TAMPA, Fla. - Jacob Page knocked in a run and Kris Lindner hustled for another as Army swept a three-game series with the University of Massachusetts with a 2-1 victory, Sunday at Jesuit High School. Army took both games of the doubleheader on Saturday and swept the series on Sunday.

The Black Knights won their fourth consecutive game and improved to 9-4 overall and 3-0 on their spring training trip to Florida. Lindner had two of Army's four hits and helped Army to its 10th straight win over UMass.

Julian Larimer started on the mound for Army and threw six innings, allowed five hits and one run. He struck out six and walked one. Justin French threw a scoreless seventh inning. Matt Ball struck out a pair in the eighth and one in the ninth and earned his first career save. French collected the victory, his first of the season.

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Army second baseman Kris Lindner picked up a pair of honors after leading the baseball team to a three-game sweep of the University of Massachusetts last weekend. Lindner was named the Corvias Patriot League Player of the Week and the Army Athletic Association Athlete of the Week after posting hits and scoring at least one run in all three victories.

A sophomore from Morehead, N.C., Lindner, went 5-for-9 over the weekend with five runs scored. He scored three times and had two hits in a 9-2 win, scored the winning run in a 2-1 victory on Sunday and added another single in a 5-2 triumph. Story

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Weeks after performing on NBC's The Voice, Staff SGT Jeremy Gaynor (Lead male vocalist of the West Point Band) relives those few nerve-wracking moments. "I was just so ready to perform and sing to the back of the chairs, it was amazing," said Gaynor. He impressed all four judges, who turned their chairs around showing interest in him. And with production now on break, Gaynor said he's back where it all started.

With his West Point Band at the United States Military Academy Friday, Gaynor said it was his commander here that encouraged him to audition for the show. "I saw it as an opportunity to tell the Army story. I went up and auditioned and it's just became an amazing journey from there," said Gaynor. Gaynor has been in the Army since 2009 and said he started singing when he was a child. In 2010, he started performing with the Army Entertainment Detachment in Kentucky - eventually landing with the West Point Band as lead male vocalist in 2013. Read More

West Point celebrated the annual Founders Day Dinner March 5 at the Mess Hall with Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. John C. Thomson III as guest speaker.

“Tonight is one that we should think about what constitutes the foundation of the Academy,” Thomson said. “I argue that as much as a piece of parchment signed by President Jefferson, this institution is founded by its graduates. From the first graduating class made up of Joseph Swift and Simon Levy, ‘through the years of two centuries told,’ West Point’s graduates have poured a foundation of service and sacrifice for us to continue the tradition of ‘Duty, Honor, Country.’”

“Our 1,944th graduate, a native of Delafield, Wisconsin lived up to his Class Motto “Per Angusta, Ad Augusta,” Thomson said. “Two years and one week after graduating, he and other members of the June Class of 1861 played vital roles in the Battle of Gettysburg. On the battle’s second day, their class valedictorian, Patrick O’Rourke made the ultimate sacrifice while leading a charge just in the nick of time on Little Round Top.”

Thomson explained that on the third day, the class goat, George Armstrong Custer, commanded a cavalry charge that broke up a Confederate flank attack under Jeb Stuart.

“That same afternoon, Cullum number 1,944, Alonzo Cushing, found himself commanding an artillery battery consisting of six three-inch ordnance rifled cannons at what some argue was the most decisive point at this critical battle of the Civil War,” he said.

Cullum number 60,574 from the Class of 2004 commanded Special Forces Operation Detachment Alpha 3132 in Nangahar Province, Afghanistan.

“His team was called on to serve as a quick reaction force after enemy fighters breached the walls of a coalition military compound,” Thomson said. “He led his men in two vehicles toward the attack, where two vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices had torn through the base perimeter. Continually exposed to enemy fire, he coordinated efforts to defeat the withering attack and was credited with saving multiple friendly lives.”

Will Eberle became the third USMA graduate since Vietnam to be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Full Story»

Story and photo courtesy of Kathy Eastwood Pointer View

IRVINE, Calif. - The Army women's track & field squad kicked off the outdoor season with a pair of dual scoring victories over Cerritos and Long Beach State in the Anteater Four-Way hosted by UC Irvine on Saturday.

Army defeated Cerritos by a score of 94-69 and Long Beach State by a score of 86-79. They dropped the dual with host UC Irvine by a score of 86-85.

"Our intent in scheduling our spring break this year was to prioritize good weather and good competition," said head coach Mike Smith. "We have great weather here with light winds, warm temperatures and plenty of sunshine so we can't complain after being forced inside all weekend. Read More

IRVINE, Calif. - The Army men's track & field squad kicked off the outdoor season with a trio of dual scoring victories over Cerritos, Long Beach State and UC Irvine in the Anteater Four-Way hosted by UC Irvine on Saturday. Army defeated Cerritos by a score of 103-75, Long Beach State by a score of 92-75 and UC Irvine by a mark of 92-68.

"The early season meets are really good training opportunities as we work through heavy training loads, nonetheless the scoreboard matters and we intend to have a complete team. Our depth was good today and we were able to score in almost every event and that helped us score more points than our opponents."

In the 100m dash, Jose Santana led the way with a first place finish time of 10.80. He was followed by Patrick Taylor's second place time of 11.12 and Kenner Broullire's fourth-place mark of 11.21. Read More

TAMPA, Fla. - The Army women's softball team was recognized on George Steinbrenner Field at the New York Yankees Spring Training Center in Tampa Tuesday evening during the singing of God Bless America in the middle of the seventh inning of the game with Toronto.

On the way off the field, Yankee manager Joe Girardi was shaking the players hand and thanking them for their service. Fans stood and honored the players as well and many came over to thank them personally or talk.

It was an exciting evening for head coach Michelle DePolo, her staff and players as a representative of the Yankees greeted them upon their arrival at the game and took them to their seats. Full Story»

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ST. LOUIS, Mo. - A pair of Army wrestlers will advance to the second day of competition at the NCAA Championships, as senior Cole Gracey (165 pounds) and junior Brian Harvey (174) each finished 1-1 during Sessions I and II on Thursday at Scottrade Center.

Seeded 14th in the 165 bracket, Gracey posted a 9-5 victory over Cal State-Bakersfield's Adam Fierro in the first round before falling in a narrow 9-6 setback to third-seeded Isaac Jordan from Wisconsin in the second round. Gracey will face Oklahoma's Clark Glass in a second round consolation match to begin the day on Friday.

Harvey dropped his opening match, with an 11-9 loss to sixth-seeded Logan Storely from Minnesota. Harvey rallied back in a 174 consolation match, defeating Rider's Ryan Wolfe by major decision, 12-3. The junior will continue his tournament Friday against fifth-seeded Blaise Butler from Virginia in the second round consolation at the 174 weight class. Read More

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Rookie Tyler Pham led Atlantic Hockey in points among first year skaters and was named the league's Rookie of the Year, while Zak Zaremba was the recipient of the Sportsmanship Award as the postseason honors were awarded on Thursday night. Pham finished the year with a team high 29 points on nine goals and 20 assists. The forward led the team with five multi-point games with his best outing coming against Mercyhurst on Nov. 8 with a season high four points on two goals and two assists. He skated in the next game and put up a season-best three assists against Holy Cross on Nov. 14 in an overtime victory.

He started his career on a four-game point streak and had a team long five-game streak in the middle of the season, highlighted by a three-point night against AIC with all of the points coming in the first period. He was dynamite down the stretch with eight points in his last nine games and had two multi-point games. He had a two-assist night against Canisius in a 2-1 win on the road and then had a goal and an assist at home on Senior Night to help the Black Knights to a 5-1 victory. Read More

NEW YORK, N.Y. - The Army men's rugby team posted a dominant performance in the 12th Annual Four Leaf Tournament, claiming the tournament title with five victories. Army blanked each of its five opponents, earning wins over Seton Hall, Loyola, American, Fairfield and Stony Brook. Army kicked off the morning with a contest against Seton Hall, earning the 37-0 victory on the snow covered fields of Randall's Island.

Andrew Yoon kicked off the scoring with a try in the early minutes of the first half, putting the Black Knights up by a score of 5-0. Ben Lemon made it 10-0 just a few minutes later with his first try of the season. Captain Collum Magee put the Black Knights on top by a mark of 15-0, sending his team into the break with the commanding advantage.

In the second half, Donald Goff posted a try and Dan Myers succeeded on the conversion to put Army up by a score of 22-0. He was followed by scores from Greg Walker and Ryan Manion, earning the Black Knights the 32-0 advantage. Read More

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The 18th-ranked Army men's lacrosse team had a 6-3 lead at the end of three quarters and thanks to great defense down the stretch the Black Knights held off a late charge from Lehigh to earn a 7-5 win in Patriot League action on Saturday at Ulrich Sports Complex.

Army (6-3, 2-2 PL) got two goals apiece from Cole Johnson and Jimbo Moore, while John Glesener and Connor Cook tallied two points as each had a goal and an assist. Sam Somers finished with eight saves and had two huge stops in the final minutes to preserve the win. Both stops came during a man-up situation. Dan Grabher had his best performance of the season so far with 11 wins at the faceoff "x" in 16 chances.

The Black Knights came out with a purpose and gained a 3-1 lead at the end of the first quarter. Johnson had two of the three goals in the opening period and Littlejohn tallied his sixth of the year. Johnson netted his second of the day with a great move from behind the net and beat Sawicki on a diving shot. Lehigh got its goal from Kaunas, which tied the game at 1-1 early in the contest. Read More

WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Army women's tennis team picked up two wins Sunday at the Lichtenberg Tennis Center. The Black Knights improved to 10-8 overall and 3-0 in conference play after defeating Loyola 4-1 and Lafayette 4-0.

Against the Greyhounds, Army swept in doubles to pick up the overall team point. Eva Sung and Hannah Dahlem teamed together to defeat their Loyola opponents 8-1 at first doubles. Carolyn Pitman and Julian Mok clinched an 8-1 victory at the No. 2 position, while the duo of Maya Parker and Elle Taylor won 8-4 at third doubles.

The Black Knights clinched the match with three wins in singles. Sung defeated Lanciano of Loyola at the No. 2 position, 6-4, 6-3. Nancy Porter earned a 6-2, 6-4 victory in fifth singles for Army and Mok won at sixth singles in three sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. Read More

WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Army men's tennis team finished with a 2-0 record on Sunday following a 4-0 win over Lafayette in a Patriot League match at Lichtenberg Tennis Center. The Black Knights also posted a 4-0 victory against Loyola earlier in the day. Army earns its third straight win to improve to 12-8 overall and 3-0 in the Patriot League, while Lafayette moves to 5-6 and 1-2. Army's win marks its 16th straight in the regular season against Patriot League opponents, dating back two years to March 22, 2013.

Junior Austin McCasin and sophomore Kyle Barnes played at the top doubles position for the second time this season and defeated Lafayette's Jake Lazer and Brian Pinkard, 8-5, to collect their team-best 20th doubles win of the year. Junior Harrison McCormick was joined by sophomore Grant Reichmann in registering a 6-4 win at No. 2 doubles, while senior Peter Sienko and freshman Michael Sienko notched an 8-2 victory at the No. 3 flight. Read More

WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Army men's lacrosse defensive unit was rewarded on Monday by the Patriot League as junior Austin Schultz and senior Sam Somers earned Patriot League weekly accolades. Schultz was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week for the second time, while Somers garnered goalie of the week honors for the first time this season after holding Lehigh to five goals on 35 shots faced.

Schultz helped lead the Army defense in controlling Lehigh's top scorer in Dan Taylor. He came into Saturday's game as the league-leader in points per game at over four points per contest. Schultz held him to only one goal and allowed him only five shots total on the day. Schultz caused one turnover and scooped up two ground balls in the win and was part of a man-down unit that stopped the Mountain Hawks on 4-of-5 chances with the extra man, including two chances in the final minutes.

Somers earned his 20th career win on Saturday and his sixth of the year. He recorded eight saves, including three in the first and fourth quarters. He single-handily saved the game in the final two minutes against Lehigh, while the Mountain Hawks were on the man up. He stopped one shot with his shin and then stoned a wide-open Lehigh attacker that was at the top of the crease. Read More

WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Army gymnastics team traveled to West Palm Beach, Fla., over spring break in preparation for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championships. During the trip, members of the team took advantage of the opportunity to visit the home of Retired Army Brig. Gen. Albin Irzyk, a World War II veteran and West Palm Beach native.

"It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit and learn from a combat leader who worked for General Patton," said captain Alex Ganz.

Irzyk fought five campaigns in Europe as a 27-28 year old Tank Battalion Commander in the Fourth Armored Division, which spearheaded Gen. Patton's Third Army across much of Europe. He was wounded twice and received the nation's second highest decoration, the Distinguished Service Cross, for extraordinary heroism. The team visited Irzyk on March 17 and it was not lost on them that almost exactly 70 years earlier, on 18 March 1945, then Colonel Irzyk earned the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC). Full Story»

ATLANTA, Ga. - Army junior guard Kelsey Minato was one of 12 players selected to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-Region 1 Team, the organization announced Wednesday.

Minato becomes the first player in team history to earn the WBCA All-Region honor and joins a group of 52 candidates across eight regions that will be considered for the 2015 WBCA Division I Coaches' All-America Team. The All-America Team will consist of 10 players and will be announced on April 4 during the NCAA Women's Final Four weekend in Tampa, Fla.

A native of Huntington Beach, Calif., Minato currently ranks eighth nationally in both scoring average (22.3 points per game) and free throw percentage (90.3). She finished the year as the Patriot League's leading scorer and second-leading free throw shooter. Read More

Click the Cover to read the entire update.

Competitive Clubs

Triathlon:

• During the week of 13-22 March, the West Point Triathlon Team traveled to Scottsdale, AZ, to conduct their annual training trip in preparation for the USA Triathlon Collegiate Nationals in April
• The week was an outstanding success with each athlete completing between 300 and 400 total miles of swimming, cycling, and running in the Arizona sun
• This was the largest total mileage and most comprehensive spring train-up the team has ever done
• Each session was supervised by the team’s elite coaching staff of Coach Ian O’brien and Assistant Coach Amy Maxwell, from Tri-Origin coaching; Coach O’brien is also the coach of Team USA members aspiring to make the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janiero
• While in Scottsdale, the team also enjoyed the hospitality of Mr. Preston Miller (USMA ‘68), who provided logistical support for the team’s trip and hosted the team for dinner
• This build-up week will provide the West Point team with the necessary skills and training to crush the competition and, once again, decisively beat Navy at USAT Nationals

Orienteering:

• On 21-22 March, the West Point Orienteering Team traveled to Media, PA, to race in the US Intercollegiate Championships
• The event featured a classic course on both Saturday and Sunday, which were made difficult by the sudden snowfall in the area on the Friday preceding the races
• West Point cadets faced skilled competitors from Rochester University, the University of Connecticut, the University of Texas, and Harvard University
• The USMA Orienteering Team came out on top, finishing in first place for the 13th consecutive time at the Inter-collegiate level
• CDT John Hensley Williams (‘15) placed first overall in the individual men’s category, and CDT Hans Sitarz (‘17) placed third; CDT Jessica Johnson (‘18) placed first overall in the individual women’s races; CDT James O’Keefe (‘15) won the men’s race on Sunday

Crew:

• From 14-22 March, Army Crew conducted spring training operations on Hartwell Lake, SC
• All teams conducted rigorous morning and afternoon practices, accelerating their preparation for the spring sprint season
• The week culminated in a joint scrimmage against another collegiate program, also at Clemson for spring training
• The Varsity and Novice Men dominated in the 5x5-minute races, defeating a much larger, national-level Purdue program and local rival, Marist University, an NCAA/Corps-Squad equivalent program
• The women’s team provided a strong challenge to the same schools, finishing only seconds behind the two programs, but showed much improvement compared to previous years
• For the first time since 2004, the entire team con-ducted spring training in the same location, with a mis-soon of developing team unity, pride, and respect for one-another, with a vision of building “one team of significance, worthy to win.”

Equestrian:

• On 20 –23 March, four members from the West Point Equestrian team traveled to Grand Oaks Resort in Lady Lake, FL, and had the privilege of participating in the Western Semi Finals
• The West Point riders did an amazing job; CDT Alexandra Vinson put in a superb ride on the horse Fergie, and CDT Crystel Calderon rode the horse Zoey in the first heat
• CDT Calderon was called back for the final, due to her spectacular ride
• The two riders did an amazing job riding against other competitors from top Western schools throughout the country; unfortunately, none of the cadets qualified for the Western Divisions of the National Championships
• The members of the team had the opportunity to see a demonstration of the driving horses used in the film, “The Hunger Games”; also, the team members got to see the home of the original Budwiser Clydesdale's, Bud and Weiser
• This coming up weekend is another regional championship, and the team is hoping to qualify riders for zone championships

Support Clubs

Glee Club:

• During Spring Break, the Glee Club performed at several venues on the West Coast
• The 66 cadets and four staff traveled with three members of the USMA Band
• The club kicked the tour off with a flash-mob in the Los Angeles International Airport; with the help of Delta Airlines and the Bob Hope USO, the club surprised the travelers in Terminal 5 with a spontaneous rendition of Phillip Phil-lips’ Gone, Gone, Gone, and a medley of armed forces service songs
• The following day, the Glee Club supported the West Point Society of Los Angeles in their Founders Day celebration at the Ronal Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley
• Before an audience of 400 people, the Club performed traditional West Point and Army songs, as well as contemporary works; the cadets then en-joyed the opportunity to visit the library’s extensive museum
• Later that evening, the Club gathered in Newhall, a small historic town north of Los Angeles; in the Canyon Theater, the Club presented a 90-minute public concert, incorporating the full Spring Break repertoire in front of 300 concert-goers
• The following day, the Club enjoyed a well-deserved day off, and got to sample much of what Los Angeles has to offer
• On Tuesday, the Club gave two 55-minute performances to the students at North Valley Military Institute in Granada Hills; NVMI, a State of California charter school, provides quality, college-prep education to predominately under-privileged students
• After each concert, the cadets spent time talking with the students and faculty, answering questions about West Point and military service
• Later that day, the Club performed at the Trinity Classical Academy in Valencia
• One of the greatest developmental opportunities of the trip came on Thursday, 19 March, when the Glee Club got to participate in an extended recording session with Skywalker Sound, a Lucasfilm Company
• Skywalker Sound is a multi-Grammy Award winning recording studio and post-production sound firm responsible for countless movie soundtracks and albums
• Throughout the day, the cadets completed nearly 40 takes on four different musical selections and enjoyed the opportunity to work with some of the best audio and video production professionals in the business
• The club came away with four great recordings and countless hours of video and interviews
• Following the success at Skywalker, the Glee Club boarded buses to continue the tour to Portland, OR; there they performed at the Tiger Woods Pavilion at the Nike Global Headquarters in Beaverton
• In front of an audience of nearly 600, the Club presented a 90-minute concert that combined traditional West Point and military songs, popular pieces, and contemporary works

Parachute:

• From 16-20 March, the West Point Parachute Team conducted Jump Orientations in Raeford, NC; the team completed over 500 jumps during this time frame
• The Class of 2018 cadets all completed their tandem jumps, as well as all of the necessary two-instructor accelerated free-fall jumps with help from the USASOC Black Daggers and the ATEC Test Board; the Class of 2018 are in position to complete their A-License requirements for this semester
• The upper-class teammates continued to train in advanced skydiving practices
• The Class of 2017 4-way team, took flight for the first time with help and assisted coaching from the Gold Knights
• The VFS (Vertical Free-Style) Team consisting of the Class of 2017 completed their first jumps together
• Some members of the Class of 2015 and 2016 completed their camera progression; most of the necessary coach rating validation jumps were completed
• The team was also given the opportunity to hear from several inspirational warriors in the Special Forces branch as well

Academic Clubs

Debate:

• On 19 March, the Army Debate Team traveled to Wichita, KS, to compete in the Cross Examination De-bate Association National Tournament at Wichita State University
• CDTs Michael Barlow and Quanzy Caston became the first Army team in eight years to advance to the round of 32 (out of 116 teams)
• Additionally, in their final debate tournament of their careers, CDTs Ryan McGovern and Aaron Spikol were selected as Academic All-American Debaters (two of the top twenty selected in the country this year) for their excellence at debate and in the class room

Model UN:

• From 14-20 March, eight cadets from the USMA Model UN Team competed at the Harvard World Model United Nations Conference in Seoul, South Korea
• This conference brings together students from over one hundred countries from around the world to compete in over thirty committees, ranging from the World Health Organization to the Special Summit on the Stability of South Sudan
• Throughout the week, cadets from the team were able to engage in fierce debates as well as experience both the culture of the ROK, and that of those students with whom they competed
• Overall, the conference served as both a developmental experience in public speaking, and an exercise in good civil-military relations
• On aggregate points, the USMA Model UN Team ranked second in the world in the Small Delegation Category, marking the academy’s continued position at the top of the world rankings and excellent competitive ability on the Model UN Circuit
• The following cadets were recognized with individual “gavels”, or delegate awards in their committees: CDT Megan McNulty (‘16), CDT Jesse Nelson (‘16), CDT Jack Bagdadi (‘17), CDT Sneha Singh (‘17), and CDT Brittany Scofield (‘18)
• The following cadets were also integral to the success of the team: CDT Patrick Beauregard (‘15), CDT Ezra Engel (‘17), and CDT Christine Sidhu (‘18)

German Language:

• During the week of 13-21 March, the DFL’s German Language section sponsored a Spring Immersion in Germany
• CPT Brown, German Instructor, was the trip OIC and escorted nine USMA cadets through southern Germany
• The trip consisted of five days in Stuttgart, one day in Munich, and one day in Garmisch
• While in Munich, the cadets received a tour of the German Armed Forces University; while in Garmisch they received a tour of the George C. Marshall Center, European Center for Security Studies

DCA Happenings

Cadet Programs

Plebe Parent Weekend 2015

A successful Plebe Parent Banquet, receiving lines, and hop were con-ducted on 14 March; 3400 cadets and guests attended.

Book signings for Plebe Parent Weekend on 13 March and 14 March 2015 include: Elaine Lowry Brye, author of Be Safe, Love Mom.

And Roger Miller, photojournalist of West Point: An Inside Look at the Long Gray Line.

Upcoming Book Store Book Signings

• Bill Quatman, author of A Young General and the Fall of Richmond - 6 April @ 1330 - 1530
• RET GEN Richard Lynch, author of Adapt or Die - 15 April @ 0930-1130
• Emma Sky, author of The Unraveling - 16 April @ 0930 - 1130

Center for Enhanced Performance

The Center for Enhanced Performance Host Guest Lecture. On 2 March Dr Mark McLaughlin, medical director of the Princeton Brain and Spine Center, presented “A Neurosurgeon’s Take on Applied Sport Psychology” to the CEP’s PL360 Psychology of Elite Performance class. Dr McLaughlin provided insights on concentration, precision, and execution from his 30 years of experience as a neurosurgeon. The presentation included demonstrations of three neurosurgery instruments used in the case studies which Dr McLaughlin presented. This guest lecture highlighted how the mental skills taught to cadets through the CEP’s Performance Enhancement Program were utilized by a world-class medical professional.
Dr. McLaughlin addressed the Army Wrestling team as they prepared to compete in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) tournament on 6 and 7 March. Dr McLaughlin, a 1987 EIWA champion, shared with the wrestlers his own victory story and reminded each competitor that they all had the opportunity to write their own success stories in the coming days.

Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Electrical Engineering Major Publishes and Presents Paper. CDT Dylan Smith recently presented and published a paper titled “Automated Demand Response of Thermal Load with a Photovoltaic Source for Military Microgrids” at the 2015 Clemson University Power Systems Conference on March 11th. He presented his paper to a well attended session on renewable energy topics. Additionally, Dylan entered into the student paper contest and was awarded first prize.

Department of English and Philosophy

Dar Williams leads discussion on creativity with Creative Writing and Jazz Forums. Acclaimed singer-songwriter Dar Williams visited Cadets from the Cadet Fine Arts Forum Jazz and Creative Writing clubs. Her discussion focused on the creative processes in poetry and songwriting. After fielding a number of questions from the Cadets, Dar Williams played a small concert showcasing some her most famous songs. Dar is a neighbor to West Point and lives in nearby Cold Spring, NY. After her visit to West Point, Dar shared on her Facebook page that “Soldiers' narratives have been invaluable to our country's understanding of the real world and the real challenges our fellow citizens face overseas and as veterans.” We look forward to a future return visit.

Elsie Sans Pinnell Art Appreciation forum visits Commandant’s house for Art Discussion. BG and Mrs. Thompson graciously hosted 25 Cadets of the Art Appreciation Forum for lunch and a discussion about the importance of art at Quarters 101. BG Thompson personally invited the West Point Museum curator, Ms. Marlana Cook, to guide the Cadets past the various artworks placed throughout the historic quarters. BG Thompson also took the time to share personal works of art from his own collection, and explained to the Cadets how art has shaped his own life and experiences in the Army.

Defense & Strategic Studies Program

Over spring break, the Defense & Strategic Studies program conducted a multi-disciplinary staff ride to Germany. The 16 participating cadets were chosen from several different majors across the academy and included DSS, GENE, History, DFL (German), and one Grand Strategy Minor. The staff ride took a broad approach and covered multiple time periods in German history ranging from Frederick the Great through the Cold War. The 10 day trip included stops at the Jena-Auerstaedt battlefield, Jena, Weimar, Buchenwald Concentration Camp, Berlin, Dresden, the German Army Officer School in Dresden, and an official visit to the U.S. Embassy.

Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering

EV203 Terrain Walk. The terrain walk showcases real examples of geomorphology at work on West Point to include faults, chemical and mechanical weathering and biological processes. Cadets were also familiarized with the various rock types found within West Point’s landscape and were presented a geologic overview of West Point, Storm King Mountain and the surrounding areas. Terrain walks are one of the many practical exercises in EV203 which help reinforce geographic concepts and offer cadets an opportunity to explore connections in the physical and human environment.

Trip Section – EV379 Photogrammetry. The EV379 Photogrammetry class toured Keystone Aerial Survey Inc. in Philadelphia, PA. Cadets toured the facility in small groups to see firsthand all aspects of conducting aerial survey operations including traditional black and white film photography to aerial laser scanning. Keystone is one of a few very successful US aerial survey firms. A highlight of their business is collecting nation-wide aerial photographs for Bing Maps. Cadet tour included camera operations and mounting in the aircraft, flight mission planning, post-process production, flight simulation, and UAV familiarization.

Department of Law

US District Court Chief Judge Carol Bagley Amon visited with cadets in the Advanced Constitutional Law seminar. Chief Judge Amon, who presides at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, was appointed to the bench in 1990 by President George H. W. Bush. She discussed government searches and seizures under the 4th Amendment to the Constitution. The seminar is taught by Department of Law Asst. Professor and Constitutional Law Chair, Tony DiSarro.

Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership

On Tuesday, 10 March, LTG Caslen taught a class for all sections of PL479: Leading Organizations through Change. He shared his Strategic Plan with cadets and spoke of his own experience in leading change at West Point. The cadets were very impressed and especially so since the SUPE had volunteered to come to teach that session. LTG Caslen's approach demonstrated in practical terms the course concepts we have been studying all semester.

Eight cadets and two officers had the opportunity to learn from our country’s current and future business leaders over the weekend from 8 - 10 March. Cadets from the Behavioral Sciences and Leadership Department’s Black and Gold Leadership forum, under the guidance of MAJs Brian Montgomery and Mike Rybacki, traveled to New York City for a series of discussions and interactions with business leaders. The mission of the Black & Gold Leadership Forum is to build stronger leaders for our Army by providing Cadets the opportunity to engage with prominent leaders and leadership thinkers from all walks of life. The trip began with a visit to the 9/11 Museum. Afterwards, the cadets engaged in a character leadership discussion with the Honorable Richard Greco Jr. (former Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Finance, White House Fellow, and CEO of Filangeri Capital). Next, the forum interacted with various leaders from the banking industry. The cadets enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with USMA graduates from the Classes of 2004, 2005, and 2007 while visiting Barclays and Credit Suisse. In addition to the USMA graduates at the banks, they interacted and discussed leadership with Managing Directors, Vice Presidents, and Senior Associates who provided unique contextual leadership lessons from the banks senior levels. On the final day of the trip, the cadets engaged in a question and answer session with the Strategy Division of transportation startup named Railex. The cadets who participated in the trip to New York City had an incredible opportunity to sit down with various leaders and discuss the importance of effective leadership in many different environments. The members of the Black & Gold Leadership Forum returned to West Point acknowledging the importance of having educated and character driven officers to lead Soldiers in today’s Army.

Dr. Jason Moss and Mr. Rodney Long from the Army Research Laboratory--Human Research and Engineering Directorate (ARL-HRED) in Orlando, FL visited PL488E to work with cadets on Distributed Learning Systems. Cadets assessed the usability and training potential of 4 systems including 1) Playbook, a Rapid Authoring Tool to Promote Social Learning of Small Unit Observations, 2) an ARES Sand table for war-gaming, 3) a Social Media Framework system and 4) Milsuite, a military version of Facebook and Youtube.

Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering

K’NEXercise – Building Construction Managers! Cadets enrolled in CE450, Construction Management, competed in the K’NEXercise on Wednesday, 11 March 2015. The competition requires teams of cadets to prepare estimates, bids, and construction schedules, and then execute the construction of the awarded project using rapid setting concrete and K’NEX components. The cadets complete the project by preparing a claim for the courts to hear to resolve issues that cost the team time and money on the day of construction. The winning teams in the Tower, Bridge and Hall projects were led by Cadets AR Al-Hanzab, Andy Wing, and Jake Tyer, respectively.

2015 USMA Civil and Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board Meetings. On Friday, 6 March 2015, the Department of Civil & Mechanical Engineering hosted its annual Civil and Mechanical Engineering ABET Advisory Boards. These boards were established and are maintained as a requirement for the CE and ME Programs’ ABET accreditation. Distinguished practitioners representing the constituencies of the Civil and Mechanical Engineering Programs, external academic institutions, and senior Army and government officials attended the meetings to advise and assist the two programs. The board members met with focus groups of cadets and faculty members, considered various issues presented to them, and provided feedback to the CME Department leadership.