed over-coaching that gave The Eagles a chance to steal the game. What's more, Tyler's start could have been catastrophic and who knows what would have happened if the officials—after what felt like the 58th review in the fourth quarter—had given Georgia Southern's beleaguered kicker Alex Raynor, who had already missed from 28-yards and had an extra point blocked one final chance. The kick would have been 49-yards and Raynor's never made a field goal longer than 41-yards.
Even so, when the replay official finally ruled that the game was over, the celebration almost matched a postgame victory celebration after a win over Air Force or Navy.

“Relief," Monken said. "The first thing I felt when they said the game was over was relief.”

Understandable. He might have added, 'exhausted.' This was the game that wouldn't end. It was also a game that was a straight uphill climb for the Black Knights almost from the beginning. Read more.

Where else can you combine flight testing and biomechatronics but West Point! As part of an independent study, Cadet Ethan Rabb’22, Mechanical Engineering, conducted inflight testing of his skeletal traction device. This device is designed to maintain 30-pound tension force on femoral fractures in an aeromedical evacuation environment.

Though these last seven months have changed the way we would normally operate, our cadet clubs are still active and developing their leadership skills.
• The Corbin Forum is staying physically ready as they have been hosting Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) workout prep sessions.
• Kendo Club has impressively resumed regular practices while taking into consideration proper safety efforts.
• Implementing social distancing and masks the Gospel Choir and Glee Club have successfully adapted to a new practice formation.
• Asian Pacific Forum celebrated their culture by hosting a public event that included food.
• Wanting to stay on their game, Orienteering trained at Lake Frederick while passing on orienteering skills to its new members.
• At the start of the pandemic the Cadet Yoga Class kept some of us calm and active as they released a few virtual yoga practices on social media. Now they are offering classes and workshops that are all cadet led.

The Cadet Hostess Office Launched the Fall Wine Tasting Program recently. These tasting events are designed to train and educate Cadets regarding wine protocol, etiquette, and formalities. Some of the things they learned were: how to read a wine label, the correct way to open a bottle, the appropriate amount poured into a glass, basic Tasting Techniques: See / Swirl / Smell / Sip / Savor, ordering wine at a restaurant - tips, how to ask for advice from the sommelier (wine steward), when you choose the wine, what is expected as it arrives for your approval, and suggestions for serving wine at home when you are hosting.

During this year’s 36th Annual Army Ten-Miler, Virtual Edition, the Marathon Team formed two teams (Black and Gold) to compete in the event and finished 1st and 2nd overall in the ROTC/Service Academy Division that included 61 total team entries. The fastest male runner, CDT Dashiell Rogers, finished 29th out of 8,955 males. The fastest female runner, CDT Emily DiNallo, finished 11th out of 6,239 females. All USMA Cadets finished in the top 100 of their gender categories. These teams would normally be recognized by the CSA and SMA following the actual event in DC, but that could not happen this year.

1. West Point Marathon Gold
0:56:23 0:57:50 0:57:50 1:00:29 = 3:52:32
Zachary Gould M, Kyle Stacks M, Garrett Burnett M, Chase Hogeboom M

2. West Point Marathon Black
0:55:54 0:59:15 1:01:16 1:09:12 = 4:05:37
Dashiell Rogers M, Alexander Block M, Jake Pinuelas M, Haley Seaward F

3. Flying Gophers
1:02:58 1:03:02 1:04:30 1:04:43 = 4:15:13
Evan Wigham M, Alexander Baum M, Reed Smith M, Matthew Lindell M

In October, two West Point cadet teams competed in the American Society of Engineering Management (ASEM) International Student Case Competition. The USMA teams tied for second place overall in the judged portion, and the team of Cadets Gerber, Benoit, Hall, and Posch (pictured) won the People’s Choice Award! Congrats to our ASEM cadet teams!

Jon Rhattigan, a firstie linebacker on the Army West Point Football, was added the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list the Maxwell Football Club announced Wednesday morning.

The Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented annually to the nation’s top defensive player since 1995. The award named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame ’69 and the NFL Hall of Fame ’67.

Rhattigan leads the team with 60 tackles (25 solo) and has 8.0 tackles for a loss. The Naperville, Ill., native also has two interceptions on the season, one of which he returned for a touchdown and the other he brought back 50 yards. In Army's win over UTSA, he posted a career high 11 tackles (5 solo) and had one stop behind the line of scrimmage. Rhattigan has led the team in tackles in five of Army's eight games this season.

Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced on Monday, November 30 and three finalists for the award will be announced Tuesday, December 8. The winner of the award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show which will be announced in late December or early January at a date to be announced shortly.

As West Point continues to produce multiple research projects to advance the Army warfighter, cadets at the U.S. Military Academy are constantly at work reaching technological breakthroughs that make those advancements possible. Class of 2021 Cadet Thomas Aldhizer is one of many cadets using his passion for physics to develop contingency measures to potentially safeguard the lives of Soldiers on the battlefield. Aldhizer has spent most of his tenure at West Point defining theories related to lessening the variability of swinging when a casualty is being hoisted up into a Medevac helicopter. This year, the fruits of his labor finally came with the Thomas Young Award for outstanding research in physics.

Despite winning the award, the struggle to achieve this level of success was riddled with difficult obstacles. Those obstacles reminded him of simpler times in Pfafftown — a small community within the city of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he cultivated his passion for physics at Ronald Wilson Reagan High School. The community he lived in really valued and cherished people and the citizens of Pfafftown nurtured his desire to one day serve and give back to the people, Aldhizer added.

“I didn’t really want to go to college and make money, I wanted to go to college and be able to eventually do something to give back to Pfafftown," Aldhizer said. "So, I did JROTC in high school and I asked my mentors ‘where’s the best place I could go.’ They pointed toward a lot of places like Texas Tech or Virginia Tech, like a lot of good colleges, but not service academies.”

It wasn’t until his sophomore year in high school when his friend and colleague, 2nd Lt. Ean McCool, who was a senior at the time, informed Aldhizer of the opportunity that awaited him at West Point. McCool graduated from high school and attended West Point and that encouraged Aldhizer to do the same.

“I was like, ‘wow, people from Pfafftown can go to West Point,’ and that was kind of where I started looking into the academy and saying, ‘OK, how did my buddy get into West Point — what can I do, what should I do to get along that route,’” Aldhizer said of applying to West Point. Read more.

The Black Knights will be back in action on Saturday, November 21 at 12 p.m. ET at Michie Stadium as they host Georgia Southern. The game will be televised live on CBS Sports Network, with Ben Holden, Ross Tucker and Tina Cervasio on the call. The Black Knights are looking to get back to winning ways after a loss at Tulane last Saturday, snapping a four-game winning streak, the longest on the season. The Black currently own a seven-game home winning-streak dating back to 2019. During the stretch, the Black Knights have outscored their opponents by a total of 307-55.

During that seven-game home winning streak, they have held their opponents to less than 10 points in six of those seven games. In five of those six games (three in 2020), they have held opponents to a touchdown or less. The game will also be broadcast live on the Army Sports Network by Rich DeMarco and Dean Darling on the call. Fans can follow along on TuneIn Radio starting with the Tailgate Show at 10 a.m. ET. Saturday's game will feature the second-ranked Army rushing offense in the country (303.4 ypg) with Georgia Southern's 10th-ranked rushing defense in FBS (92.6 ypg).

The Black Knights will celebrate Senior Day for the following 21 players in what was originally slated to be the final home game at Michie Stadium for the Class of 2021 (will now play Navy at Michie on December 12 and possibly Air Force, TBD). Honorees include - RB Jordan Blackman, CB Javhari Bourdeau, RB Dominic DiStefano, RB Artice Hobbs, DL Jack Hough, OL JB Hunter, OL Mike Johnson, TE Jake Lauer, LS Paul Lawless, DL Jeremiah Lowery, OL Lucas McCleery, FB Sandon McCoy, DB Dean Ngendakuriyo, LS Kyle O'Connor, OL Peyton Reeder, LB Jon Rhattigan, K Landon Salyers, S Chris Skyers, LB Joe Stephenson, DL Nick Stokes and DL Amadeo West. Read more.

Army West Point football head coach Jeff Monken met virtually with members of the local media on Tuesday afternoon for his weekly press conference inside Nowak Auditorium.

Army will look to get back in the win column as they host Georgia Southern at Michie Stadium. The game will be aired on CBS Sports Network. Kickoff is set for noon.

Army West Point Football Head Coach Jeff Monken
(Ref.: Opening Statement)
“We're sure disappointed about the way we played on Saturday. Credit to Tulane, they did a nice job of just keeping us off-balance on offense. They had those two early scoring drives and then again in the second half in the third quarter. The game was really odd. They had complete control of it in the first quarter and it seemed like we took control in the second quarter and had ourselves positioned at halftime and unfortunately couldn't come through in the second half. They outplayed us. They have a good team, a well-coached team, a really talented team. It made it difficult for us to match up with them in a lot of situations.”

“So, we'll come off that one and try to regroup and get ready for Georgia Southern, who also is a very well-coached team and a very talented team. In the grand scheme of things, I know them very well, but this will be our first time facing them and it will be a real test. They are doing some great things on offense running the football. They are one of the best rushing teams in the country. Scot Sloan, the defensive coordinator, and that staff know our offense very well. In fact, Brent Davis, our offensive coordinator, and Scot worked together at Georgia Southern on the same staff under Mike Sewak. So, they know our offense and it will be a challenge to go up against them. Scot and Nate Woody are good friends. In fact, they spent a lot of time this offseason talking about defense and option defense and low and behold we end up playing them which we didn't expect. There will be a lot emotion for me and a lot of us here on the staff that coached at Georgia Southern just because we love that school, and we love that program. I certainly cheer for them every time they play. I hate that we have to play them because I don't want to cheer against them but I'm going to have to make an exception for one day.”

“Our guys are excited for the opportunity to come back home and play in front of the Corps of Cadets. Hopefully, we'll do a good job of preparing them this week.” Read more.

Congratulations to CPT David Fobar, MAJ Logan Phillips, MAJ Andrew Wilhelm, and COL Pete Chapman on presenting at the 2020 The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Nuclear Science Symposium (NSS). Their research, entitled “Considerations for Training an Artificial Neural Network for Particle-type Identification”, explored the impact of various training datasets on overall network accuracy. This marriage between machine learning and nuclear radiation detection proves to be an area of great interest. We are proud to have our excellent faculty taking part in exploring this frontier.

History instructors continue to be creative, inclusive, and safe in executing lessons with cadets enrolled in HI101. This week, CPTs Jessica Engel and Mandi Rollinson co-taught a lesson about the Role of the Family and Spouses in the Army. They used an auditorium space to ensure safe conditions along with other NPI, but it also enabled a great space to watch an episode from the 1956 TV show, “West Point”, as a class!

The Army West Point Women's Rugby team is set to host the Coast Guard Academy this Friday, November 20 at 4 p.m. for their final matchup of the fall. The Black Knights will also be using Friday's game as an opportunity to celebrate their seven firsties. How to Watch: https://goarmywestpoint.com/watch/?Live=2233&type=Live

This will be Army's second competition this season. The Black Knights are coming off a shut out 39-0 win over service academy rival Navy. Alex DiMarco was the driving force on offense, amassing six penalty kick points and eight points in successful conversions. The Black Knights also saw scores from Julia Riekena, who led the offense in tries with two, Abrianna Williams, Charisma Henry and McKenzie Borchers.

“In our current global situation, we try to look for every silver lining that we can. In this case, playing rugby during a pandemic has come with challenges, but it has opened up a pathway to compete against a team we haven't yet played in the history of our program," said assistant coach Kaitlyn Kelly. "We are hopeful that this will establish a playing partnership with the Coast Guard Academy in years to come.”

Army will be honoring the hard work and dedication of their seven senior classmen including captains Eleanor Burnett and Sydney Dawson as well as Hailey Hodsden, Charlotte Kuhn, Meeah Mazikowski, Alexis Smalls and Abrianna Williams.

“With all of the uncertainty of 2020, we are very excited to be able to celebrate our seniors on our final game of the fall season," said Kelly. "Their contributions to the program the last three years speaks volume to who they are not only as rugby players, but as individuals and future Army officers. The team is grateful that they have the chance to honor this senior class and hopefully send them off in a proper fashion and end this season on a high note with a victory.”

The senior day festivities will begin 30 minutes prior to the start of the game. Athletes from both sides have complied with their institutions' and conferences' respective COVID-19 testing guidelines ahead of the competition. The game will be closed to outside spectators but will have a live video stream of the game.

The West Point - The U.S. Military Academy Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies (CHGS), in collaboration with Binghamton University, hosted the Mass Atrocity Prevention Practicum (MAPP). The three-day, multi-player role-playing simulation was attended by more than 80 cadets and midshipmen from USMA, USNA, and USAFA, as well as students from Yale University, Dartmouth, Georgetown University, Binghamton University, SUNY Albany, SUNY Brockport, SUNY Stonybrook, and the Nigerian Defense Academy.

This year’s Cadet Fall Photo contest winner is Class of 2023 Cadet Hannah Lamb. She received over 228 likes. Her photo is the capture of a Firstie in the Class of 2021 looking off into her bright future. Congratulations on a winning and a great photo.

Photo: by Cadet Hannah Lamb

Some cadets of SE301: Fundamentals of Engineering Design & Systems Management had a special guest lecture last week: MG Brian Mennes, USMA Class of 1988, and Commanding General, 10th Mountain Division (Light) and Fort Drum, New York, and Deputy Chief of Staff – Operations for Resolute Support Mission – Afghanistan. MG Mennes talked about his current role managing his mission in Afghanistan while also commanding the 10th Mountain Division, which includes over 19,000 Soldiers spread between Afghanistan, Fort Drum, New York, and Fort Polk, Louisiana. Talk about a complex system!

Amadeo West, a firstie on the Army West Point Football team, was selected as a candidate for the 2020-21 Senior CLASS Award for the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), it was announced this past Friday. West was one of 30 players to be named candidates for the award.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. In order to be classified for the award, an NCAA Division I FBS senior must have notable achievements in the following four areas: community, classroom, character and competition.

Throughout his career, West has suffered three injuries that forced him to miss ample playing time, yet he was still named a team captain for the 2020 season. The Oceanside, Calif., native has accumulated 15 tackles (6 solo) and has 4.0 TFLs for a total loss of 16 yards in seven games played this season.

While back home in Oceanside, Calif., West helped hand out lunches at Caesar Chavez Middle School during quarantine. In addition, he serves as the Diversity and Inclusive Officer for Company C4 and is active in the Corps of Cadets community at West Point.

West was also named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Award watch list in September, an award that puts equal weight on exceptional performance on and off the field.

To determine the overall Senior CLASS Award winner, the 30 candidates are narrowed to ten finalists at the end of the regular season, and those names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system available to media, coaches, and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs: community, classroom, character and competition. Along with the winner, the ten finalists will be awarded Senior CLASS Award first- or second-team honors.

The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the football bowl season in December. For more information on the candidates, visit seniorCLASSaward.com.

Recently, General John Raymond, the very first Chief of Space Operations of the U.S. Space Force, took a tour of the House of PANE (Physics and Nuclear Engineering). CDTs Muffett, Catina, Michels, Parsons, and Fitzsimmons presented their capstone project on development of an initial entry mapping and radiation localization system. Cadets Jerod Warren, Adrian Garlant, Collin Combs showed General Raymond the water moderated sub-critical assembly and explained their capstone project to install a graphite moderated sub-critical assembly in the same room. CDTs Kemp, Bush, and Debzak briefed the General on the USMA Space Military Individual Advanced Development (MIAD) program. The MIAD is the Army Basic Space Cadre Course which awards qualified cadets the 3Y, space cadre, identifier as well as the basic space badge. General Raymond had the opportunity observe Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter through Department’s observatory. CDT Chelsea Grogan and CDT Jacob Willis explained some of the features of the observatory’s main telescope. Additionally, COL Gerving presented General Raymond with the target he destroyed using the High Energy Laser in the Photonics Research Center.

The case can be made that the final score Saturday in New Orleans: Tulane-38, Army-12 was a bit deceiving. Tulane's last touchdown came on a poorly conceived and executed trick play attempt by Army on a kickoff. The Green Wave's previous touchdown was set up when a desperate Army team tried a fake punt on fourth-and-11 from its own 19-yard line that was stopped for a two-yard-loss.

But even if you discount those two late scores, there's no doubt that Army was outplayed for most of the afternoon. The Black Knights had three turnovers—one on the kickoff and two interceptions. They moved the ball in fits and starts but could never find any real consistency. They even had an extra point blocked, a play that loomed large at halftime with Tulane leading 14-12 but became moot when the home team dominated the second half.

The best news about the day? Tulane isn't on next year's schedule.

The Green Wave has been Coach Jeff Monken's Kryptonite since he arrived at West Point in 2014. As much progress as the program has made in the last seven years—including this year's record of 6-2—the Black Knights haven't been able to beat Tulane.

They have lost heartbreakers and they have lost semi blowouts. They've played Tulane four times since 2015; losing late—34-31--in the first meeting and 21-17 two years later after a couple of controversial calls on the Green Wave's game-winning drive. A year ago, it was 42-33 in Michie Stadium, ending Army's 15 game home winning streak, though the final margin was deceptively close. Read more.

CDT Adam Black, Class of '22, Company G-3, was nominated by his company for the Dean’s “Brain Gainz” recognition. According to his company, “CDT Black successfully navigated one of the most challenging Thayer weeks ever heard of at West Point. He completed 4 WPRS and 4 Problems sets in 4 days. Thayer weeks are a common occurrence at West Point, but Adam showed great academic resilience.” If you are in a “Thayer week,” try to keep smiling like Adam!

Congratulations to our Model Arab League for their performance in the North East Regional Model Arab League (NERMAL) conference, they received the Overall Distinguished Delegation Award!

Additionally, CDT Thomas Sonnie ’22 and Karl Steeneporte ’23 received the award for outstanding delegation for the Council of Social Affairs and CDT Thomas Gover ’22 received the Distinguished Delegation Award for the Council of Economic Affairs.

Normally held at Northeastern University in Boston, this year’s conference was held virtually.

Our team represented the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and participated in numerous councils (Joint Defense, Economic Affairs, Palestinian Affairs, etc.). The event provided Cadets the opportunity to engage with multiple disciplines, including international relations, security studies, and socio-cultural skills. It also provided a venue for Cadets to hone their diplomatic and negotiation abilities as they compete and cooperate with students from other universities.

Each week leading up to the America's Game, Rich DeMarco looks back at all the great moments in Behind the Game, presented by USAA.

As we get ready for the 121st meeting between service-academy rivals at West Point's Michie Stadium we look back at the first meeting between Army and Navy in 1890 at The Plain at West Point as well as big moments and stars that have played in one of the greatest college football rivalries.

Last week 23 cadets interacted with Junior ROTC high school students for the virtual Leadership, Ethics and Diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (LEADS) workshop with students in and around the Detroit area.

For one who wishes to become an officer in the Army, the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), the U.S. Military Academy or Officer Candidate School are the usual options to consider. However, how does one become inspired to make that life-changing decision? 

“The LEADS program was the only influence I had in joining West Point,” Class of 2021 Cadet Lawrence Shepherd said as he explained his role as the cadet-in-charge of the event. During the event, 23 cadets interacted with Junior ROTC high school students for the virtual Leadership, Ethics and Diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (LEADS) workshop on Friday. Out of the 23 cadets, 15 local Michigan cadets took part in coordinating the event. Read more.

Army West Point Athletics has announced that ticket sales for the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl will begin Monday, November 16 with a membership-level presale for 2020 Army A Club members and 2019 season ticket members.

Due to strict stadium capacity limits and to allow for social distancing, Army West Point has received a very limited ticket block. Tickets will be sold in pods of four only, with each account being limited to one pod. Tickets are $47, or $188 per pod.

Presale Timeline:

• Monday, November 16: AD's Circle and Commander-In-Chief levels
• Tuesday, November 17: Superintendent and Commandant levels
• Wednesday, November 18: Five Star, Colonel and Major levels and 2019 Season Ticket Members request only***
• Thursday, November 19: Captain, Lieutenant and Ranger levels request only***

***Request only: due to stadium capacity limits, Army West Point has received a very limited ticket block. Beginning Wednesday, November 18, all ticket orders will be request only. Requests will be evaluated based on Army A Club membership level and priority points.

Tickets will become available to the general public Monday, November 23 if tickets remain upon the conclusion of the Army A Club presale.

For more information, contact the Army A Club at 845-938-2322 or the Army Ticket Office at 1-877-TIX-ARMY.

WPAOG is pleased to announce Monica Sweatt, parent of a Firstie, as the winner of the 2nd WPAOG Army-Navy Spirit Button Design Contest. Monica was thrilled to learn her design was selected and wanted the design to be simple so that every member of the Long Gray Line and Army could appreciate and wear it proudly.

“I have watched the game for many years. It's a great American experience and I am proud that I have a son at West Point today,” said Monica. Read more about the inspiration behind her design: https://www.westpointaog.org/document.doc?id=10908

Register for our first virtual Beat Navy Tailgate on Saturday, December 12th, beginning at 1:30pm EST. The first 1500 registrants to register by November 19th will receive 2 Army-Navy Spirit Buttons per household.

Register Here: https://www.westpointaog.org/GoArmyBeatNavy

After being tabbed to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List in July firstie linebacker Joe Stephenson was officially named a nominee for the award this past Tuesday afternoon.

The Wuerffel Trophy, known as “College Football's Premier Award for Community Service”, is named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback from the University of Florida, Danny Wuerffel. The award exists to honor college football players who serve others, celebrate their positive impact on society, and inspire greater service in the world.

Stephenson volunteers for the In My Bag Tour Foundation, a non-profit organization that develops educated, entrepreneurial-minded individuals who are healthy and serve their communities. At its last event, he helped serve over 500 students and 200 teachers in the Danville, Va., and Philadelphia areas with pre-packaged book bags and gifts of appreciation. The foundation raised over $10,000 in a three-month span in 2019. As a community liaison, Stephenson assists with volunteer communications and event logistics.

At the Academy, Stephenson, an American politics major, is a Dean's List student and a member of the Christian Athlete Society while currently serving as both the Military Development Officer and the Diversity Officer for his company.

The Wuerffel Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast more than 800 recipients, dating back to 1935. Visit www.ncfaa.org to learn more about the association. Read more.

The Black Knights will be back in action on Saturday, November 14 at 12 p.m. ET at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans vs. Tulane. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+, with Joel Meyers and Brian Kinchen on the call. The Black Knights are riding a four-game winning streak into Saturday's contest. The Black Knights are 1-1 on the road this year, with a loss at nationally ranked Cincinnati (September 26) and a win at UTSA (October 17). The game will also be broadcast live on the Army Sports Network by Rich DeMarco and Dean Darling on the call. Fans can follow along on TuneIn Radio starting with the Tailgate Show at 10 a.m. ET. For the third-straight week the Black Knights are ranked in the Top 25 of the Coaches Poll. After sitting at No. 22 last week, the Black Knights are at No. 25 after being idle the past two weeks.

This is just the fourth time since 1970 that Army has won at least six games in its first seven tilts. The Black Knights started the 1996 season with a 7-0 record. They opened the 1985 and 1988 seasons with a 6-1 record. The Black Knights are set to take the gridiron for the first time since October 24. After a bye week (October 31), Army had last week's contest vs. Air Force postponed due to COVID-19 cases at the Air Force Academy. This is 16th season where Army has had four different players have a 100-yard rushing game. Four of those seasons have occurred in the Monken era (2020, 2019, 2017, 2015). Read more.

The Army West Point Men's and Women's Cross Country teams competed in a joint Veterans Day meet on the historic grounds of The Plain at West Point on Wednesday.

The event was held after the cancelation of America's Race, which was scheduled to be held on The Plain between Army, Navy and Air Force.

With a contingent of the Corps of Cadets in attendance, the teams ran a course that spanned two laps around the perimeter of the parade grounds, followed by an s-shaped inner circle and concluding with two final laps around the perimeter.

Firstie Daniel Horoho was the first to cross the finish line for the men's team and plebe standouts Georgia Jones and Helen Shearer finished first and second for the women's team. The pair have placed as the team's top-two finishers in each of Army's meets this season.

The event concludes a shortened season that saw the Black Knights compete in three meets, headlined by a split result in the Army-Navy Star Meet in October where the women's team claimed its second consecutive star victory.

Men's Top Finishers:
1. Daniel Horoho - 15:23.4 | 2. Matthew Porter - 15:30.3 | 3. Caden Foster - 15:34.0 | 4. Luke Lusskin - 15:55.1 | 5. Mitchell Burr - 16:00.1.

Women's Top Finishers:
1. Georgia Jones - 17:30.4 | 2. Helen Shearer - 17:32.3 | 3. Mika Andrews - 18:13.6 | 4. Sophia Sandy - 18:33.2 | 5. Sarah Grodin - 18:48.8.

Army West Point football head coach Jeff Monken met virtually with members of the local media on Tuesday afternoon for his weekly press conference inside Nowak Auditorium.

The Black Knights will look to pick up their fifth consecutive victory when they travel to New Orleans, La., to take on Tulane this Saturday at noon ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Army West Point Football Head Coach Jeff Monken
(Ref.: Opening statement)
“Well we are excited to be in another game week and hopefully we won't have any snags and we'll be able to play this weekend. I know there have been a lot of games that have been postponed and canceled and rescheduled and those kind of things, and we're just hopeful that we're able to play. It's been a couple of weeks. It seems like a long time since we were last out there on the field and we love to have the chance to play. We're playing an outstanding team. They have improved so much from the early weeks of the season. Coach (Willie) Fritz is just a tremendous football coach. He has two great coordinators: Jack Curtis, who I know really well, was our defensive coordinator at Georgia Southern for three years while I was the head coach there and Will Hall, who is now in his second year. They are doing a great job and it has been impressive to see how both coordinators have tweaked their philosophies a little bit to fit their personnel and they're doing a nice job. It's going to be a tremendous challenge. We've played them three times since I've been the coach here and we haven't beaten them yet. They've all been close games. Last year they got away from us and were up a big score and we were able to ramble back by way of a scoop score and then scored a touchdown and we just couldn't bet back into it. They have a really good team and they're well-coached. It's going to be a challenge to play down there at their place.”

(Ref.: On how hungry the team is to get back on the field)
“Our guys have worked really hard. They've worked hard since June, since we've been back here, with a desire to play and play a full football season. I'm glad we've made it this far and had a chance to play seven games, but there have been other teams that have played more and a whole lot that have played less. We're fortunate to have had the opportunity to play as much as we had, and we want to continue the season. This is a great football team. They have a talented team and they essentially have had our number. We're excited to play and to measure ourself against Tulane.” Read more.

The Army West Point Hockey team was slated fifth in the Atlantic Hockey Association Coaches Poll, announced by the league today.

“For us, it has been a long preseason, but I am really proud of how our guys have handled it,” said head coach Brian Riley. “They have come up to the rink with a sense of excitement and energy every day. I think a lot of it has to do with what happened last year. You don't realize how much you love something until it is taken away from you. They are willing to do whatever it takes to have a season and we can't wait to get started this weekend.”

The Black Knights received 60 points in the poll to rank fifth. The Eastern Pod that Army will be competing in for the 2020-21 season took four of the top-five spots in the poll.

American International led the way with 96 points and seven first-place votes and was followed by Sacred Heart (76 pts, 2 votes), Bentley (75 pts.), Niagara (69 pts., 1 vote) and then Army. Air Force and Robert Morris were tied for sixth (49 pts.), while Holy Cross was slated eighth (27 pts.) and Canisius and Mercyhurst rounded out the poll with 18 points apiece.

RIT announced yesterday that all of its 2020-21 winter sports were canceled, including men's and women's ice hockey, and were therefore not included in the poll.

The Black Knights open their season against LIU on Saturday with a 4:05 p.m. puck drop at Tate Rink.

Sandhurst is the world’s premier international academy military skills competition that inspires excellence through rigorous physical and mental challenges that reflect the tempo, uncertainty and tasks of combat operations. The competition strengthens relationships with our allies and partners to foster multi-national cohesion and interoperability - showcasing the tenacity and grit of future leaders of the Armed Forces across the world.

Cadets will need to think rapidly and adapt to succeed. The competition includes 14 grueling events that will test cadets ability to shoot, move, communicate, medicate and lead then will conclude at the Crucible – the final event design by the Military Ninja Warrior focused on physical/mental toughness and agility.

Congratulations to the top 12 teams who will move forward to represent West Point as they compete in the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition in the spring. Here are the top 12 in order:

1. D2, 2. F1, 3. G3, 4. H4, 5. E4, 6. B4, 7. A4, 8. E1, 9. D3, 10. F2, 11. A3, 12. E3

The Patriot League Council of Presidents endorsed a plan for a League-only Men's and Women's Basketball schedule for the 2020-21 season, beginning on Saturday, January 2, it was announced Monday. League play will be contingent on the League and its member institutions being able to conduct competition in ways that protect the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches, staffs and their communities.

Consistent with the prioritization of health and safety, the 2020-21 schedule format features a significant reduction in travel and overnight stays. No teams will be permitted to fly to games.

Instead of the League's traditional double round-robin format, teams will play an increased number of games against League opponents in closer geographic proximity.

“We have accomplished the first step in the planning process for the 2021 Patriot League men's and women's basketball season,” said Lafayette College President Alison Byerly, Chair of the Council of Presidents. “The Council of Presidents places the highest value and priority on League competition, and we believe this model offers the best opportunities for us to conduct a safe and successful League season.”

The 10 Patriot League institutions will be divided into three regional mini-conferences with teams playing four games against each regional opponent. Additional League games will be played outside of the mini-conferences to complete the 16-game regular-season schedule. Read more.

Despite the unfortunate news regarding the postponement of the November 7th Army-Air Force game at Michie Stadium, Army West Point Athletics feels it's important to celebrate and recognize the Army fans around the globe for their support of the Air Force virtual sellout.

While the game will not be played this Saturday, for the seventh consecutive time at Michie Stadium, the Army-Air Force game has SOLD OUT!

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic restricting fan access to Michie Stadium, Army West Point Athletics introduced the Air Force virtual sellout on October 1st in hopes of keeping the sellout streak alive in 2020. Showing immense pride in the Army team, supporters from around the globe rallied to be a part of the Air Force virtual sellout. In addition to keeping the streak alive, supporters of the Air Force virtual sellout will receive a commemorative game ticket, 3x Army A Club Priority Points and will be entered in several raffle prize drawings. Raffle winners will be announced on Thursday, November 12th. An Army West Point Athletics rep will contact the winners via phone.

In total, the Air Force virtual sellout sold 40,694 tickets, generating $815,825 from 1,826 supporters as part of the Fight on to Victory Campaign in support of more than 1,000 outstanding cadet-athletes.

Established in October 2020, the Fight on to Victory Campaign will help Army West Point Athletics offset the projected budget shortfall, while also serving as a rally cry and inspiration for our outstanding cadet-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni and supporters around the globe. To learn more about how you can join the fight, please visit www.fightontovictory.com.

Lieutenant General (Retired) Ben Hodges, former commander of U.S. Army Europe, recently gave a virtual guest lecture to cadets enrolled in Dr. Rob Person’s course, SS375 - Politics of the Post-Soviet States. He spoke to cadets about Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and Moscow’s broader strategic objectives in the Black Sea region. He also discussed many of Russia’s recent advances in weaponry and warfighting capabilities and how those developments affect strategic stability on NATO’s eastern flank and beyond.

The No. 5 Army West Point Rifle team earned a second place finish in the All-Academy President's Trophy match featuring service academy foes No. 6 Air Force, No. 14 Navy and No. 18 Coast Guard.

The match used the service academy scoring system, which counts the top five scores of eight selected scorers. The Black Knights finished with a mark of 5848 falling one point short of Air Force's tally of 5849. Navy took third place with a score of 5812 and Coast Guard finished in fourth with 5708.

Army finished with the top NCAA mark with an aggregate total of 4686 to match its program record, which it set last week. In all three of its matches this season, Army has set or matched its program record.

“I'm happy that we tied the program record which we reset last week,” said Army head coach Web Wright. “We will get some rest and gear up for tomorrow. I know we have more points in us and we can take Air Force tomorrow. We just need to do what we know how to do, relax and get in the zone.”

Plebe Kyle Kutz posted a mark of 589, which was just two points shy of tying Army's program record. Senior captain Clayton Hanson finished with the second highest aggregate score with 1178. Read more.

The Army West PointMen's Tennis team closed out their weekend long tournament with the United States Air Force Academy Saturday afternoon in the final two rounds of doubles and singles play. The Black Knights and the Falcons competed in a total of 53 matches through three days, with the Black Knights coming out victorious in 27 matches.

After a dominant performance in singles play on Friday afternoon, Army returned for play Saturday morning, eager to carry over their success into the third and final round of doubles. In the opening bracket of East vs West, both teams split at an even three victories a piece. The teams of Diego Huttepain/Jake Huarte, David Gorshein/Samuel Haikal and Daniel Zhou/Paul Roberts each recorded a win for Army with scores of 8-6, 8-3 and 8-4 respectively.

When the duos met again in the final round, Army took the advantage on Air Force, capturing wins in four of the six final matchups. Gorshein/Haikal and Zhou/Roberts picked up their second team wins of the day with added victories from Nikita Larichev/Samuel Eden and Nathan Jose/Stanley Liu.

The Black Knights struggled to find momentum in the final round of singles, notching five total wins between the Black/Blue and Gold/Silver matchups. In the Black/Blue bracket, Huttepain started the afternoon with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory against Air Force's Baylon followed by a 6-3, 6-3 win by Zhou over Vroman. Army took three hard fought victories in the Gold/Silver bracket, with individual wins by Huarte (6-2, 6-2), Haikal (6-2, 1-6, 10-7) and Jose (3-6, 6-2, 10-1). Read more.

Dr. Kerry Kartchner, former State Department official and Visiting Associate Professor at BYU, delivered a presentation and engaged in a discussion on strategic culture with cadets from SS289: Intro to International Affairs Senior Project, in the Department of Social Sciences. Dr. Kartchner’s practical experience with arms control negotiations and published scholarship on nuclear nonproliferation provided the students an opportunity to ask questions about US deterrence policy and international politics. Dr. Kartchner concluded by providing advice on developing research on this topic, which will be useful for the students’ research projects for this year’s client: US Strategic Command (STRATCOM).

Army West Point fans who are looking for a fun way to stay active this Thanksgiving should look no further! Army will host its first ever Virtual 5K Turkey Trot between the dates of Sunday, November 22 through Sunday, November 29.

All virtual racers are encouraged to use treadmills at home, or go outside and practice safe social distancing while walking, jogging or running a route of your choice. All proceeds from the event will go to the Army A Club Fight On To Victory Campaign to support the over 1,000 cadet-athletes and mitigate the forecasted budget deficit due to the effects of COVID-19.

Interested runners can register at the link below, between today and Saturday, November 21st, and submit their times online to Army West Point Athletics via FitRankings. The FitRankings virtual race platform syncs with fitness apps (FitBit, Apple Watch/Health, Garmin, Suunto, and much more) to easily upload times for the 5K.

The cost to register is $47 which includes a digital running bib, t-shirt and face tattoos. Army West Point virtual runners must register by Monday, November 9 to receive their t-shirt & face tattoos in time for the run. We will continue to allow participants to register for the race until Saturday, November 21, however, t-shirts will not arrive until after the event. All participants will also be entered into a raffle to win select Army West Point prizes!

Participants are encouraged to share their 5K Turkey Trot experience through their social media platforms by using the hashtag #ArmyVirtualTurkeyTrot.

To register, please click this link.

To join the fight and learn how you can make an impact on Army West Point Athletics and our outstanding cadet-athletes during these challenging times, please visit www.fightontovictory.com.

What better way to hand in your end-of-semester research paper than dressing in a costume? Yesterday, cadets continued the tradition of the SOSH Run, rushing to deliver their final papers to the Department of Social Sciences by 4:30 p.m.

Photo by Eric Bartelt

Service is a key component of the West Point - The United States Military Academy experience. Cadets from the History Club spent a chilly afternoon on Constitution Island helping do some grounds keeping around the Warner House and in Anna Warner’s historic garden. The Cadets also cleared deadfall from the trails that lead to the numerous Revolutionary Era redoubts that once made up Fortress West Point.

Reilly McGinnis, a soccer standout from a small town in Pennsylvania, has joined a small, elite group of women who have earned the rank of first captain at the U.S. Military Academy – just six in the academy’s 218-year history.

“Thinking back as a plebe, I never would have thought this would happen,” McGinnis told MOAA. “Getting to lead in this position is definitely humbling.”

The first captain is the highest position in the cadet chain of command. She’s responsible for the performance of the 4,400-member Corps of Cadets and acts as a liaison between the corps and the administration.

It’s been a whirlwind of a journey for the “firstie,” who learned about the academy only when a recruiter spotted her at a soccer clinic during her high school years. The native of Macungie, Pa. – about a 2½-hour drive from West Point – didn’t know much about the military before stepping onto campus for a tour, but instantly felt that was where she belonged.

“After that visit, I couldn’t see myself going anywhere else,” she said.

McGinnis grew up leading her teammates on the soccer field, so leading comrades during training at the academy was a seamless shift. When an injury sidelined her, McGinnis decided to put all of her energy into more military activities. Full story.

The West Point Graduate Scholarship Program was fortunate to host LTG (R) Dan Christman, the 55th West Point - The U.S. Military Academy Superintendent, in XH407: Advanced Critical Thought. General Christman discussed with cadets applying for Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright, and other prestigious scholarships virtually. They reviewed the future of humanitarian intervention, great power competition, and several strategic issues facing the Army. We thank General Christman for his longstanding mentorship and support to scholarship cadets and friend of the Scholarship Program.

The Army West Point Men's Tennis team will compete this weekend against service academy rival Air Force in a three day, round robin "shootout". The Black Knights and the Falcons will begin competition this evening at 7 p.m.

The Black Knights are coming off a strong team performance against the Coast Guard Academy where they found wins in 21 of 23 total individual matches, while this will be the first and only competition for the Falcons this year. Army and Air Force have a storied past including 16 contests dating back to 1970. The Falcons currently hold a 9-7 advantage over the Black Knights in dual competition.

The last time these two teams met was at the end of February, when the Black Knights traveled to California for a double header with the Falcons and the USC Trojans. Read more.

CDTs Rahmeel Cook and Lexi West interviewed the USCC Command Sergeant Major Kenneth Killingsworth, to gain insight into the US Army’s enlisted development process. The interview was part of the research phase of the cadet’s capstone project, which involves developing a strategy to help senior leaders at USINDOPACOM better understand the enlisted development process for partner nations.

This year, over 140 Systems Engineering, Engineering Management, Systems & Decision Sciences, and Operations Research majors are working on 40 different cadet capstones. Each group works with an external client (such as USINDOPACOM, Mitre, and the US Army Aviation Center of Excellence) and applies systems engineering principles to solve a real problem or fill an organizational requirement. The cadet capstone is considered the culmination of a cadet’s experience in DSE, and many cadets consider it the most relevant and rewarding experience at USMA.

Army West Point football head coach Jeff Monken met virtually with members of the local media on Tuesday afternoon for his weekly press conference inside Nowak Auditorium.

The Black Knights play their first Commander-in-Chief's Trophy matchup of the season this Saturday at Michie Stadium when they take on service academy foe Air Force. Kickoff is set for 11:30 a.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on CBS.

Army West Point Football Head Coach Jeff Monken
(Ref.: Opening Statement)
"I guess we haven't been here since the game two weekends ago and it was a great win for our guys, I thought they played really hard and performed well. I'm just pleased with the takeaways we got and our defense and how they continue to play and the production on offense. We're playing a lot of guys that don't really have a lot of game experience in some skilled positions, particularly the quarterback position. I'm really excited to see them get some game experience and build the reps that they frankly haven't had in practice. I thought they did a nice job. Our kicking game was really good that last time out. We covered kicks well, had a blocked kick and those are always big, and I'm just really impressed with the job that Coach (Sean) Saturnio is doing in motivating those guys to play really hard.

“Obviously, this week is a big game for us. We haven't had a bigger game this year than the one we're going to play this weekend. I know our guys are excited for the opportunity and certainly what's at stake when we play the academy games to earn the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. It's always a great game and always a tremendous battle and hopefully we'll play well enough this Saturday that we can make it a battle again.”

(Ref.: On the biggest things the team was able to work on during the bye week)
“Obviously we don't face a lot of option teams, we did in The Citadel earlier this year, so at least we were able to get some game experience on defense playing against an option team, and I thought our defense played particularly well that day. We didn't play well offensively, but I thought the defense did a nice job. It just allows us to have a couple of weeks to get into to playing option defense. What is always the case with these academy games is these offenses are really good at what they do and regardless of having extra time, they find a way to move the ball and make plays and so we are just going to have to play our assignments. Hopefully we block really well and are able to slow them down. Offensively, to prepare a game plan for a team that really know the options and all of these academy defenses and the experiences that we have playing in these games - playing against each other in preseason camps and throughout the season when we have those opportunities - we get to know the offense fairly well so their defense is going to be prepared. They'll have a good plan, so we are going to need to execute really well.”

In his HI 151: The Army of the Republic, Leading Citizen Soldiers classes, MAJ Eric Muirhead used WWII weapons from the West Point Museum and a few sandbags to transport his sections back to Italy’s Gothic Line in April of 1945. Using the Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Late Senator Daniel Inouye’s Medal of Honor Citation, his cadets discussed what it means to be a citizen soldier where your country has wrongly taken your citizenship.

The No. 5 Army West Point Rifle team announced the addition of three matches to its 2020-21 schedule yesterday afternoon.

Army will play host to the All-Academy President's Trophy match featuring the following service academies: No. 6 Air Force, No. 18 Coast Guard and No. 14 Navy on Friday, November 6. The next day, the Black Knights will take on Air Force in a dual match. Additionally, the Black Knights will compete against No. 10 Akron in Palmyra, Pa. on Sunday, November 15.

Army has set program records in both of its matches this fall. The Cadets opened the season with a score of 4682 against Kentucky on October 17. Then on October 31, they bested that score with a mark of 4686 in a virtual tri-match with Nebraska and West Virginia.

In their most recent match, the Black Knights had four members record scores of at least 580 in smallbore and had three shooters at or above the 590-mark in air rifle.

The Cadets opened the season ranked 11th in the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) Poll and have climbed their way up to No. 5 in the nation with their first two marks.

West Point - The U.S. Military Academy continued its tradition of hosting an annual debate tournament by conducting the Academy’s first remote debate tournament from October 30 to November 1, 2020. The tournament included 46 participants from seven different colleges and universities.

Army Debate performed extremely well as all four teams finishing the tournament with winning records. Cadets Tristan Monahan ’24 and Alex MacFarlane ’24 continued their winning ways by finishing first in the novice division. Additionally, Army Debate teams captured three of the top four places in the Open division. Cadet Greg Drake ’21 finished the preliminary rounds undefeated with a partner from Columbia University before being narrowly defeated in the Open championship by a team from NYU.

The team earned individual accolades as well with Cadets Monahan and MacFarlane earning 3rd and 4th place speaker awards, respectively, in the novice division and Cadets Vivian Tsai ’23 and Dhyuti Gopalakrishna ’23 earning recognition in the Open division.

The Army West Point Women's Rugby team opened up their first competition of the year with a dominant 39-0 shutout win over Navy this past Saturday. The Black Knights scored early and often, allowing the defense to hold the Midshipmen scoreless through 90 minutes.

Alex DiMarco put Army on the board first in the fifth minute with a successful penalty kick. DiMarco's 3-0 score held stagnant until the 24th minute when Abrianna Williams ran for the Black Knights first try of the afternoon. Army's offense quickly gained momentum, posting two more unanswered tries in the 28th and 38th minute from Julia Riekena and Charisma Henry. With a strong 22-0 lead, DiMarco kicked for her second successful penalty kick of the day opening the gap to 25. Riekena and McKenzie Borchers sealed the deal for the Black Knights in the final 20 minutes; Rikena adding her second of the day and Borchers her first.

DiMarco had a dominant day for Army, adding six penalty kick points and eight point in successful conversions alongside Riekena who led with two tries on the afternoon. Read more.

Marshall Beatty and Mika Andrews of Army West Point Men's and Women's Cross Country and Luke Haug and Eleanor Burnett of Men's and Women's Rugby have been selected as the Corps Squad Athletes of the Month for October.

Women's Cross Country - Mika Andrews '21 International History Major with an Academic GPA last term of 3.868. She wears both the star (3.67+ academic GPA for 2+ consecutive semesters) and the wreath (top 15% of her graduating class) on her uniform. Cumulative GPA is 3.759, reflecting excellence in all of the pillars.

Men's Cross Country - Marshall Beatty '22 Philosophy major with a 3.604 cumulative GPA, with a 3.94 Academic semester GPA in spring 2020. Has taken on two extra semesters to study Russian solely because he enjoys learning the language and studying the culture. Top Army finisher and 3rd place overall at the Battle in Beantown 2020.

Men's Rugby - Luke Haug '21 Luke maintains a 3.234 cumulative GPA as a Business Management major. He has made the Dean's List every semester he has been at the Academy. He is aiming to branch Infantry following graduation.

Women's Rugby - Eleanor Burnett '21 Eleanor Burnett is a Firstie majoring in Geospatial Information Science. She currently maintains a 3.07 cumulative GPA and has made the Dean's List 3 times here at the Academy; including the last two (fall 2019 and spring 2020). NIRA 15s All-American Honorable Mention (2019). Read more.

Civil and Mechanical Engineering Says, “BEAT AIR FORCE!” - Cadets have been preparing for the Beat Air Force Bonfire. Cadets from CE201, Intro to Civil Engineering, designed an F22 Raptor model. This past weekend they put in some hours to build the F22 Raptor model. It is sure to get a warm welcome in the Spirit Bonfire later this week!

Dr. Lou Roberts, the Department’s Ewing Chair, facilitated a discussion panel for three HI498 sections studying the Second World War. They discussed her book “What Soldiers Do” and learned how gender studies offer new approaches to military history. Dr. Roberts also explained her research and writing process which will help prepare the cadets for their upcoming theses.

The Army West Point Men's Rugby team had a successful road trip this past Saturday afternoon, securing a dominant 39-13 win over rival Navy.

The Black Knights got off to a strong start offensively as plebe Dom Tianga scored his first collegiate try in the 6th minute to give Army an early 7-0 lead. Captain Matthew Meehan then followed suit, adding the Black Knights second try of the day only 11 minutes in.

After a successful Navy penalty kick in the 16th minute, Army answered back with their third try of the day by Larry Williams, boosting their lead to 16. Despite two more scores by the Midshipman, the Black Knights offense remained relentless, posting three more tries on the afternoon from Nolan Green, Parker Ross and Robert Barrett. Read more.

For the second consecutive match the No. 6 Army West Point Rifle team set a program record. The Black Knights posted a score of 4686 to take second place in a virtual tri-match with Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) foes No. 2 West Virginia (4709) and No. 8 Nebraska (4681). Each team shot in its home range.

“I'm really proud of the team for two back-to-back record setting performances,” said head coach Web Wright. “We've got a lot of depth this year and that's where we're seeing the difference.”

The Cadets had four shooters over the 580 threshold in smallbore in Clayton Hanson, Kyle Kutz, Lauren McMahan and Nicholas Cheshire. In air rifle, Army had three members reach the 590-mark in Hanson, Kaitlyn Kutz and McMahan.

“Sling went very well,” said Kyle Kutz, who shot 397/400 in sling. “The positions were solid, trigger pull was good and I just let the shots flow. Standing was a little bit below my average, but overall it was a great match. I definitely have a lot to reflect on and work on in future training sessions.”

“We got one percent better today, so it was a good day” Cheshire said.

The match will count towards Army's GARC record, but will not factor in as an NCAA event. Read more.

In January of this year, the U.S. Military Academy began working with the Penn State Applied Research Lab to facilitate an event called the Virtual Thunderstorm Technology Demonstration. During the demo, nine vendors provided the Rapid Reaction Technology Office (RRTO) from the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) with a solution to enhance small unit lethality on the battlefield. Conversations for this event began between November and December of last year with preparations for the culminating event the week of October 5-9.

According to LTC Chris Johnes, the director of the West Point Simulation Center, the solution is the development of a virtual reality simulation rendered by scientific research and development companies. Due to COVID-19 and travel restrictions, company representatives could not come to West Point to showcase their products live. The event had to be conducted — webinar style.

The event kick started on October 5 where each company had 10 minutes to give an overview of their virtual reality product. From October 7-9, three companies per-day presented 40-minute deep dives providing in-depth information on what their products were doing.

Furthermore, Johnes explained the Office of the Secretary of Defense identified different issues the Department of Defense wants to explore. For this venue, OSD focused on small unit tactics on the battlefield and reached out to vendors across the nation to solve the problem. In this case, the RRTO wanted to conduct a Rapid Response Mission Rehearsal for small tactical units and wanted to incorporate virtual reality technologies into the rehearsals. Read more.

The Army West Point Men's Tennis had a successful day against Coast Guard Academy this past Saturday afternoon. The Black Knights and the Bears went head to head in 23 individual matches, with the Black Knights finding victories in majority of the sets.

A.J. Woodman and Thomas Lake both had a strong day for the Black Knights in singles and doubles play, securing a win as the No. 1 doubles team and a singles win in the No. 1 and No. 2 slots.

“We had a great day back into tennis. Our team was so excited to get to play matches again,” said head coach Jim Poling. “They played very solid tennis against a good Coast Guard team. Overall the matches went 21-2 for the Black Knights and many were close. We are looking forward to taking on Air Force next weekend. There will be some fired up tennis.” Read more.