LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Sophomore Russell Parsons finished in fifth place at the 157-pound weight class as the Army wrestling team placed 23rd of 39 teams with 30.5 points at the 33rd annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. It was the best finish for the Black Knights in Las Vegas since the 2008-09 season.
"We have a young team and they gained some really valuable experience, so in that respect, it was a good event for us," added Ward. "If we continue to grow in areas and learn from some losses then we have an exciting future ahead of us." Read More
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Powerlifting:
Inline Hockey:
Equestrian:
Cycling:
Pipes & Drums:
Glee Club:
Ethics Debate Forum:
Cadet Hostess:
Start the year off right with your West Point 2015 Sou-venir Wall Calendar! The 2015 Calendar is a full-sized wall calendar with 12 gorgeous full-color scenic photo-graphs of West Point and Hudson Valley. The special price includes FREE shipping/handling! 
From 1-3 Dec 2014 Cadets Robby Hill, Coleman Grider, and Hunter Wood visited 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Ft Bragg, NC to conduct research for their capstone project. The purpose of the trip was to interview Special Forces Soldiers to elicit technological requirements that will enhance the Solider as a System future concepts. Their Capstone Project supports the U.S. Army Engineer Research Development Center’s initiative to build an Engineered Resilient System architecture that leverages information technology and tradespace visualization methods to help inform conceptual designs of future systems. The cadets had the unique opportunity to train with the Combat Diver Operational Detachment Alpha 3215. They observed the team conduct Close Quarter Battle training and learned the fundamentals of shooting. The most significant outcome was the leader development opportunities the cadets’ experienced while talking with the Special Forces Officers and NCOs from E-6 to E-9. “The trip was easily the best experience I have had thus far . . . we learned the traits of the best and worst lieutenants from senior NCOs with an enormous amount of combat experience . . . I now have a better understanding of how to conduct myself as an officer in a way that would be most effective.”
Cadets taking Advanced Constitutional Law visited the US Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., to observe oral argument in a case involving the use of mandatory minimum sentences for defendants convicted of armed bank robbery offenses. After the argument, which included extensive questioning of counsel by virtually all of the Justices, the cadets met with Justice Elena Kagan to discuss how the Court goes about selecting the cases to hear and making its decisions. The cadets also toured the Courthouse and the Capitol building. The trip section was led by the Department of Law’s Constitutional Law Chair, Tony DiSarro, and Assistant Professor, CPT. Amy McCarthy.
On Monday, 17 November, the Centers for Enhanced Performance from both USMAPS and USMA sponsored a trip section for graduates of the prep school to head back “up the hill” and meet and share some advice with current cadet candidates. Throughout the day, Cadets lead discussions and answered questions from the cadet candidates on a variety of topics ranging from the transition into USMA, making the most of the year at the Prep school, balancing academic and athletic responsibilities, military requirements, and many other topics pertaining to life as a USMA cadet. CIC Veronica Byant (’16) is seen above providing guidance and advice to a cadet candidate at the conclusion of the Women’s forum.
Dr Marc Napolitano Performs “A Christmas Carol” for Cadets, Faculty and Community: On Saturday 4 December, in Jefferson Hall’s Haig Room, Dr. Marc Napolitano delivered a dramatic performance of Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol.” Preceded by an interactive presentation on puppet design, the afternoon promised holiday cheer and delivered a captivating rendition of a classic text for all in attendance.
Cadets in CFAF’s Hudson Valley Culture Forum Experience the Valley’s Offerings: On Saturday, 6 December, 2014, seven members of the Hudson Valley Culture Forum took a daytrip to see a local legend, eat at a hidden gem, and support local arts. The first stop was Wing’s Castle in Millbrook, NY, a castle-like dwelling that local residents Peter and Lori Ann Wing began building over 40 years ago. Peter and his wife, Toni Ann, constructed Wing’s Castle using materials gathered locally from old farms, blast sites, and auctions, to create a unique and awe-inspiring structure jutting out of the countryside. Despite Peter’s passing mere months ago, Toni Ann enthusiastically agreed to give the cadets a personal tour around the grounds. Next, the forum stopped at the Terrapin Restaurant in Rhinebeck, NY. Situated in a re-purposed church, Terrapin Restaurant uses ingredients from local farms, dairies, and breweries. After their meal, the cadets were able to observe Rhinebeck’s yearly Sinterklaas festival, which honors Rhinebeck’s heritage by re-creating a celebration Dutch settlers brought to the town over 300 years ago. Finally, cadets visited the Ulster Performing Arts Center to watch the Ulster Ballet Company perform Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. After a riveting show, the ballet company graciously invited the cadets backstage to talk with the dancers about the performance, their experiences, and ballet in general.
On 18 November, Lieutenant Colonels Jason Musteen and Dave Siry and four Cadets presented their lessons learned from the World War I staff ride to about 50 members of a Civil War Roundtable in Stamford Connecticut at the Stamford Historical Society. This outreach opportunity not only highlighted the wonderful academic opportunities the Academy provides but also showcased the high-caliber students that West Point attracts. Cadets Curtis Valencia, Haley Lee, Jim Trollan, and Sarah Bitner discussed their experiences blending history and literature in the study of the Great War, and fielded all questions expertly.
On 8 December, General (Retired) Fred Franks presented a lecture to cadets enrolled in Major Jon Heist’s elective course, Strategy, Policy, and Generalship, on his experience as the VII Corps Commander during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Surprisingly, this was the first time that General Franks was invited to speak on this subject at West Point. For about an hour he spoke on the origins of the Gulf War, the objectives of the George H.W. Bush administration, military strategy, and the role of VII Corps during the ground war. After the lecture, he answered cadet questions. His professional advice on leadership and strategic planning was invaluable. Overall, the session provided the cadets valuable insight into this important, but increasingly forgotten, conflict through the eyes of one of the generals that fought it.
Table Top Exercise: On 4 December, cadets enrolled in NE450 Nuclear Weapons Effects (45 cadets from 3 sections), with LTC Dave Williams and LTC Ken Allen, executed Persian Gold Table Top Exercise. This is an extraordinary interdisciplinary exercise brought from the National Defense University, Center for the Study of WMD, which provided two experts in the field, Dr. Mark Mattox and Mr. Nima Gerami, to facilitate. This exercise gave the cadets from varying disciplines within the NE Core Engineering Sequence and the Nuclear Engineering major to develop and debate strategic initiatives and policies to address Iran’s pursuit of nuclear technologies and nuclear weapons. During the three hour exercise, the cadets received a detailed country briefing on Iran from an expert, Mr. Nima Gerami, and worked in groups to explore strategic ways, means, and ends to approach Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Cadet Capstone Team Members Visit Occupations, Inc. On December 3rd, Cadets Theriot, Wilson, and Howlett, Class of 2015 Mechanical Engineering majors, and faculty advisors COL Boettner and MAJ Fox, visited Occupations, Inc. in Middletown, New York to conduct their preliminary design review of their initial design to improve efficiency of heavy-duty stapler assembly. Occupations, Inc. employs workers with disabilities to help enhance quality of life for these individuals. Currently, the number of workers who are able to assemble these staplers is very limited due to the requirement to carefully align parts for pin insertion. The supervisors and vocational specialists provided valuable feedback for the cadets to refine their design as they continue the project during term 15-2.
ME404 Capstone Project Team Spray Presentation at the 2014 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition in Montreal, Canada. Cadet Zachary Lee attended and presented research at the 2014 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE) in Montreal, Canada from November 17-18. Cadet Lee was the lead author for a paper entitled “A Comparison of Shadowgraphy and X-Ray Computed Tomography in Liquid Spray Analysis” that was accepted for publication at this conference. The research has been conducted by the ME404 capstone group, Team Spray, in collaboration with a group at Army Research Laboratory and two academic departments at Stanford University. The presentation centered on using shadowgraphy and X-Ray computed tomography in analyzing liquid sprays from two hollow cone atomizers. Spray characteristics play a key role in combustion performance, so accurate spray analysis plays a key role in developing effective nozzles and atomizers. Team Spray will continue experimentation in liquid spray analysis as part of their capstone effort this and next semester.
CE483: Design of Concrete and Masonry Structures Visit Construction Site for New Cadet Barracks. On December 2nd and 4th, all Civil Engineering Firsties visited the construction site for the new cadet barracks as their final lab for the course. Mr. Tim Pillsworth, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) project manager, gave a short presentation to the cadets covering the general scope of the project including utilizing a reinforced concrete structure with a gravity load bearing granite block façade. The project is designed to meet specific sustainable and resiliency requirements as well as an improved quality of life experience. Then, Mr. Pillsworth walked the cadets around the construction site highlighting how the reinforced concrete structure is actually constructed. This site visit allowed the seniors to see first-hand many of the engineering details presented throughout this course, and many other CE courses, as well as the scale and complexity of an actual project.
Army-Navy Spirit December 8-11, GEnE continues to inspire by bringing “Beat Navy” spirit into the hallways. Faculty members and their families pitched in to create mini spirit posters in support of this weekend’s Army-Navy football game.
Russian: Three Russian SAP cadets on semester abroad spent time at the Latvian National Defense Academy in Riga, Latvia. While there the cadets lived with their Latvian and other NATO cadet counterparts and participated in various tactical training. Their time in Riga concluded with a Black Coffee Ceremony to remember Latvian cadets killed in combat in 1919.
German: USMA Cadets on semester exchange at the Theresian Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt, Austria visited the US Embassy in Vienna for Thanksgiving (27 Nov 2014) and enjoyed a traditional American Thanksgiving feast (turkey, sweet potatoes, dressing, cranberry sauce, green beans and pumpkin pie and pecan pie for dessert) with the embassy staff and presented Ambassador Alexa Wesner with a bouquet of flowers. Arriving early, the cadets toured the historic first floor of the embassy where President Jimmy Carter's Vienna meetings took place. The ambassador’s home has a rich history and is full of decorative art pieces.
Arabic: Eleven Arabic students are finalizing their studies in Morocco, Jordan, and Oman. Cadets in Rabat, Morocco, traveled to Merzouga, Tetouan and Chefchaouen over the break, and are preparing their final papers for submission next week. In Jordan Cadets are finishing studies following their successful Thanksgiving celebrations with other expatriate students at their apartment overlooking the US Embassy grounds. All three groups return to West Point on 20 December. Cadets in Muscat, Oman have completed their studies and begun clearing the Center for International Learning; they return to West Point 12 December.
The French Forum enjoyed Les Misérables on Broadway in NYC Tuesday 02 DEC. Students currently learning French were able to practice their French with Dr. Christophe Corbin and one another on their journey to and from the theater. They even learned a bit of history of the French Revolution, and the socio/political/economic issues surrounding the era.
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – Junior Jean Parker netted a career-high 25 points and set an Academy record with seven three-pointers as the Army women’s basketball team defeated Central Connecticut State, 74-60, on Saturday afternoon at Detrick Gymnasium.
LOS ANGELES - Army erased a nine-point deficit to send the game to overtime and never trailed in the extra session in an 85-77 victory over USC on Saturday night at Galen Center.
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army women’s basketball junior Jean Parker and women’s swimming and diving freshman Collin Kessinger were named co-Athletes of the Week by the Army Athletic Association on Monday. Parker draws the accolade for the first time this season and the second time of her career, while Kessinger picks up her first recognition. 
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army women’s basketball junior Kelsey Minato was named the Women’s Basketball Player of the Week by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA), the organization announced Tuesday.
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Garrett Thul was picked first overall, while Tim Henderson and Jeremy Boltus joined Thul as first round selections as the Army Lacrosse program had three former players in the top eight taken in the opening round of the Major League Lacrosse Supplemental Draft on Wednesday, Dec. 17.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Army men’s soccer senior goalkeeper Winston Boldt added to his postseason awards on Wednesday when he was named to the Scholar All-America second team by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army defensive lineman Joe Drummond will play one final game. Drummond, a defensive lineman, has been selected to compete in the Medal of Honor Bowl, Jan. 10 in Charleston, S.C.
Men’s Boxing:
Marathon:
Pipes & Drums:
Band:
Glee Club:
Debate Forum:
Bonfire & Goat/ Engineer Game:
WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army football team had four players selected to the Football Bowl Subdivision All-Independent teams, it was announced on Wednesday.