DCA Update - Competitive Clubs

Cycling:

• This past weekend, the West Point Cycling Team participated in the first Mountain Race of the season at the Northeastern Wild Western Mass in Dalton, MA
• The team did exceptionally well, and there were breakout performances from all
• The team’s AF Exchange, CDT Ellen Barry (‘17), in Women B’s Cross Country, and CDT Daniel Forquer (‘17) in Men B’s Cross Country, had stand out performances
• This week, the team heads to Colorado Springs for the 2015 Collegiate Track Cycling Nationals

Equestrian:

• Over Labor Day Weekend, the West Point Equestrian Team was invited to attend the Canadian Pacific $1 Million Grand Prix in Saugerties, NY
• The $1 Million Grand Prix is a show jumping competition where riders from all of the world race through a challenging jump course
• The event was a thrilling experience to watch and to be a part of for both veteran riders, and new spectators of the sport
• Before the show, nine members of the West Point Equestrian Team participated in the opening ceremony
• The cadets marched on the course and presented the National Colors
• The cadets were joined by some members from the West Point Band, including Master Sergeant Mary Kay Messenger, who made a short presentation of patriotic songs and the National Anthem
• Additionally, distinguished guests accompanying the cadets included COL Batchelder, LTC Picanelli, and LTC Stasevich

Orienteering:

• From 11 - 13 Sept., the United States Military Academy Orienteering Team conducted its annual Orienteering Skills Workshop at the Lake Frederick Recreation Area at West Point
• The team trained more than 100 local Boy Scouts, as well as Civil Air Patrol Cadets, on land navigation skills, helping them complete 80% of the tasks required to earn their orienteering merit badge
• As a result of this event, the Orienteering Team gained experience in hosting orienteering events, improved their orienteering course setting skills, and cultivated a positive relation-ship with the local community

Hobby Clubs

Obstacle Course Team:

• On 12 Sept., the West Point Obstacle course team travelled to Vernon, NJ, to participate in the NJ Super Spartan
• The team performed extremely well, with over half of the team placing in the top 5 of their division
• CDTs Josh Bassette (‘16) and Danny Camacho (‘16) took 2nd and 3rd overall, as well as 1st and 2nd respectively in their division
• CDT Shaina Cross (‘16) was the second overall female finisher, and was first in her division
• CDT Eric Zenger (‘17) finished 11th overall, and third in his division (just behind Bassette and Camacho)
• Overall the team had 10 of 15 participants finish in the top five in their division

Soccer:

• On 12 Sept., the Army West Point Cadet Soccer Club was honored to accept an invitation from the NY Cosmos to take part in a Charity Match in aid of 9/11 charities, and the Wounded Warrior Project
• The Cadets played an All Star Team from the NYPD & FDNY as part of “Heroes Night”, raising money for soccer scholarships at Hofstra University in honor of a comrades of the NYPD/FDNY who sacrificed their lives to save others at the World Trade Center
• The Club was able to meet the NY Cosmos and former Real Madrid star forward, Raul, as well as other members of the squad before meeting and greeting members of the crowd
• CIC CDT Jeffery Weller and CDT Cameron Giles presented an Army West Point Soccer Club jersey to the NY Cosmos on behalf of the Class of 2018; in turn, they were presented with a commemorative jersey by the NY Cosmos

Sailing:

• On 12 Sept., the Army Sailing Team attended the 14th Annual Spirit Rider Regatta in East Rockaway, NY
• The Spirit Rider Regatta, sponsored by the O’Keefe Foundation, is held on the weekend of 9/11 in hon-or of Firefighter Patrick O’Keefe, a member of FDNY who died in Tower 1 on that day
• The Army crew of six, all entirely new to offshore sailing, joined NYC attorney Adam Feder on his boat and placed second in the collegiate division
• On Sunday, the team joined Navy Midshipmen and other service members in a ceremony honoring first responders who lost their lives on 9/11

Religious Clubs

Catholic Chapel Choir:

• On 12 Sept., the Cadet Catholic Chapel Choir, led by CDT Lorraine Arial, travelled with 32 cadets to Avalon, NJ, for the 33rd consecutive year
• The Catholic Choir shares in the musical liturgy in three different services with over 4,000 members of the St. Brendan, the Navigator parish, and many visitors who travel every year from as far away as Florida for this event
• The Catholic Choir was also joined by the Protestant Cadet Chapel Choir for a joint music ministry at the 5:00 p.m. Mass on Saturday
• In addition, this year was the last trip for the Director, Meredith Baker, who was making her final visit to St. Brendan’s Parish after being the Choir Director for 24 years
• In honor of Meredith’s retirement, the Mayor of Avalon honored her with a Proclamation summarizing her 24 years of service to Avalon and the United States Military Academy

Protestant Chapel Choir:

• On 11 Sept., the Cadet Chapel Choir travelled to Avalon, NJ, for a series of choral performances
• On the afternoon of 12 Sept., they joined the cadets of the Most Holy Trinity Catholic Chapel Choir in celebrating Mass at the Saint Brendan, the Navigator Catholic Church in Avalon
• The following morning, the Cadet Chapel Choir sang for the Sunday service at the United Methodist Church of Avalon, where the cadets were welcomed by the pastor and praised for their dedications to the ideal of service to the community
• Worshipers were then treated to sacred and traditional hymns, including Mansions of the Lord, and the Battle Hymn of the Republic

Support Clubs

Glee Club:

• On Friday, 11 Sept., the West Point Glee Club travelled to New York City, in order to perform in a joint concert with the West Point Band at Trinity Wall Street Church
• This joint musical has become an annual tradition at the historic church, just blocks from ground zero, and has taken place among the other tributes to the heroism and sacrifice of 9/11
• As part of the Lower Manhattan Patriot Day activities, the cadets presented a collection of works that celebrate sacrifice, duty and service to comrades-in-arms and the community, and the fleeting nature of itself
• By the time of the performance, all of the pews of the church were filled to capacity
• The sounds of patriotic music on this significant day attracted dozens of more people passing by the church in the midst of their daily routines
• After the performance, the cadets were approached by several audience members, and conversed about serving on such a memorable day
• The broad attraction to the Club and the USMA Band, served to strengthen USMA outreach to New York City, helped spread the message of West Point, and placed an Army imprint on the solemnity of the day

Pipes and Drums:

• From 12 - 13 Sept., cadets from Pipes and Drums travelled to Governor's Island, NY, to support the National Park Service program at Fort Jay and the local community
• As the first performance trip of the 47th performance sea-son, the band welcomed and introduced several new members to the group
• The trip served as an opportunity to inspire the public, share cultural values of Celtic tradition, relate with civil-military communities, and to promote the history of Governor's Island
• The trip also served to bring together new functions within the band to prepare for the upcoming competition season at various Highland Games, to include the 2015 Central Virginia Scottish Games, and the annual “Battle of the Bands” against Navy

Academic Clubs

Civil & Military Engineering:

• On 12 Sept., 90 cadets from the West Point Civil and Military Engineering club travelled to Jackson, NJ, to take a tour of Six Flags Great Adventure
• At Six Flags Great Adventure the cadets had the opportunity to see the engineering involved in the designing, building and operating of modern roller coasters
• Mr. Larry Chickola, lead engineering for Six Flags, who provided an evening lecture back in March 2015 to the club, gave the club a behind the scenes tour of the park, and the chance to experience the rides in person
• The tour gave the cadets a better appreciation for project management, multi-disciplinary design, structural design, and energy analysis
• Additionally, Mr. Chickola discussed how ideas proceeded from ideas to reality, and how they dealt with the unforeseen hitches during the construction and operation

Portuguese Club:

• On 9 Sept., the West Point Portuguese Club travelled to New York City, to participate in the Brazilian Independence Day Commemoration with the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce
• The trip was a great success; not only did the cadets en-gage in conversation with native speakers of Portuguese, but also found themselves communicating with leaders in business, politics, military, and the United Nations
• The venue proved to be both accessible and conducive to conversation, as well as meeting new people

Russian Club:

• On 13 Sept., 14 cadets from the Russian Language Club travelled to Hyde Park, NY, to attend the Mid-Hudson Russian Community Association’s Annual Picnic
• All participating cadets were exposed to a variety of Russian cultural activities and traditions
• Cadets with intermediate and advanced language proficiency were provided a great opportunity to immerse themselves completely in Russian language
• The cadets developed a greater understanding of the Russian émigré community in the United States, and increased local awareness and appreciation for USMA’s mission

Cadet Programs

Upcoming Book Signings

18 September - 1200 - 1330; 4th Floor Eisenhower Hall

• Henry V. O’Neil, author of Glory Main and Orphan and Dire
• Susan Spieth, author of Gray Girl and Area Bird
• Brad Anderson, author of Ribbon Falls, After the Falls, Guardians I,II & III, and The Janus Project

2 October - 0930 - 1130 at the Book Store

• Daniel Sjursen, author of Ghost Riders of Baghdad
• 9 October - 1100-1600 at the Book Store
• Roger Miller, author of West Point: An Inside Look At the Long Gray Line
• Elaine Byre, author of Be Safe Love Mom

19 October - 0930 to 1130 at the Book Store

• Martin King and Michael Collins, co-authors of The Fighting 30th Division

Cadet Hostess:

The Hostess Office introduced the first Mixology Class on 14 SEP with mixologists from BIN 94 and cadets from Company D-4. Each of the 24 cadets worked with their own set of barware to make four classic cocktails. The mixing, shaking and measuring looked like a science experiment!