Wounded Warrior CPT Edward “Flip” Klein Engages Cadets about Leadership in PL300 On 29 September 2014, BS&L Alumnus CPT Edward “Flip” Klein visited the department, engaged with faculty from BS&L and the Simon Center, and taught cadets in PL300 (Military Leadership). The topic was power and influence. CPT Klein discussed his experiences as a platoon leader, leadership instructor at the Infantry School, combat commander in Afghanistan, and wounded warrior. Cadets learned that one’s use of power and influence reveals one’s character, and that they should strive to use various types of power in ways that make them increasingly trusted and influential. Too often, leaders use power in ways which get short term results, but only undermine their long-term influence.
Leaders from NYC Google Campus met with BS&L Management majors Leaders from Google’s NYC campus joined Cadets in the Management program’s Human Resource Management course on 3 October 2014. The Google leaders discussed how their firm selects and manages talent and develops organizational culture to support its strategy and create an enduring competitive advantage. Cadets have been discussing recruitment, selection, training and development in class. They were able to discuss how these processes occur in an organization that receives 2 million resumes per year and has doubled in personnel each of the last 10 years.
On Tuesday 7 October, cadets enrolled in HI358 Strategy, Policy, and Generalship culminated their study of the First World War, Inter-war Period, and Second World War with a trip section to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Home, Museum, and Presidential Library in Hyde Park. Museum staff helped the cadets analyze a number of primary documents from the library and provided a tour of the home, while Major Jonathan Heist led a colloquium on US generalship during World War II. Having focused on American strategic decision-making throughout this period, this visit deepened the cadets’ understanding of both the challenges faced by America’s political and military leaders during the Second World War and their responses to those challenges.
On 8 October Major Dan Horst and Captain Nathan Jennings led eleven cadets on a historical tour of the West Point Cemetery. The event began with lunch and a discussion of the rich individual and institutional histories represented in the cemetery by Colonel Ty Seidule in the Clausewitz Room. Cadets then travelled to the cemetery where they learned the history of the Old Cadet Chapel, along with the fascinating stories of the significant persons buried on the premises.
On 8 and 9 October, Lieutenant Colonel Jason Musteen, Major David Musick, and Major Stuart Peebles conducted a West Point fortifications staff ride with more than 60 cadets from HI301X History of the Military Art Cadets played the roles of key figures from the American Revolutionary War, while they toured Constitution Island, Fort Putnam, and other important redoubts and batteries around West Point.
Semester Abroad Program (SAP) / Academic trip sections: Spanish: Cadet Valerie Kutsch completed the final ruck march with third-class cadets during the Spanish Military Academy cadet summer training program. USMA Cadets participated with third year cadets of the Spanish Military Academy to experience a portion of their summer training. Cadet Kutsch found the experience of working closely with her counterparts in Spain rewarding, and she is excited for the academic semester to begin. The experience has greatly increased her confidence in her language proficiency.
French: Cadets attending SAP at the French Military Academy, Saint-Cyr, joined French cadets for a ceremony in Paris at Les Invalides recently where Saint-Cyrien “bazars” (Plebes) meet their “binomes” (Team Leaders) for the first time. The following is a brief description of the event:
The ceremony began in the Tomb of Napoleon, with the bazars on the lower level – standing quietly with their heads lowered, reflecting on the significance of the tomb and their commitment to being in the French army.
The second class cadets (the class we are with) all gathered around the upper level that looked down upon Napolean’s coffin and the level of the bazars. The bazars were called to attention, did an about face to face the center, and the second class began singing. It was very moving and impressive, especially with the acoustics of the tomb. The singing of the cadets is incredible, especially because they all sing beautifully and in harmony. The second part of the ceremony was conducted in the square of the Musee de l’Armee, and this is when the second class marched forward in front of the formation of bazars, stood in front of their respective bazars, and both the 2nd class and 3rd class (bazars) sang a song together.
German: The West Point Cadets abroad in Austria finished their field training exercise in late September. During the graduation ceremony, they met the Austrian Chief of Defense, General Othmar Commenda. General Commenda assumed his current post in July of 2013.
Cadets Deliver Presentations at Mid-Hudson Philosophical Society Meeting In the Haig Room on Saturday, 27 September, DEP’s philosophers (both faculty and cadets) hosted the inaugural meeting of the Mid-Hudson Philosophy Society (MHPS). The Society brings together philosophy faculty and undergraduate majors from West Point and four regional institutions: Bard College, SUNY New Paltz, Marist College, and Vassar College. The morning session began with a welcome to the 45 attendees from acting Dean, COL Eugene Ressler, and West Point MHPS sponsor, Professor Robert Tully, followed by a lecture on David Hume’s concept of probability, given by Professor Don Garrett, Chair of NYU’s Department of Philosophy. At the afternoon session, four APL cadets gave original and lively presentations: CDTs Nick Cale, Brad Hodgkins, Zach Hoffman and Sam Kolling (pictured). In between presentations, the visitors dined in the Mess Hall and enjoyed cadet-guided tours. The Society will meet annually in rotation. Next year’s gathering will be at Vassar
West Point Writing Center Provides Writing Assistance to Cadets Enrolled in Eleven Core Courses In its third year of operation, the West Point Writing Center (WPWC) has conducted over 200 peer consultations since opening last month, with 156 individual cadets requesting appointments. The 24 Writing Fellows who conduct the consultations are enrolled in EP490 (Writing Process, Argument, and Pedagogy), an independent-study elective offered by the Department of English and Philosophy, the gateway seminar for its Writing Fellows Program. The WPWC provides service to all interested Cadets enrolled in all core courses; thus far this semester, Cadets have sought assistance for assignments in 11 separate core courses. The WPWC will remain open for the duration of the academic year.
The New York County District Attorney (Manhattan), Cyrus Vance, third from left, visited West Point on 15 October. Mr. Vance visited the Department of Law and led class discussions in the courses Criminal Law and Introduction to Legal Studies. He and his chief of staff, Jeff Schlanger, briefed faculty members on the work of prosecutors in New York. Mr. Vance's presentations to cadets concerned how he decides to prosecute cases and how, in some instances, he agrees to release from prison innocent people that he believes were wrongly convicted. (Also pictured are NYPD Detective Ray Winslow, second from left, and DA Vance’s Chief of Staff Jeff Schlanger, third from right).
EV471 - Ecology Students Visit the Wolf Conservation Center On Tuesday, 7 Oct 14 Environmental Science majors of the Class of 2015 visited the Wolf Conservation Center (WCC) in New Salem, NY as part of their EV471 Ecology field trip. The WCC was established to promote wolf conservation by teaching about wolves, their relationship to the environment, and the human role in protecting their future. The WCC accomplishes its mission through onsite and offsite education programs emphasizing wolf biology, the ecological benefits of wolves and other large predators, and the current status of wolf recovery in the United States. Environmental Science majors were exposed to all sides of the issue to include wolf biology, habitat requirements, and issues for and against the reintroduction of wolves.
Domestic Affairs Forum to CFR: On 10 October 2014, a group of ten cadets from the Domestic Affairs Forum ventured to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City to attend a panel discussion titled, "The Sunni-Shia Divide" featuring NPR foreign correspondent Deborah Amos and dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies Dr. Vali Nasr. Cadets joined an interdisciplinary audience of undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty from all over the tri-state area. Not only did the panelists contextualize the long and contentious religious history between Sunni and Shia Muslims, Amos and Nasr also offered astute observations on the current state of affairs in the Middle East, particularly Iraq, Syria, and ISIS. Following the discussion, Cadets had time to mingle with their civilian counterparts from nearby universities and interact with CRF staff and fellows. Trip sections like this allow cadets to share their insights and perspectives with civilians, meet the Superintendent's intent for continued engagement with institutions and organizations in New York City, and enrich their academic experience. The cadets absolutely enjoyed themselves and appreciated the opportunity to visit the prestigious Council on Foreign Relations.