Faculty and Cadets from the Excel Scholar Program attend GRAD Lab On 19-20 September 2014, faculty and cadets from the Excel Scholars Program attended the Getting Ready for Advanced Degrees Laboratory (GRAD Lab), sponsored by the National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science, Inc. (GEM), at the University of Maryland – College Park. Attendees heard from faculty, staff, and student presenters from the University of Maryland Baltimore Country, Virginia Tech, University of Virginia, and other area schools on several panels including, "Why Graduate School", "How to Prepare for Graduate School”, "Understanding the GEM Fellowship", and "Voices From the Field: Real Life Research and Internship Experiences".

The GRAD Lab encourages underrepresented groups to consider graduate engineering or science education and applying for the GEM fellowship. Focusing on the global importance of research and innovation, life-long career benefits, and real world role models, the symposium helped each participant envision his or her future as a technology leader, successfully apply for a GEM fellowship, and gain entry to a graduate program. POC is LTC McCoy, x3177.

Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering - CE390 Site Recon. Cadets from CE390 (Civil Engineering Site Design) conducted a site recon on 17 SEP 14 as part of their course Engineer Design Project (EDP), which involves developing a proposed schematic design for a new layout of the Stony Lonesome II housing area. The course provides cadets the necessary background to select and develop sites for civil engineering structures.

Proper site selection and engineering have a significant impact on the economics of a project and long-term utility of the constructed facility. One of the primary goals of the EDP is to apply information learned in class to develop an attractive and livable neighborhood that encourages families to choose it instead of living off-post. The designs developed by the cadets will be presented to Balfour Beatty and may be used in a future redevelopment of the Stony II housing area. The Course Director and instructor for CE390 is LTC Brad Wambeke. The POC is LTC Wambeke at brad.wambeke@usma.edu.

Department of Systems Engineering - Capstone Team Visits the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant (IAAAP). Systems Engineering cadets, Rob Bickel and Joe Jeon, visited the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Burlington, Iowa. IAAAP is one of the few remaining GOCO load-assemble-pack facilities in the ammunition industrial complex. The purpose of their project is to identify strategic investments, infrastructure improvements, and other measures that will increase the operational effectiveness of the facility. While at the Iowa plant the cadets were able tour the C4, 155 howitzer round, and 40 mm production lines. More importantly, the cadets were able to conduct interviews with over 20 IAAAP staff members and employees including the commander of the installation as well as the president and vice president of American ordnance, the contractor that runs the facility. POC is Mr. Eugene Lesinski.

On 21 September, Cadets Libby Mostert and Meghan Wentz volunteered at the Fishkill Supply Depot Revolutionary War Days as part of a service project through Phi Alpha Theta, the History honors society. Major Shauna Hann coordinated the project and attended the event as well. Cadets Mostert and Wentz dressed up in Revolutionary garb, supported the 5th New York Regiment of Revolutionary War re-enactors, and educated the public on the importance of the local region during the War. Additionally, they met the local Congressman, Representative Sean Patrick Maloney who was visiting the site. Overall, it was a fantastic trip and the cadets got an understanding of why and how to preserve local history and its significance to the region.

The Department of History, co-sponsored by the Corbin Forum, hosted a panel on Sex, Society, and the Army on Wednesday evening, 17 September. The panel featured Captain Jake Couch and PROF Jennie Kiesling from the Department of History, Lieutenant Colonel Mercer from the Department of English and Philosophy, Ms. Vetter from the Center for Enhanced Performance, and Cadets Jacob Sanborn and Rob Fetters. Cadet Andrew Mohr moderated the event. Approximately 50 cadets and over a dozen faculty members attended the thought-provoking forum. The panel provided a valuable opportunity for both cadets and faculty to address difficult questions and societal context about sex and relationships in the Army in a safe and mature environment.

Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering EV388a Physical Geology Field Trip. On 22 Sep, EV388a Physical Geology students participated in a field trip to local rock outcrops as well as the Tomkins Cove and Haverstraw, NY Tilcon quarries. Cadets were able to see an outcrop that records much of the geologic history of the east coast as well as good exposures of the world famous Palisades Sill. They also discussed quarrying operations with the knowledgeable staff at these quarries. These quarries have supplied aggregate for most of the area roads and crushed stone for the foundations of many of the area’s most famous buildings to include the Empire State Building and the new Yankees and Giants stadiums. On the way home, they also stopped briefly at the Bear Mountain Museum to view both the Geology Museum and the resident bald eagle. POC: marie.johnson@usma.edu

Environmental Engineering for Community Development guest lecture. Dr. Elizabeth Ross gave a guest lecture to cadets from EV450 – Environmental Engineering for Community Development on 17 September. Dr. Ross is the director of the Kasiisi Project, an NGO which partners with communities in order to provide primary education for poor, rural communities near the Kibale National Park in Uganda. The Kasiisi Project’s vision is to achieve environmental conservation of the Kibale National Park and its diverse ecosystem through a commitment to teaching environmental conservation in primary schools.

Through education, the Kasiisi Project intent is to promote environmental conservation, while developing students’ occupational skills so they do not rely on depleting resources from the National Park for subsistence. The guest lecture included several themes from the course such as developing the capacity of the community in order to achieve sustainable development. Dr. Ross also serves as the POC for the GENE Department’s yearly AIAD to Uganda. Currently CDT Varriano is working on a water treatment and delivery project to provide water from a river to a community.

Dr. Richard Wrangham, Dr. Ross’ husband, also visited USMA. He is a professor and primatologist at Harvard University. The guest lecture was made possible with funds from the Center for the Study of Civil-Military Operations which promotes greater interaction and cooperation between the military and other civilian agencies, such as NGOs. CPT Matty Haith is the point of contact for this announcement at matty.haith@usma.edu or 938-3093.

EECS Department hosts “Systers” Luncheon Thirteen female cadets and faculty met on Friday, September 5th for the department’s third annual Systers Luncheon. The event, organized by Dr. Suzanne J. Matthews and LTC Christa Chewar, was designed to bring female students and faculty interested in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Information Technology together in a casual, relaxing environment. Cadets and faculty enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with each other and make new friends. EECS plans to hold a similar luncheon in Spring 2015.

Historian Interviews English and Philosophy Afghanistan Veterans On 22 September, Professor Sönke Neitzel and nine Vassar students--including one military veteran now attending Vassar--visited West Point to view the Defense and Strategic Studies Program's Afghanistan War Council, featuring author and honored guest Sebastian Junger. After the War Council, Dr. Neitzel took a Cadet-led tour of West Point, and joined Afghanistan veterans teaching in the Department of English and Philosophy (DEP) to discuss their wartime experiences.

After the discussion and dinner, the group went to Junger's book signing and screening of the movie Korengal at Robinson Auditorium. Dr. Neitzel is the Chair of International History at the London School of Economics, and is in New York as a guest of Vassar College. On 23 September, seven Cadets and two faculty members from DEP traveled to Vassar to hear Dr. Neitzel's lecture, "The First World War in the Context of a Century of Violence." The POC is LTC Thomas Veale, D/DEP, thomas.veale@usma.edu

September 25, in the Grant Ballroom of the Thayer Hotel, President Atifete Jahjaga of the Republic of Kososvo provided opening remarks for the Center for the Study of Civil-Military Operations’ 2014 Fall Conference.  She spoke of the importance of democracy and the many changes that Kosovo has gone through with the support from the United States and the UN.  CDT Arron Churchill, who attended the American University in Kosovo securities program this past summer, presented a token of appreciation to President Atifete Jahjaga on behalf of USMA.

There were also groups discussing the civil-military operations in Kosovo.  The first was a focus group on the Strategic Aspects of Kosovo Mission.  This group consisted of Jock Covey, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General for UN Mission to Kosovo; Leonard R. Hawley, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary Department of State; Michael Edward Hess, Former Assistant Administrator, USAID; Akan Ismaili, Ambassador Republic of Kosovo; and CDT Kirwin, who offered his impressions on the Kosovo Mission.

The second was a Focus Group on the Tactical Aspects of Kosovo Mission.  This group consisted of James A. Schear, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Partnership Strategy and Stability Operations; Teresa Crawford, Director of Partners for Democratic Change; BG Xhavit Gashi Kosovar, Defense Attaché to the United States; and COL(R) Thomas M. Gross, Former Chief of Staff, MNB East, KFOR.  This group of experts emphasized the civilian organizations working in Kosovo that are still integrating their activities to support the peace process.

Yesterday, members of the Corps of Cadets along with USMA staff and faculty participated in the Tunnel to Towers event in New York City. Over 2000 cadets volunteered for the 5k run named in honor Firefighter Stephen Siller. On September 11, 2001, Stephen got news of a plane hitting the World Trade Center and immediately set out to help. But when he reached the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, it was closed. Leaving his fire truck behind, Stephen strapped 60 lbs. of gear to his back, rushed on foot through gridlocked traffic, and ran from the tunnel to the towers where he gave his life while saving others. 

During the Tunnel to Towers event, cadets participated in a cordon to commemorate Stephen’s heroic story while honoring all wounded veterans as well.

Photos Courtesy of USMA.

The USMA SCUBA Team recently conducted diving operations at Dutch Springs, PA. The purpose of this trip was to familiarize the newest team members of the team with general dive operations, and more particularly those that occur at Dutch Springs. This trip not only served as an effective team-building exercise, but also set conditions for future success for the team’s National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) open water certification trips that occur each semester.

The mission of the USMA SCUBA Team is to afford cadets and military personnel the opportunity to become NAUI certified SCUBA divers. This certification as well as other diving trips conducted by the team, allows individuals to enjoy the sport of recreational SCUBA diving. Additionally, those cadets who have completed the SCUBA curriculum and have a NAUI referral, can complete their SCUBA certification through the team.

(Photos courtesy of the USMA SCUBA Team, story courtesy of USMA)

WEST POINT — Carmelo Anthony loved the efficiency. If only Phil Jackson’s triangle offense can achieve such fluidity in New York.

The Knicks joined the U.S. Military Academy’s cadets early Wednesday morning in the mess hall and experienced firsthand the intricacies of the Army student body getting in and out in such a short period.

“Beautiful, man. It was a different experience, man, just seeing the whole setup, from them lining up to them going in there eating, eating with them, talking to them,’’ Anthony said after Wednesday’s training camp practice at Christl Arena. “I was more shocked to see 4,000 people get fed at one time for 15 minutes. That right there was just special to see the discipline those guys and ladies have.’’

It’s all part of the West Point experience as rookie coach Derek Fisher and team president Phil Jackson set out to show the Knicks there’s more to this world than the NBA.

“Being here at West Point is bigger than basketball, bigger than what we’re trying to do from a team perspective,’’ Fisher said. “It’s an honor to be here. Talk about being a team and committing yourself to others — it’s a perfect example of it. We’re as much trying to build ourselves as a team by Xs and Os.’’ Read More

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Center for Enhanced Performance On 24 SEP the CEP hosted Ms Emily Cook, a 3X U.S. Olympic team member, for a presentation to cadets and an OPD for the CEP staff. In the cadet presentation Ms Cook, a freestyle skier, shared her personal journey from novice skier to Olympic team member, with emphasis on the process of persevering through potentially career-ending injuries. For the CEP staff OPD Ms Cook detailed her use of customized audio and video files to facilitate recovery and competition readiness. POC for the event is Dr Zinsser at x7814.

Defense & Strategic Studies Programwarcouncil.org On Monday Major Cavanaugh (DSS) hosted the Korengal war counsel, which brought author Sebastian Junger, Major Dan Kearney, and producer Nick Quested to USMA. The event included the actual war council, a faculty question and answer period, a book signing, and the screening of Junger’s newest movie entitled Korengal. All events were well received and generated a large turn out.

Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership Follow BS&L on Facebook. Cadets visit Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and Burke Medical Research Institute (BMRI) The Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and Burke Medical Research Institute (BMRI) was pleased to host a visit by United States Military Academy cadets on Friday, 26 September. The visit gave select cadets majoring in Life Sciences, Psychology and Kinesiology the opportunity to learn about the cutting-edge work done by Burke neurologists, physical and occupational therapists, and researchers. Burke's affiliation with Weill Cornell Medical College gives it a unique position as a world-class primary treatment and research center in the New York City area. POC: Dr. Kevin O’Donovan, x5020.

New York District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Orientation and Harbor Inspection Tour On Friday, 26 September, cadets enrolled in EV481 “Water Resources Planning and Design” traveled to New York City to learn about the mission, capabilities, and operations of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New York District. COL Paul Owen (District Commander) oriented the cadets to his organization at District headquarters, and then Deputy Commander LTC John Knight led the group on an inspection of New York Harbor aboard the Hayward, one of the District’s drift collection vessels. Throughout the visit, cadets and district representatives discussed USACE support to military construction and civil works projects, particularly those regarding navigation and coastal protection. POC is LTC Phil Dacunto, Philip.dacunto@usma.edu.

“Soldiers for citizens” conducts dog handling training with “puppies behind bars” Soldiers for Citizens, a service club sponsored by the Center for the Study of Civil-Military Operations (CSCMO) and the Cadet Community on Civil-Military Operations (C3MO), coordinated dog-handling training with over 80 cadets from across the Corps. Puppies Behind Bars, the organization providing the training, works with prison inmates in training dogs to serve a variety of roles from bomb-sniffing to therapy. These particular dogs will be given to wounded warriors to assist them in coping with injuries both external and internal. Now aware of the specific procedures required to handle a working dog, these cadets will work in following weekends to socialize the dogs so they are prepared to assist their “battle buddies” in the coming years. POC is John Melkon at john.melkon@usma.edu and Cadet Samuel Thompson at Samuel.Thompson@usma.edu

G&EnE Faculty support to 1st Regiment’s Open House G&EnE Faculty members talk to cadets from 1st Regiment during an evening barbeque on 24 September. CDT Justin Ganzer, the 1st Regiment Academic Officer, coordinated with several departments to host an open house event in the regimental area. At the event, yearlings and plebes were encouraged to discuss academic programs with faculty in an informal setting with food, music, and a collegial atmosphere. G&EnE majors from the classes of 2015 and 2016 also stopped by to chat with faculty and enjoyed the nice weather before the start of evening study period.

On Saturday 20 September, the Department of History and the Wargames Committee sponsored a Napoleonic Warfare simulation held in the History Department Library. Dr. John Stapleton, OIC of the Wargames Committee invited Nigel Marsh, designer of Carnage and Glory II, a computer-moderated game system for simulating Napoleonic tactical warfare. Saturday’s battle, the fictitious battle of Arnsdorf, was loosely based on the 1809 battles in Bavaria between the Austrian Army and Napoleon’s Franco-German forces. The simulation pitted a small, largely German force composed of eleven battalions, two cavalry squadrons, and three companies of artillery against an Austro-Hungarian force composed of ten battalions, four squadrons, and three artillery companies. The game ran three hours, in which time the cadets played seven turns. The German-Allies established their artillery with clear fields of fire, employed combined arms assaults, and counter-attacks effectively, reacting well to Austro-Hungarian over-enthusiastic aggression. The Austro-Hungarians, played well and had moments of local success, but ultimately, were undone by their lack of a coherent plan of action. Although this war game was the first of its kind for many, the cadets and faculty had a great time. Indeed, Mr. Marsh concluded in his After Action Review: “It was a great afternoon of gaming, and a pleasure to run.”

Company F2 cadets and a Department of Systems Engineering professor perform service for Habitat for Humanity. Cadet Zachary Ramirez (CIC) and Dr. Bruce Keith (DSE) coordinated efforts to bring 25 cadets from Company F2 to a Habitat for Humanity site in Yonkers, NY on Saturday, 20 September 2014. The event served as a company service activity for F2 and a great opportunity for the Westchester Office of Habitat for Humanity to populate a worksite with many enthusiastic, able-bodied volunteers. The cadets worked various tasks, including placing siding on the house, affixing tile to a bathroom wall, building a soffit, and moving materials around the site. The Habitat for Humanity Office in Westchester has undertaken a veterans’ housing initiative, to provide housing solutions and employment opportunities to U.S. veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq with affordable housing in Westchester County, NY (see http://habitatwc.org/veterans-initiatives/). To date, the H4H Office has built or is building six homes for veterans. The cadets’ volunteer activities, which are always welcomed on the site, helped to make this initiative a reality for a few veterans.

SS490B: The Artic: Exploring the World’s Last Frontier. Cadets in SS490B (The Arctic: Exploring the World’s Last Frontier) completed a two-day trip section to Washington, DC. The course, taught by State Department Professor Dr. Ed Canuel, contends with interdisciplinary issues covering international/domestic politics, law, science, economics and society. During the trip, cadets engaged with top-level decision-makers, gaining insights into the Arctic, the foreign policy decision-making process and leadership. The cadets met with the U.S. Arctic Ambassador Admiral Papp, State Department Counselor Ambassador Shannon, senior State Department officials, military and security experts (at the NSC and Pentagon), Shell office directors and Greenland’s Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States.
POC: edward.canuel@usma.edu

Army Debate Places at Rutgers: The “Dean’s Corps Squad team,” Army Debate, competed at the Rutgers-Newark Regional Debate Tournament this past weekend, the 26th -28th of September. USMA brought three open teams, one JV team, and four novice teams. In the novice division, two teams cleared. Ian Holbrook and Sajon Weeks were octo-finalists while the team of TJ Collins and Matt Watts won all six of their preliminary debates and earned second place overall in the tournament. Army Debate is very proud of all the hard work each team put into the tournament and the way the cadets represented USMA and the U.S. Army at this year’s first competition!

Jazz Forum event The Jazz Forum met on 23 September to hear from SFC Mike Reifenberg, Jazz Knights saxophonist, as he discussed the evolution of jazz. SFC Reifenberg spoke to a group of 20 cadets and faculty about the history and development of the genre while also playing examples from different time periods. The POC is MAJ Paul De Leon, DEP, paul.deleon@usma.edu.

Cadet Capstone Team Meets with Collaborators at Army Research Laboratories: The Warrior Web Boot Attachment Capstone team, made up of CDTs Robert Mason, James Hill, Jameson Albers, and Kyle Okular were accompanied by their faculty mentors, Dr. Becky Zifchock and MAJ Amber Walker on a trip to Aberdeen Proving Ground in MD. The team used this as an opportunity to meet with their collaborators at Army Research Laboratory (HRED), as well as the Wyss Institute at Harvard University. In addition to defining the design goals and constraints of their capstone project, the team was afforded the opportunity to wear the device that has been designed by the Wyss Institute to meet the goals of the Warrior Web DARPA program: to create wearable technology that will prevent and reduce musculoskeletal injuries and provide movement assistance. POC is Dr. Becky Zifchock: rebecca.zifchock@usma.edu.

Cadet Capstone Team(s) Meet with ARDEC Collaborators at Picatinny Arsenal: 36 cadets and faculty traveled to Picatinny Arsenal on 5 September to tour laboratory and range facilities and meet with Cadet Capstone project sponsors. The Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering has a long-standing relationship with the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC), sharing subject matter expertise and resources to solve problems of interest to the Army and Department of Defense. This year’s projects include designing towards improvements in ammunition resupply, non-lethal threat detect/defeat, and aerial vehicle platforms. POC is LTC Mike Benson, ME404 Course Director: michael.benson@usma.edu or MAJ Amber Walker: amber.walker@usma.edu.

Cadets Learn about Energy Efficient Architectural Design. Mr. Eric Fred, AIA from Hudson Design Architecture in Garrison, NY delivered a guest lecture to Cadets enrolled in CE490 – Special Topics in Civil Engineering: Energy Efficient Buildings on Thursday, 25 September. Mr. Fred discussed important concepts that the students should consider for their engineering design problem in CE490. Mr. Fred explained the interplay within architectural design between:

• local climate
• building orientation
• passive solar and thermal mass
• earth tubes and air flow
• clerestories
• daylighting strategies
• building envelopes

Mr. Fred proved himself a natural teacher, masterfully wielding the five colors of chalk on the blackboards as he explained the lesson learning objectives. The Cadets gained practical insight on the tools and techniques they can employ as they design their own net zero energy dream home for any location in the United States. POC is MAJ Scott Katalenich, Course Director for CE490 at scott.katalenich@usma.edu, x5425.

The U.S. Armed Forces were not designed to protect us from disease, natural disaster or other associated environmental difficulties, but the military must be prepared to operate in these environments to defend America’s national interests. USMA: Educating future Army officers about energy policy and climate change. One way this is happening is in the Department of Social Sciences at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point through a Congressional Simulation Exercise (SIMEX) focused on energy policy that actively explores the Army’s relationship to climate change. The SIMEX requires cadets to draft, debate, and attempt to pass a comprehensive energy reform bill.  Cadets role-play elected members of the House of Representatives, interest group lobbyists, journalists from various media outlets, and presidential advisors.  They are required to think critically and creatively, while developing a law-making strategy and debating the merits of energy policy among their peers.  Cadets focus their efforts on four policy areas including the environmental impacts of expanded fossil fuel use, the costs and benefits of sustainable energy investment strategies, the viability of a national carbon emissions cap and trade system, and basic budget and funding mechanisms for their choices.  Additionally, cadets prepare for the exercise by participating in lectures concerning the science of hydraulic fracturing, the patterns of commercial electricity use, and the ethics of environmentalism. 

The SIMEX creates the opportunity for instructors and cadets to generate critical institutional ideas and sensitizes the current and future leaders of the Army to the challenge of climate change. While these simulations do not directly impact national policy or Pentagon plans, they are affecting the cadets’ and faculty’s modes of thinking while also incorporating key policymakers and senior Academy staff into the energy reform discussion.  Just last year, staff members of the House Armed Service Committee along with West Point’s Superintendent, Commandant, and Dean all attended a SIMEX.  The cadets also benefited from several former senior government officials including: Jason Bordoff, current Director of Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy and former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Energy; and David Sandalow, Inaugural Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University, and former Under Secretary of Energy (Acting) and Assistant Secretary for Policy & International Affairs. These experts mentored individual cadets role-playing presidential advisors and provided an overview of the White House’s approach to climate change to all of the cadets and faculty engaged in the SIMEX. Read More

CENTREVILLE — While much attention has been given to the heroic efforts of the Maryland Militia in the War of 1812, many Maryland men also served in the U.S. Navy and the U. S. Army. Attention has been given to some of those from Maryland who served in the Navy, but less well known are the stories of the local men who marched with the Army and fought the British in the north, both in Canada and in the northern U.S. states.

Three of those men gave heroic service in major battles in the Niagara region in particular and have never been honored. On Oct. 25, that will change as bronze plaques will be installed at the War Memorial on the Queen Anne’s County Courthouse green with the names of Clinton Wright, Lodowick Morgan, and Jacob Hindman, all of whom died in service to their country. Lodowick Morgan, from Church Hill was the first officer killed in the Battle of Fort Erie and his death was reported in every newspaper from Maine to Georgia, along with 10 of his men from his 1st Rifle Regiment. The stories of these men will be told as their plaques are installed at the monument.

In that their 1814 heroics were on battlefields in the New York region, the United States Military Academy West Point Drill Team will come to Centreville on Oct. 25 to honor the three men. This will be the first time the Drill Team has given a presentation this far from New York State.

The Army honors ceremony begins at 10 a.m. It is the opening event for Centreville Days this year. Early arrival is suggested. Article

With such deep organizational roots, it was just a matter of time before the Panthers visited the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

The Panthers, with West Point ties throughout the front office, headed north on Sunday for a few days of Army training as well as traditional hockey activities.

“To put it as simply as I can, we want to put the team in an environment that I believe represents everything a team should strive to achieve,” said owner Vinnie Viola, a 1977 graduate of the Academy.

“Esprit, camaraderie and sacrifice for each other is what that place’s DNA is all about. The idea that you will sacrifice yourself in support of the mission, protect your brother to the right and the left. From Day One, the talk is the mission is bigger than any individual.”

On Monday, the team will hold an open practice at Tate Rink before taking in the annual Thayer Award ceremony at which former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is being honored.

The Panthers also will work their way up Mount Tourne — where the team’s newest captain is expected to be named once they all make it to the top. Read More

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Any hope of a Ball State comeback was squashed by Army's rushing attack, which put together a 10-play, 75-yard drive to put the game out of reach late in the fourth quarter. The Army offense rushed for a total of 425 yards and four scores, led by Larry Dixon's career-high 188-yard output, on a rainy afternoon at Michie Stadium.

Clinging to a 27-24 lead after 14 straight points by Ball State, the Black Knights went back to work on offense and sealed the victory with the clinching drive that ate up nearly five minutes of game time. Army converted three third down situations, including quarterback Angel Santiago's 11-yard touchdown run that extended the lead to two possessions.

Terry Baggett, who had a 39-yard run on the final drive, finished the afternoon with 64 rushing yards on five carries, while Santiago churned out 89 yards on the ground. Tony Giovannelli contributed 35 yards on six carries, Raymond Maples added 16 on four opportunities and starting quarterback A.J. Schurr had 15 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Aaron Kemper also ran for 10 yards, including a nine-yard break for a touchdown in the third quarter.

Santiago completed his afternoon 2-for-3 passing for 48 yards, with receptions by Edgar Poe and Maples. Ball State's quarterback Ozzie Mann was 18-for-26 for 173 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Jahwan Edwards compiled 186 yards of total offense, with 142 on the ground and two rushing touchdowns.

Defensively, Andrew King totaled 10 tackles to lead the Black Knights on that side of the football. Daniel Grochowski converted both of his field goal attempts, hitting from 43 and 21 yards. Read More

The formal agreement involves joint collaborative research projects between NSRDEC and West Point, encouraging exchange visits by researchers, faculty and cadets to each site, with both organizations allowing access to facilities, training sites, research staff, historical data and field equipment.

The collaboration will also focus on the creation of an 'experimental squad' structure using West Point's senior class annual field training exercise as a test platform where several NSRDEC technologies will be deployed with cadets in the CLDT. The intense, ten-day field problem centers on leader development and allows every cadet to rotate through leadership positions based on the Army's elite Ranger school.

During this training there will be one experimental platoon among the 24 cadet platoons. This platoon will be equipped with Energy Harvesting Technologies, a NSRDEC developed Mission Planning Tool, and cadets will assist NSRDEC in the development of Nett Warrior Apps to be used on enabled handheld devices to enhance future leader awareness of emerging technology and the importance of integrating this technology. Full Story

In 1958, Major General Garrison Davidson ’27, USMA’s Superintendent at the time, summarized the Sylvanus Thayer Award with a purpose that still stands today: “…to recognize an American citizen of outstanding character and accomplishments whose status in the civilian community would draw wholesome comparisons to the values for which West Point strives—Duty, Honor, Country.” In introducing the 57th recipient of West Point’s highest award Lieutenant General (Retired) Larry Jordan ’68, Chairman of the West Point Association of Graduates, noted Davidson’s belief that the Thayer Award would inspire young people to become cadets. But in her speech accepting the 2014 Thayer Award, Dr. Condoleezza Rice remarked that it is the Corps of Cadets that inspires America’s citizens.

Rice began her speech to the cadets assembled in the Mess Hall for the event by saying that, as a university professor herself, she is tremendously impressed by what cadets do as students. She also noted how the football team at Stanford University, the University for which Rice served as Provost and at which she currently teaches as a professor of political economy at its Graduate School of Business, returned from its 2013 game at West Point inspired with stories of the lives cadets lead. Rice even concluded her speech by citing how the young men and women of West Point inspire. “You inspire us by the traditions of this place that has inspired you,” she said, “and you inspire us because you believe in Duty and Honor and Country.”

Since 1958, the West Point Association of Graduates has presented the Sylvanus Thayer Award to an outstanding citizen of the United States, other than a West Point graduate, whose service and accomplishments in the national interest exemplify personal devotion to the ideals expressed in the West Point motto: Duty, Honor, Country. Dr. Condoleezza Rice’s lifetime of ongoing achievements certainly merits this honor. Full Article

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WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Army hockey team begins its 2014-15 campaign this weekend as the Black Knights play host to Sacred Heart in an Atlantic Hockey Association showdown at Tate Rink. The games are set for 7:05 p.m. on Friday night, followed by a matinee time of 3:05 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Friday is opening night and Army Athletics is giving out free schedule posters for the upcoming season. The poster features the three captains. Army hosts Black Knights Buddies on Sunday and players will be available following the game for autographs. Read More

WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Army football team looks to remain unbeaten at Michie Stadium on Saturday against Rice and prior to the game Army fans are invited to visit Black Knights Alley.

Fans are encouraged to arrive early on Saturday to take part in the multitude of fan activities offered on a football game day at West Point. Please visit ARMYgameday.com for all game day information.

Approximately two hours before kickoff, Army's football team members and coaches will participate in Black Knight Walk and parade through the heart of Black Knights Alley en route to the team locker room. Fans are encouraged to attend and support the Black Knights as they get set for kickoff versus the Owls.

Black Knights Alley will open at 9 a.m. Saturday morning and will be open until the game begins. The fan fest area is located along Mills Road between Michie Stadium and Lusk Reservoir. Black Knights Alley will be open three hours prior to kickoff for all home games this season and features live music, inflatables for kids, food and beverage, beer tent, face painting, a different interactive sport every game, tailgate show, as well as other vendors. Full Story

CE390 Total Station Familiarization Training. Cadets from CE390 (Civil Engineering Site Design) conducted familiarization training on a total station in preparation of an upcoming surveying lab. The total station is a surveying instrument used to determine information such as the distance (line of sight, horizontal, and vertical) and the horizontal azimuth between two points. CE390 focuses on site selection and the associated land development for civil engineering projects. Several types of surveys such as boundary, topographic, and construction are important aspects of the overall land development process and CE390 provides an overview of those surveys, along with some hands-on training. The Course Director and instructor for CE390 is LTC Brad Wambeke. The POC is LTC Wambeke at brad.wambeke@usma.edu.

EP367 Drama Students Participate in Workshop with USMA Band. On 1 October, students in EP367 Drama participated in a workshop with the USMA Band on the subject of American musical theatre. This interactive presentation, led by Dr. Marc Napolitano and SFC Carla Loy Song, encouraged cadets to think about the narrative possibilities of the musical as a theatrical genre.

Over the course of the two-hour workshop, students discussed ways in which music can manipulate time through sung discourse (consolidating several years into a two-minute song, or stretching out a momentary glance into a five-minute ballad).

The cadets also contemplated the power of music to define individual characters’ personalities through specific rhythms, vocal parts, and orchestrations. SFC Loy Song encouraged students to consider how American musicals have addressed important and controversial social issues, from racial prejudice in “Show Boat,” to gang violence in “West Side Story” to the AIDS crisis in “Rent.” Throughout the workshop, students were given the chance to sing songs from “Newsies,” “West Side Story,” “Sweeney Todd,” and “Frozen,” while SFC Loy Song performed powerful numbers from “Big” and “Miss Saigon.” SGM Scott Arcangel accompanied them on the piano. POC is Dr Marc Napolitano, DEP, marc.napolitano @usma.edu.

Support of Cadet Competitive Club Competition. On 5 October, Sensei Reno and DEP’s LTC Joe Wyszynski led eleven junior members of the cadet judo team to participate in the Princeton Shiai. During the tournament, cadets faced collegiate and open competition; opponents ranged from Ivy League students to former service members and veterans of OIF. All the while cadets developed critical thinking skills and the courage to face an individual opponent on the mat. Eight members of the team placed with four cadets taking top honors. The POC is LTC Joe Wyszynski, DEP, joseph.wyszynski@usma.edu.

Cadets in the Studio Arts Forum conduct outreach to Garrison Rehabilitation Home. On 6 October, MAJ Lay Phonexayphova, OIC of the Studio Arts forum, led three cadet artists to the Walter Hoving Home in Garrison, New York to teach women at the home how to paint, shade, and draw portraits. Over 20 women, enrolled in rehabilitation programs participated in the event and learned about the plastic arts.

Army Debate Wins at James Madison: Army debate won the Novice division of the JMU Debate Tournament this past weekend. CDT TJ Collins and CDT Matt Watts followed up their second place finish at Rutgers last week with a dominating victory and 1st place prize at JMU. TJ was also awarded the top speaker prize in a crowd of over 50 novice debaters. CDT Ian Holbrook took home a 3rd place speaker award and 2 other novice teams (CDTs Matlack and Collins / CDTs Gulbis and Hickey) and 1 JV team (CDTs Reed and Oakley) made it to the round of sixteen.

Army Debate Engages with Bard College: Army Debate participated in the opening event of Bard’s Hannah Arendt Conference on the Unmaking of American Values last night. CDTs Aaron Spikol, Theo Lipsky and Will Oakley teamed up with 3 Bard students and 1 Bard professor to publicly debate in front of an audience of over 75 students, faculty and community members whether or not individualism is still an American value worth fighting for. The team represented themselves, the Department and the Academy with distinction. In many cases the Cadets were the first Army Soldiers any of these students ever met and left the event impressed with the professionalism, intellectual curiosity, and communication skills of Aaron, Theo and Will.

CDT Fontenot, a member of the West Point Equestrian Team, was featured in the November/December 2014 issue of Young Rider Magazine.

“It gets pretty tricky to fit in riding, but the riding program at Morgan Farm runs like a well-oiled machine. We have practice every day after classes. The team is split into two groups at the start of each practice. While the first group rides, the second group takes care of barn chores, and then we switch. We usually get in 45 minutes of riding. It takes a lot of time management, but it’s worth every moment.” Read the Article.

Monday October 13th, The West Point Band led The 70^th Annual Columbus Day Parade.  Photo courtesy of The West Point Band

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Despite a rocky start, the Army men's rugby team claimed its fourth straight victory to open the 2014 season, defeating Iona 26-19 at Anderson Rugby Complex under the lights on Sunday night. "It was a good game, hard fought," head coach Mike Mahan said. "We wouldn't quit and that's what's really important." Iona came out hot, getting up by as much as 12-0 through 37 minutes of play.The nationally ranked Black Knights, however, rebounded, showing their dominance to close out the game.

"We came out, unfortunately we might have been a little flat," Magee said. "Those kids are all New York boys so the opportunity for them to come to West Point and play at Anderson Rugby Complex is a huge deal for them, so we kind of knew they were going to come out tough. We unfortunately didn't match their toughness, but the team really rallied. I feel like that's a characteristic of an Army rugby team, we don't give up, we're going to play that 80 minutes and we're going to come out with the W no matter what." Full story