tHe marCH 12, 2015 Vol. 72, no. 10 duty, Honor, Country PointerView serVinG tHe u.s. military aCademy A run to remember and tHe Community oF west Point marCH 12, 2015 1 ® ® Army Crew conducts first Golden Oar ceremony, run Story and photos by Mike Strasser Assistant Editor T he Army Crew team’s Golden Oar ceremony and run was established March 2 to honor the memory of U.S. Military Academy graduates and rowers who have been killed in action, wounded in action or have inspired others through their dedication to living the Army Values. Nearly 100 members of the Army Crew family and guests gathered at Battle Monument to reflect on the lives of Lt. Col. Jaimie Leonard (USMA Class of 1997), Capt. Matthew Carpenter (USMA Class of 2003) and retired Capt. Sam Brown (USMA Class of 2006). Leonard was killed in action June 8, 2013, while serving with the 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, in Sharana, Afghanistan. Carpenter, who served and deployed as an Armor officer in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2009 and died Dec. 1, 2010. Brown was wounded in action while serving as a rifle platoon leader deployed to the Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. In September 2008, his patrol was struck by an IED and he suffered burns to over 30 percent of his body. During the inaugural run from Trophy Point to the Army Crew docks, participants carried oars, and runners at the front of formation carried the Golden Oar which bears the names of the three former crew members. This heralds a new team tradition that no Army oar will enter the water for the spring season until they stop and reflect on the sacrifices of their predecessors. The boats used by Army Crew bear the names of former teammates, a fact that never dawned on Class of 2016 Cadet Jordan Duran when she was a plebe. She didn’t know who they were and never gave thought to the graduates who had gripped the same oars she trains and competes with every day. Duran, the Golden Oar cadet-in-charge, wanted to change that by creating an event that would recognize this inspirational legacy. “No one had really explained to me how outstanding these individuals were and when I did learn who they were I knew this was something our team needed to recognize,” Duran said. “Not only that, it deserves to be recognized at least once a year and what better time then when we transition from our hard winter training into the spring season, which is our most competitive season.” During the ceremony, Army Crew was often referred to as a family. Later, Duran explained that anyone on Army Crew would attest that being on this team has been a defining part of their West Point experience. “I know you can say that about a lot of sports At the end of the ceremony, cadets bow their heads in a moment of silence to reflect and honor the sacrifices made by members of Army Crew. The inaugural Golden Oar Run started at Trophy Point and ended at the boathouse as Army Crew honored former members in a ceremony March 2, beginning a new tradition. and teams, but I think we are very much a family here,” she said. “There’s nothing individual about what we do. When we go out to compete, we leave it all out in the water. You do everything in your power to make sure those people are successful out there because they are your brothers and sisters. We get in the boat together, row together and finish the race together.” Duran said part of their identity as Army Crew comes from those who trained and raced before them. The varsity men’s captain, Class of 2015 Cadet Courtland Adams, also spoke at the ceremony about what it means to be a part of this family. “Our rowers are fighting for more than just victory on the race course. We are synchronized by our commitment to serve,” he said. “We row for more than just each other. And we never forget the men and women who have sacrificed before us.” Perhaps the most memorable part of the ceremony was the number of family and friends in attendance who personally knew the three honored graduates. “They were the most important people at the event,” Duran said. “To share this reflective moment with their families, friends and coaches, to recognize how much we appreciate all that they did ... it just makes the bonds we share that much stronger.” Maj. Brian Forester, varsity men’s team head coach, prepared the tribute to Carpenter and Brown. Carpenter’s wife, son, parents and siblings were all present for the ceremony. Women’s Coach Jen Kiesling, Lt. Col. Matt Kemkes and Melissa Sims contributed to the tribute for Leonard. Kemkes was a classmate and close friend of Leonard, who was the godmother of his daughter. Kiesling, affectionately known as “Coach K,” has been with Army Crew for more than 20 years and is the only coach remaining with the program since Leonard was part of the team. With painful winds off the Hudson whipping snow drifts into the faces of the huddled crowd, it was a particularly brutal afternoon to run. Leonard would have thought it perfect, Sims, her friend and teammate, said. “When I was partially carrying the Golden Oar during the run I thought to myself, ‘Oh, my God, this is so Jaimie.’ The weather is completely awful and it was a tough run but she was all about that,” Sims said. “She would have loved it; absolutely thrived in it because she would have excelled in it.” Sims, who works for the National Parks See GOLDEN OAR, PAGE 7 News & Features 2 March 12, 2015 Pointer View Think safety during spring break We encourage all members of the West Point community to enjoy the upcoming special observances in March through July with appropriate planning and awareness of the unexpected. Spring break is a great time for the Corps to relax, hang out with friends and enjoy time off from West Point; but it has also become notorious for traveling to party spots and engaging in risky behaviors. That being said, just because spring break is associated with risky behaviors, it doesn’t mean you have to put yourself at risk. You can have just as much fun being safe and you lessen your chances of ending up in the hospital, or worse. Follow the rules of the road. Never get behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking or ride with someone who has been drinking. Ensure seat belts are always used and used properly. Never use cell phones while driving unless they are “hands free.” Use TRiPS (https://crc. army.mil) and apply Composite Risk Management to your planning. Ensure your vehicles are in good working condition, especially during long vacation periods. Stay alert and watch for hazards along the roadways such as deer and other animals. Enjoy your holiday without taking unnecessary risks. As we move into the summer season, we will spend more time outdoors; now is a good time to prepare for safe barbecue operations. Look out for other members of our Army team—Soldiers, civilians, cadets and their families. Together, we can save lives. —Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr. USMA Superintendent Drinking Responsibly 1. Spring break is not an excuse to drink excessively or drink more than you normally would. Drink no more than one drink per hour and alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic drinks. Eat a real meal before drinking and snack throughout the time you are drinking. 2. Watch your drink. Watch your drink being made, do not accept a drink from anyone else and keep your drink in hand. If your drink is out of sight for even a moment, throw it out and get a new one. Keep your hand over your cup or your thumb over the top of your bottle. Date rape drugs, such as GHB and Rohypnol, could be placed in your drink while you are distracted to facilitate rape or other crimes. 3. Use the buddy system. Watch out for your friends and ask that they watch out for you. Make it a rule to never leave without anyone you came with. 4. Always make sure there is a designated, non-drinking driver if you are drinking. If your designated driver takes a drink, they are no longer your designated driver. Call a cab. 5. Know the signs of alcohol poisoning. Sun Safety Tips 1. Wear sunscreen with a “sun protection factor” (SFP) of at least 15 (higher if you burn easily or are taking medications that increase risk of sunburn). Remember to reapply the sunscreen after swimming, sweating and after the recommended time on the bottle. Wear sunscreen even if it is cloudy and definitely if you are doing any activity in the snow (skiing, snowboarding, etc.). 2. Wear sunglasses. The FDA has implemented a system to help you decide which type of lens is best to block out harmful UV rays A and B: • Cosmetic: provides the least protection and is for those activities conducted in indirect light. Less than 60 percent of visible light, 70 percent of UVB rays, and only 20 percent of UVA rays are blocked. • General Purpose: adequate for most outdoor activities. 60-92 Pointer View ® The Army civilian enterprise newspaper, the Pointer View, is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of the Pointer View are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of the Army or West Point. The Pointer View ® is an unofficial publication authorized by AR 360-1. The editorial content of the Pointer View is the responsibility of the West Point Public Affairs Office, Bldg. 600, West Point, New York 10996, (845) 938-2015. The Pointer View is printed weekly by the Times Herald-Record, a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Army, under exclusive contract with West Point. The Times Herald-Record is responsible for all commercial advertising. Road Trip Tips 1. Before driving to your destination, have your car checked out by a mechanic to ensure it can make a long trip. 2. Always keep your car doors locked and your windows up high enough that no one can reach in. 3. Drive on heavily-traveled highways and avoid making your way too far off of the interstate. Being lost decreases your vigilance and increases the possibility that you could become the victim of a crime. 4. Don’t pick up hitchhikers or stop for anyone on the side of the road. You never know who the person might be or what they are capable of doing if they sense an opportunity for personal gain. 5. If you have car trouble, especially if you are driving alone, stay in your car with your doors and windows locked and call police for assistance. Be wary of individuals who stop to help. 6. Do not allow anyone in the car to drink alcohol. Many states have open container laws that prohibit any person in a car from drinking alcohol. 7. If you are tired, trade-off drivers or stop for the night. A night in a motel is cheaper than the potential costs of falling asleep at the wheel. You can also stop at a rest stop to nap, but make sure you keep your doors locked. Rest stops are available on U.S. highways every couple of hours. Some states may restrict the length of time one can stay at a rest stop. 8. Follow the rules of the road. Never get behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking or ride with someone who has been drinking. Ensure seat belts are always used and used properly. Never use cell phones while driving unless they are “hands free.” Use TRiPS (https://crc.army.mil) and apply Composite Risk Management to your planning. Ensure your vehicles are in good working condition, especially during long vacation periods. Stay alert and watch for hazards along the roadways such as deer and other animals. percent of visible light, 99 percent of UVB, and 60 percent of UVA rays are blocked. • Special Purpose: especially useful on tropical beaches and ski slopes. 97 percent of visible light, 99 percent of UVB, and 60 percent of UVA rays are blocked. 3. Wear protective clothing and hats. 4. Follow the shadow rule: If your shadow is shorter than you are, the sun’s rays are at their strongest, and you are likely to be sunburned. Get out of the sun or limit your exposure. 5. Avoid mid-day sun. The sun’s rays are most intense between 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 6. Drink lots of water to avoid dehydration if you are in the sun. 7. Read the complete instructions for, or talk to your pharmacist about, any medication you are taking. Some medications, especially antibiotics, increase the possibility of Beat the heat by staying hydrated. File Photo sun damage and rashes. 40 Mulberry Street, Middletown, NY 10940 To subscribe to the Pointer View or if you have delivery problems, call 845-346-3118. Eric S. Bartelt PV Managing Editor, 938-2015 Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen, Jr. Mike Strasser Superintendent PV Assistant Editor, 938-3079 Lt. Col. Webster Wright Kathy Eastwood Public Affairs Officer PV Staff Writer, 938-3684 The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement of the products or services advertised by the U.S. Army or the Times Herald-Record. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. A confirmed violation or rejection of this policy of equal opportunity by an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source. Pointer View March 12, 2015 3 Class of 2018 takes charge of Plebe-Parent Weekend By Class of 2018 Cadet Christian Bledsoe Contributing Writer Ring Weekend, 500th Night, Yearling Winter Weekend and 100th Night have all come and gone. Plebe-Parent Weekend is here and now is the time for the Class of 2018 to celebrate. Each year, plebes are given the opportunity to invite guests to a weekend where we showcase what we have been doing for the past nine months. Plebes will have the chance to guide family and friends through their barracks, classrooms and to the different military and physical demonstrations on Friday and Saturday. Plebes will also demonstrate their etiquette and professionalism during the parade and a banquet, during which Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson, commander of XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and Class of 1981 graduate, will be introduced as our honored guest speaker for the night. Plebes will not only escort family and friends around post this weekend, but they are also in charge of regulating and maintaining standards and discipline through a plebe chain of command. Many hold this opportunity as perhaps the most important aspect of Plebe-Parent Weekend; a time to hone our professional discipline and practice peer leadership. Class of 2018 Cadet Christopher Bingham, class president, often serves as the face of our class, yet this weekend different fourth-class cadets were chosen after a rigorous board process to hold leadership positions from the company to regimental levels. Cadets Madison Ruppel and Johnathan Cheatham will lead the class as the regimental commander and regimental sergeant major, respectively. Ruppel is excited to show everyone that the Class of 2018 can live up to the high expectations placed on them. “2018 is a class with amazing spirit and Plebe-Parent Members of the Class of 2018 serving as the regimental staff for Plebe-Parent Weekend are busy making preparations as they welcome family and friends to West Point this weekend. Photo By Class of 2015 Cadet Meghan Wentz/USCC PAO Weekend will give us the opportunity to showcase that,” Ruppel said. “I am excited to see 2018 lead, do what is right and represent our academy and the United States Army with pride.” Ruppel echoes the sentiments of many who believe this to be a special class, and this is our first chance to demonstrate to academy leadership, upper classes, parents and guests that we belong here and will undoubtedly achieve greatness. “To the class, this weekend will be a great one—an opportunity to show all critics that the Class of 2018 can handle business and perform beyond expectations,” Cheatham said. “To the parents, having spent these past few months with your sons and daughters, I can honestly say that they are among some of the best future leaders I have observed in my experiences.” Plebe-Parent Weekend is a fantastic opportunity for plebes to reconnect with loved ones, and to show those outside what West Point is all about. And to the Class of 2018, we are nine months into our 47-month experience … let’s make the most of every day and continue to pursue excellence. With Strength We Lead. Visit the West Point Parents page for details about the PlebeParent Weekend at www.usma.edu/parents/SitePages/Home. aspx. West Point celebrates Women’s History Month By Kathy Eastwood Staff Writer The theme for the annual Women’s History Observance Month was “Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives,” and the West Point community celebrated this March 5 at the West Point Club. Maj. Gen. Camille M. Nichols, Office of Business Transformation director and U.S. Military Academy Class of 1981 graduate, was the guest speaker and focused on the history of women in the military. Nichols served in the Women’s Army Corps because her main goal was to continue her education. She soon found out she wasn’t private material because she had leadership qualities of an officer, and she was told by her sergeant to apply to West Point and attend the preparatory school as they were starting to accept women. She took his advice. Nichols said women have played a vital role and continue to be invaluable and a central part of the total Army. “Women have served in the U.S. Army since 1775 and these women, both in uniform and civilian, have served with distinction in every war this nation has fought,” Nichols said. “In the early years of the Revolutionary War, women have stepped forward to sit alongside of men for the cause of freedom; they tended the sick, mended clothes, served as spies and stood with men on the battlefield.” Margaret Corbin, during the battle of Fort Washington in New York in 1776, went with her husband onto the battlefield. Corbin’s husband John had the task of loading a cannon–with Corbin’s help. When John was killed, she continued firing the cannon. Corbin was seriously injured, but survived and joined an invalid regiment at West Point where she performed tasks such as cooking and laundry with other wounded Soldiers. In 1926, Corbin’s remains were reburied with full military honors at West Point, the only Revolutionary war veteran honored in this way. “Corbin received a military pension from Congress,” Nichols said. “Dr. Mary Edwards Walker received a Medal of Honor for her services in the Civil War, the first and only woman to receive this honor.” Women like Mary Marshall and Mary Allen, nurses aboard Commodore Stephen Decatur’s ship in the War of 1812, or Elizabeth Newcom who enlisted in Company D of the Missouri Volunteer Infantry as Bill Newcom and marched 600 miles from Missouri to Pueblo, Colorado, before she was discovered as a woman and summarily discharged were also instrumental in helping with the war effort. “Women served in the Nurses’ Corps, Signal Corps and Women’s Army Corps serving as nurses and manning radios at the D-Day Normandy invasion,” Nichols said. “Capt. Viola McConnell, Army nurse in Korea at the start of the conflict, received two Bronze Star medals for her courageous activities.” McConnell was assigned to the U.S. Military Advisory Group to the Republic In addition to speaking at the Women’s History Month luncheon, Maj. Gen. Camille Nichols of the Office of Business Transformation spoke to USMA staff and faculty about resource management during a Leader’s Professional Development at the West Point Club March 5. Photo by Staff Sgt. Vito T. Bryant/USMA Public Affairs of Korea and escorted nearly 700 American evacuees, mostly women and children, from besieged Seoul to Japan. “The Department of Defense has already opened 41,000 positions previously closed by direct combat assignment rules,” Nichols said. “The DOD’s goal is to open nearly 300,000 more positions in 2016.” “Today, more than 171,700 women are on active duty, a far cry from the 4 percent that was allowed by law in 1975. We’ve come a long way, baby.” Pointer View 4 March 12, 2015 Sandberg talks gender disparity in the workforce By Mike Strasser Assistant Editor Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer at Facebook, was guest lecturer March 4 for cadets in the PL300 (Military Leadership) course at Robinson Auditorium. Presented by the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership with the Corbin Forum, Sandberg spoke about diversity, gender equality in the workplace and leadership. Outside of the tech industry— where she got her start as a Google vice president—Sandberg is probably best known as the author and creator of “Lean In”—which includes two editions of the book, the non-profit foundation and ever-expanding movement that just recently recruited NBA stars and other celebrities to promote “Lean In Together,” an online gender equality campaign geared toward men. “Lean In” asks the uncomfortable question: why are women absent from so many positions of leadership? At West Point, she said the core to great leadership is being inclusive, which means knowing how to use the full talents of an organization. She said nowhere in the world is this being accomplished. Sandberg cited that 50 percent of U.S. college graduates in 1981 were women, and yet, after more than three decades 95 percent of Fortune 500 CEO jobs are still held by men. With 5 percent of women leading industry and 20 percent of women representing their states in the Senate, Sandberg said this seems more of a gap than a leap for women. “And we accept that. It’s happened at Facebook, it’s happened in the Army, it’s happened everywhere, that while we are doing a better job getting women in, we are not doing a good job of getting women to the top and to leadership roles,” Sandberg said. “And that’s a shame because we know that diversity of leadership is one of the things that helps organizations perform better.” The Army is currently integrating women into traditionally maledominated roles. For the first time, six women will attend Ranger School this spring, which has a 45 percent pass rate. Though these Soldiers can earn the coveted Ranger tab, they will not be assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment. Sandberg said, even if assigned to an all-male unit, West Point graduates will be working with women. “And no matter what, you will be leading people of all backgrounds and all races. Understanding how to leverage and do the best on diversity will help you grow as leaders and help you outperform,” Sandberg said. Sandberg is passionate about addressing how women undermine their own rise to the top. That wasn’t always a consideration for her. Until five years ago, Sandberg said she never imagined being on stage talking about gender inequality or women’s issues, even though she had little to lose as the COO of Facebook and didn’t consider it brave at all giving a speech. However, before her first TED Talk on “Why we have too few women leaders” in 2010, many had advised her it would be a career-killer. She delivered that speech and more after because of the fact it is really hard to discuss these issues publicly. Illustrating this point, Sandberg told cadets about a conference call with midshipmen—three men, one woman—determined what leadership topic she would present at the Naval Academy. When she mentioned gender, two of the men declined the suggestion because they’ve heard enough about it and it might be boring to the audience. “And then they got off the phone but the woman stayed on and she waited until they were gone and she said to me, ‘Please come talk about this … because we can’t, and you just saw why.’ And I understood why she doesn’t talk about it, I really did,” Sandberg said. As hard as these issues are to discuss, she said the problem doesn’t get better if people refuse to talk about it. “So, I wish this wasn’t necessary, I wish the playing field were level, but it’s not. Women and people of color face barriers, often hidden, often implicit that others don’t face, and the veil of silence does not even the fields and will not get us the best result,” Sandberg said. “The gender leadership gap, 30-something years of women having 50 percent of the entry level jobs, getting to 5 percent of the senior level jobs—that’s because of really deeply-held stereotypes.” She learned from the Naval Academy that 80 percent of the female midshipmen already decide before graduating that they will leave the service. That influences the jobs they take, most often opting for support fields like human resources or public affairs—no less important a career, but not one that typically translates into top-level leadership positions for women. “I am not saying that everyone in this audience wants to be Gen. (Above) Class of 2017 Cadet Emma Spell poses for a photo with Sheryl Sandberg after having a copy of “Lean In” signed b y t h e a u t h o r. ( R i g h t ) Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer, was the guest lecturer March 4 at Robinson Auditorium for the Military Leadership course. The event was hosted by the Department of Social Sciences and Leadership and the Corbin Forum. Photos by Bev Cooper/DPTMS Visual Information Branch Caslen,” Sandberg said referring to USMA’s three-star superintendent. “I know how competitive it is and I know that’s not possible. And I’m also not saying I don’t recognize the reality for the women of this audience that a lot of you who get married will marry men in the military and have two very hard careers to figure out. I get all of that. And a lot of you aren’t sure you want to stay in. But what I’m saying is, you might want to. You might. And just in case, lean in. Don’t leave before you leave. Give yourself the option. Because you can always leave, you can always choose a different path. But if you lean too far back on the way in, you will not have that option. And you take that option away from yourselves right now.” The bias of housework extends to the workplace where women often are responsible for the communal tasks, like note-taking. “I heard here that you take boards … and that the scribes are almost always women,” Sandberg said. “And I heard that when asked why, a group of students said because women have better handwriting. Don’t do that.” Men should step up and be the scribes and take on more of the supportive tasks. It’s a win-win, Sandberg said, because they’ll appear to be team players and outperform their peers while supporting workplace equality at the same time. “In order to change it, you have to be willing to acknowledge these biases, talk about them and correct,” Sandberg said. “You have to be willing to say we might be underestimating her because she’s a woman—and by the way—it’s a hell of a lot easier for you to say that about a woman, whether you’re a man or a woman than it is for her to say that about herself.” Sandberg thanked Col. Diane Ryan for helping to establish Lean In Circles at West Point. The Lean In Foundation promotes these monthly gatherings for men and women worldwide to discuss diversity and equality issues, and provides free online curriculum. She said there are currently more than 21,000 in 97 countries, to include 500 college campuses. “We’d love you to beat Navy— they have 15, you have seven,” Sandberg said. (Editor’s Note: To read more about this lecture, including the Q&A with cadets, visit www.usma. edu/news/SitePages/2015%20 Sandberg%20Lecture.aspx.) Pointer View CADET ACTIVITIES UPDATE Triathlon: The West Point Triathlon team hosted an indoor time trial for the Northeast Collegiate Triathlon Conference (NECTC) March 8 in the team’s state-of-the-art indoor CompuTrainer studio in Cullum Hall. The indoor event was an inclement weather alternate to the duathlon planned at Camp Buckner for the same date. Athletes throughout the NECTC to include Syracuse, Rutgers, Bentley and Yale competed head-to-head on the Central Park time trial simulation. The event was open to the public and there were three non-collegiate athletes who tested their skills on the course. In addition to hosting the event, five West Point cadets raced with Class of 2018 Cadet Paige Dougherty putting down the fastest female time in her first-ever cycling competition. Top collegiate male score went to James Peterson of Bentley University who is also the NECTC conference director. The overall fastest time was set by Richard Ringling who is a West Point Middle School teacher and a volunteer representative for the West Point Triathlon Team. In addition to serving as a great racing event, the indoor TT served as a sanctioned conference qualifier for the USA Triathlon National Championships, April 24, in Clemson, South Carolina. March 12, 2015 5 Cadet Community for Civil-Military Operations: The Cadet Community for Civil-Military Operations (C3MO) sent seven cadets to Tufts University to attend a symposium on Russia Feb. 26-March 1. This symposium covered topics from the Russian economy to the possibility of a nuclear Russian military. This event was hosted by the Alliance Linking Leaders in Education and the Services, or ALLIES, which has a sister chapter at West Point under C3MO. Cadets learned many lessons about U.S. relations with Russia and about its people. This event was the first for many of the cadets that attended, and ignited a curiosity for how the civil sector and the military sector work together and how they could possibly better those relations. Sailing: Army Sailing competed at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, March 7-8, and came from behind to defeat Princeton, Drexel and Stevens Institute, though falling to some sailing powerhouse schools such as New York Maritime and St. Mary’s College. Class of 2017 Cadets Mike Danko and Mike Wegner performed exceptionally well as the wind speeds peaked at above 14 mph. In addition to the regatta, the team attended the Hampton Roads Founders Day Dinner at Fort Eustis, where Dean of the Academic Board Brig. Gen. Timothy Trainor served as the guest speaker. Parachute: The West Point Parachute team worked alongside America’s veterans to help them build their homes Feb. 28-March 1. Cadets moved two veterans’ families into their homes and also began work on a home for a third member of the military through the Habitat for Humanity organization. The team also had the privilege of working beside volunteers from several local high schools who helped build the house. Tae Kwon Do: The Army Tae Kwon Do team competed in their fourth tournament of the Eastern Collegiate Taekwondo Conference season March 1 at Princeton. The team scored 197 points, mathematically eliminating second place Penn State and third place Rutgers from winning the division championship with one tournament left in the season. The Men’s and Women’s beginner teams took home gold, winning their brackets in dominating fashion. The Men’s team of Cadets William Xu, Tom Le and Christian Merrick took home the Gold, coming in first place out of 35 teams with the Women’s team of Cadets Alexandra Baker, Jennifer Lee and Liana Blatnik coming in first place out of 23 team for a third consecutive tournament. Two Men’s black belt teams tied for fifth out of 36 teams, riding strong performances by Cadets Ziwei Peng and Colin Hwang. Hwang had the only knockout of the day with a jump spinning hook kick to the head. Forty cadets are eligible to compete in the singles format tournament at the Taekwondo Collegiate Nationals for a chance to become a national champion. Pointer View 6 March 12, 2015 CADET ACTIVITIES UPDATE Men’s Team Handball: The West Point Men’s Team Handball traveled Feb. 27-29 to the University of North Carolina to participate in the annual Blue Cup Invitational Handball Tournament. The Blue Cup Invitational draws collegiate and club teams from around the country and always provides a competitive pool of teams. The younger “Gold” squad began the weekend taking on the home team, finishing with a tie, and then defeated the University of Virginia soon afterwards with great play by Class of 2017 Cadets Jalen Sweat and Arnold Palmer. The more experience “Black” team defeated both the Ohio State University and Clemson which pitted the Black and Gold teams against each other in the crossover game between the pools. The Black team defeated their less experienced teammates which gave them the opportunity to continue on to the semifinals the following day. Gold moved on in the consolation bracket and defeated both Auburn University and Clemson on Sunday. Black began Sunday morning taking on the defending club national champions, New York Athletic Club, who is a perennial powerhouse and one of West Point’s biggest rivals. Top notch play by Class of 2015 Cadet Coree Aten, team captain, and goalie David Brown kept the game very competitive but Black eventually fell to NYAC 28-25. Climbing: Nineteen cadets from the West Point Climbing team traveled to the Gravity Vault in Chatham, New Jersey, for the 3rd CCS local Climbing Competition Feb. 28. The event drew many collegiate teams from around the Northeast to include Columbia, Rutgers, Yale, RIT, Princeton and Cornell. Class of 2016 Cadet Julian Barker took third place in bouldering and routes, Class of 2015 Cadet Marcie Jhong took third place in bouldering and Class of 2016 Cadet Zhaina Myrzakhonva won the speed event. Debate: The West Point Speech and Parliamentary Debate team won first place at the Berkeley Debate Tournament, which included teams from Stanford, University of Chicago, Brown and others. Cadets Meyer Ungerman and Nathan Hernandez won the varsity division. In the final round they debated Stanford, proposing that a four percent surcharge tax be added to the income tax during times of war. Hernandez won the best speaker of the tournament award. Cadets George Ngoh and D.S. Dalisay won the novice division. The West Point team also won numerous best speaker awards at this tournament: Ngoh (5th Novice Speaker); Dalisay (3rd Novice Speaker); Cadet Robert Laval-Leyva (10th Varsity Speaker); Ungerman (8th Varsity Speaker); Cadet Dalton Combs (5th Varsity Speaker); Hernandez (1st Varsity Speaker). Class of 2018 Cadet Timothy Williams engages FDNY firemen on subterranean tactics during a visit to New York City Feb. 15 with the Small Unit Tactics Club. Cadets discuss subterranean environments with NYC firefighters by Maj. John Spencer Department of Military Instruction The West Point Small Unit Tactics Club visited New York City Feb. 15 with 15 cadets and two faculty members from the Department of Military Instruction to discuss subterranean operation with the New York Fire Department. The Small Unit Tactics Club spent the past three months studying the tactics, techniques, and procedures required to operate in these environments and the trip to NYC was a chance to experience the environment first hand while hearing lessons learned from the firemen. The group began the day by touring the East Side Access Construction site. The East Side Access project is an active construction site being executed by the NYC Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to bring the Long Island Rail Road into a new East Side station that will travel under and connect to Grand Central Terminal. The project is the largest construction site in the United States and just happens to be 160 feet underground. The $11 billion dollar project provided the cadets will a real-life experience of operating in subterranean environments (tunnels, caves, subways and underground railroads). The group was escorted by Bill Goodrich (USMA ’73) who is the executive vice president and senior program executive for the East Side Access project. Goodrich provided advanced perspectives on the magnitude and characteristics of underground infrastructures. The massive tunnel complex was a great opportunity for both cadets and the USMA military instructors. “By studying, researching, and teaching these environments to cadets, the NCOs and officers at USMA are better prepared to return to the operational force where they very well may face these environments and challenges in combat,” Master Sgt. Stanley Burris, DMI senior enlisted advisor, said. The cadets also toured Grand Central Station to gain an understanding of a completed complex infrastructure site containing many levels of subterranean environments. The group was escorted by Metro-North’s Fire Chief Sal Oliva. The tour included active steam tunnels, labyrinths of subway and railway access tunnels, and central power and railroad command/control operation sites. The cadets were escorted the entire day by senior members of the FDNY who shared tactical lessons learned from their experience already running mission in the East Side Access project, Grand Central Station, and numerous other subterranean environments. These lessons included how to communicate, navigate, and conduct casualty evacuation in subterranean environments. The Small Unit Tactics Club includes cadets from every class and the uniqueness of the experience in NYC was appreciated by the entire group. “I think this trip to New York City was very good for our club as a whole,” Class of 2018 Cadet Francis Williams said. “It was the type of information that we could not have gotten just by training in West Point. The FDNY and MTA gave our club valuable insight on how to move and communicate in a subterranean environment.” Class of 2015 Cadet Zachary Lemke is the club’s cadet-incharge, and said the biggest lesson learned from the trip was experiencing the complexity of the underground operating environment. “The FDNY has come up with many creative solutions to the specific problems that subterranean operations present, and we need to apply that same level of creative thinking to our military specific problems,” Lemke said. The cadets plan to take the lessons they collected during their trip and implement them into their continued study of tactics for these environments. The continued dialogue about the requirements for operating in complex urban terrain and subterranean environments will allow the cadets to think about real challenges they may see in the Army’s operating force. Pointer View March 12, 2015 7 CADET ACTIVITIES UPDATEcompete in preparation for Sandhurst Two regiments Story and photo by Kathy Eastwood Staff Writer The Sandhurst squads from 3rd and 4th Regiment, roughly 170 cadets total, participated in the Sandhurst Warrior Challenge March 7 at locations throughout West Point. Squads maneuvered from South Dock and Redoubt 4 to Camp Buckner and Arvin to tackle obstacles at the Indoor Obstacle Course Test, which some say stands for “I Obviously Crave Torture.” The purpose of this challenge was to evaluate each Sandhurst team’s individual and collective tasks and to provide unit readiness indicators for the upcoming Sandhurst Military Skills Competition. “The third and fourth regiments represent 18 teams of nine cadets each,” Class of 2015 Cadet Eric Johnson said. “We compare scores and see where there is a need for improvement.” At the IOCT, cadets are timed to crawl under bars, move through tires, jump, run through hoops, walk on thin boards and rush up a wall. “Instead of having the cadets run the track, they had to climb a rope to the track and carry a litter with a ‘wounded’ Soldier on the litter,” Johnson said. Cadets also competed in marksmanship and physical fitness tests. “The other regiments are conducting assessments, but they are operating independently of each other,” Maj. Ryan Occhiuzzo, Company C-4 tactical officer, said. “We decided to do a double regimental assessment so that we could leverage the Speed, stamina and agility are tested at the Indoor Obstacle Course Test and the squads that will be competing at this year’s Sandhurst Military Skills Competitons will need all three to succeed. resources, staff support and leadership of two entire regiments. We think this will further allow us to execute a more complex and physically/mentally demanding SWC that is expertly planned, thoroughly resourced and properly rehearsed.” The 2015 Sandhurst Competition is scheduled April 10-11 at West Point. Visit www.usma.edu/dmi/SitePages/Sandhurst%20 Competition.aspx to learn more about this year’s event, the history of the Sandhurst Competition and review past results. GOLDEN OAR, cont’d from Page 1 Service in Philadelphia, said when she saw the event flyer posted on Facebook there was nothing going to keep her from attending. “I knew right away I had to be here; I cut a work trip short to be here,” Sims said. “Yeah, I was absolutely coming to this.” Sims said her team had also wrote names of fallen graduates on their shells but didn’t appreciate the significance. How this team decided to honor its graduates in such poignant and respectful fashion, Sims said was very “West Point.” Sims said when old grads say, “The Corps Has,’ it usually means they disagree with the way things have changed at West Point. The saying doesn’t apply at all to this. “I have faith. This absolutely shows that things are getting better,” Sims said. Among the USMA senior leaders participating in the Golden Oar run were Superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen Jr., Col. Jonathan Neumann, Department of Military Instruction director, and Dean of the Academic Board Brig. Gen. Timothy Trainor. “This was very meaningful for me and for all the cadets involved to show how we connect the Long Gray Line throughout time,” Trainor said. “I am so proud how these cadets show their commitment to service and honor those who’ve gone before them, and it’s so heart-warming for me to see how they’ve developed their character and that has clearly been demonstrated by this experience here today.” (Above) With oars held high, the runners gathered outside the boathouse for a group photo to celebrate the inaugural event before heading inside for a reception. (Left) Cadets and honored guests captured the first Golden Oar ceremony with photos March 2 at the docks. Pointer View 8 March 12, 2015 O’Neill H.S. student earns Tae Kwon Do black belt Story and photo by Kathy Eastwood Staff Writer Some might think that many teens spend a lot of time texting friends, listening to their favorite music on their iPod and hanging out at the mall. However, there is at least one teen that is the exception; preferring physical activity and using her fists, hands, feet and elbows to smash boards, concrete or to thwart opponents. Hannah Titlebaum, 17, a high school senior at James I. O’Neill High School in Highland Falls, has been studying Tae Kwon Do since the tender age of 6 and has gone through the ranks to finally achieve her first-degree black belt Feb. 26 at the Lee Area Child and Youth Center. Titlebaum has also been an assistant instructor working with other children including her twin sister Zoe, and her 11-year-old twin brothers Sam and Josh Wosniak for the Schools of Knowledge, Inspiration, Exploration and Skills, or SKIES, Program through the Directorate of Morale, Welfare and Recreation at West Point. “SKIES classes offer a variety of quality program options for children and youth in our community,” Kirsten Rautter, SKIES instructional program specialist, said. “Program options include a variety of dance classes, martial arts, ice skating, tennis, kindergym, guitar lessons and swim lessons.” Other SKIES programs include musical theater, culinary arts, yoga, babysitter training and knitting/crocheting. “My sister was in ballet and I heard about Tae Kwon Do through the youth center. I have always been a bit of a tomboy,” Titlebaum said. “It’s a privilege to train at the school, but it is a lot of work. It’s not just getting a black belt, I want to teach. I like kids and I did teach Tae Kwan Do here, but now it’s official.” Testing for the black belt doesn’t just determine how well you perform; it also includes writing an essay and reading it out loud to the audience for a public speaking exercise and respect training by describing steps as you perform them and developing community programs to give back to the community. Titlebaum’s family has resided in the West Point community for approximately 18 years. Her stepdad is Sgt. Maj. Matthew Wosniak, West Point concert band non-commissioned officer-in-charge. “Throughout high school, Titlebaum has been an active member of the band and chorus and has been selected to participate in the All-Country Band as a French horn player each year,” Rautter said. “Hannah is very active in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program at O’Neill. This year she has the honor of being the JROTC Commander of the program.” Titlebaum also is preparing for college and hopes she can continue to teach Tae Kwon Do in between classes and studying. “I will probably go to Ithaca College because I was accepted there and I have a scholarship,” Titlebaum said. “I want to go into legal studies or gender studies.” Titlebaum and her siblings have been under the instruction of Grand Master Jan Brown who has served as the senior instructor of the West Point youth martial arts program for the past 15 years. “The program is accredited and chartered through the American Chung Do Kwon Limited and Universal Tae Kwon Do Association,” Rautter said. Assisting Hannah in her quest for the black belt was Jeremy Brown, son of the instructor, who received his black belt in 2012. Tae Kwon Do isn’t about combat, but more about form, focus and balance and is strictly used for defense. Tae Kwon Do will enhance flexibility, Tae Kwon Do student Hannah Titlebaum (right), a senior at James O’Neill High School tests for her black belt with partner Jeremy Brown Feb. 26. Titlebaum has been learning the martial arts since the age of 6. body awareness, discipline and mental concentration. The SKIES Tae Kwon Do classes are conducted on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the Lee Area Child and Youth Services facility. Sessions consist of 10 classes in a fiveweek block. New students may enroll throughout the year. For details, call Kirsten Rautter at 845938-8893. Five WPMS students win county poster contest Allison Hanus earns Grand Prize By Domenica Conte WPMS Spanish Teacher West Point Middle School recently announced the names of five students who won the 2015 Annual Countywide Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Prevention Poster Contest. Approximately 1,000 entries were submitted from children throughout Orange County. The winning posters will be presented on tour and displayed in local malls and government offices throughout the country. Winners from West Point Middle School were: Yasmine Bryant (Grade 7), Thai Dodge (Grade 8), Sofia Villarroel (Grade 7) and Jacob Woodruff (Grade 7). Allison Hanus (Grade 8) won the Grand Prize for her Spanish entry. On March 4, the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Council of Orange County visited West Point to announce the local winners. The students will receive their awards in a special ceremony on May 8 at SUNY Orange Newburgh Campus. Allison Hanus holds her Grand Prize-winning Spanish Poster next to Mary Alice Presto, one of the 2015 Poster Contest Coordinators, during the announcement at West Point Middle School March 4. Courtesy Photo Pointer View March 12, 2015 9 West Point participates in “Read Across America” Volunteers from across the community served as “celebrity” readers to West Point Elementary School students in honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday and the National Education Association’s “Read Across America” celebration. Readers ranged from parents to leaders from across the installation, to include Class of 2015 Cadet Larry Dixon (left) and Superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen Jr. (above). Class of 2017 Cadet Nicholas Kim, Company H-4, spearheaded a Partners in Education initiative that marketed this effort to the Corps of Cadets. Groups of cadets read daily, reaching anywhere from two to four classrooms each. West Point Schools Photos Pointer View 10 March 12, 2015 Commandant delivers Founders Day address Story and photo by Kathy Eastwood Staff Writer 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.’” Thomson explained how a former superintendent named George Washington Cullum created the Register of Graduates to track their service. Until 1977, the number actually matched class rank by order of merit, but today, the Cullum numbers are alphabetical. Thomson pointed out how service and sacrifice of the Long Gray Line has built this institution and can be illustrated by three graduates. “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, During his Founders Day address at the Cadet Mess March 5, Commandant Brig. Gen. John Thomson III spoke about some of the famous Cullum numbers attached to noteworthy graduates of the U.S. Military Academy. 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. Thomson spoke about Cullum Number 16,099, a Class of 1946 graduate who originally was supposed to be a member of the Class of 1945, but was turned back for what he described as “a fundamental disagreement with the Mathematics Department.” “He had a really tough time during his Firstie exams in 1945. His dad had just been in a bad car accident and was dying,” Thomson said. “He never really forgave his mom who told him not to visit his bedridden father, so that he could focus on passing his exams. Sadly, George S. Patton IV found out from a newspaper that his father had died.” Patton earned a Silver Star as a tank company commander in Korea, and then commanded the 11th ACR in Vietnam where he earned a Purple Heart, another Silver Star and two Distinguished Service Crosses. 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. “What a great contribution to the foundation of this academy,” Thomson said. No one is quite sure when Founders Day ceremonies began, but according to the Association of Graduates Founders Day Planning Packet, there are records of graduates meeting in March 1902 to celebrate the academy’s centennial while deployed to the Philippines. However, the first regular celebration of Founders Day is attributed to the West Point Society of New York in March of 1914 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, a tradition that continues today. Founders Day is celebrated annually sometime in March around the world, including Afghanistan and Iraq, to take the time to remember where they came, to remember those who have fallen in service, and to reaffirm the traditional values of Duty, Honor, Country, a life of service and sacrifice inherent in choosing “the harder right instead of the easier wrong,” to never to be content with a half-truth when the whole can be won and to look in the future, with a knowledge of the past. Pointer View Community March 12, 2015 11 FEATURED ITEM To download a copy of the Grant application, visit its website at www.westpointspousesclub.com/Community_Outreach_2. html. West Point Civilian Employee Council Meeting The West Point Civilian Employee Council has scheduled its next meeting 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Superintendent’s Conference Room in Taylor Hall. Every full-time, non-bargaining unit civilian employee on West Point, less Title 10 personnel, is a member of the council and invited to attend. The only topics or issues the council will not entertain are individual issues or union-related issues, as these have channels already established to work issues. Anyone wishing to submit a topic/issue for the agenda should send the details to wpcec@usma.edu. Provide a point of contact and contact number in the event clarification on the topic is required. WPSC Scholarship Application Each year, the West Point Spouses’ Club offers scholarships to individuals continuing their education. To be eligible to receive a WPSC Scholarship, an applicant must be a WPSC member or high school senior who is a child of a WPSC member who has joined by Jan. 6, or within 30 days of arrival of West Point, whichever is later. Academic scholarships must be used for payment of tuition and fees associated with an accredited college-level program, continuing education, or training. This is a one-time scholarship opportunity, for both member and high school senior. To download a copy of the scholarship application, visit http://westpointspousesclub.com/Scholarships.html. Army Education Center College courses are offered through the Army Education Center at West Point. Undergraduate classes: • Mount Saint Mary College—Call Shari Seidule at 845446-0535 or email Sharon.Seidule@msmc.edu; • Saint Thomas Aquinas—Call Erica Rodriguez at 845-4462555 or email ERodrigu@stac.edu. Graduate studies: • John Jay College of Criminal Justice–Master’s Degree in Public Administration—Call Jennifer Heiney at 845-446-5959 or email jjcwestpoint@yahoo.com; • Long Island University–Master’s Degrees in School Counseling, Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Counseling—Call Mary Beth Leggett at 845-446-3818 or email marybeth.leggett @liu.edu. The Army Education Center is located at 683 Buckner Loop (between Starbucks and Subway). WPSC Grant Application Each year, the West Point Spouses’ Club raises thousands of dollars to help the West Point community, the surrounding areas and national foundations that support veterans and their families. To download a copy of the Grant application, visit our website at www.westpointspousesclub.com/Community_Outreach_2. html. Army Personnel Testing programs The Army Education Center at West Point offers Army Personnel Testing (APT) programs such as the AFCT, DLAB, DLPT, SIFT through the DA and DLI. Tests are free of charge to Soldiers. Call the Testing Center at 938-3360 or email gwenn.wallace@usma.edu for details or an appointment. EDUCATION and WORKSHOPS DANTES testing The Army Education Center at West Point offers academic testing programs through the Defense Activity for NonTraditional Education Support (DANTES) such as the SAT and ACT. Pearson VUE offers licensing and certification exams. Most tests are free of charge to Soldiers. Call the Testing Center at 938-3360 or email gwenn. wallace@usma.edu for details or an appointment. ANNOUNCEMENTS West Point Spouses’ Club Gift Shoppe The West Point Spouses’ Club has a Gift Shoppe with West Point and military-themed gifts, crafts and memorabilia, perfect for friends, family and colleagues. The Gift Shoppe is inside Bldg. 695 (formally the ITR office), located in the parking lot behind the Cemetery. The Gift Shoppe is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. every Wednesday in March, except this Wednesday during West Point Spring Break. There is also two special openings. The first is 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday at Eisenhower Hall and the second is 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the Gift Shoppe. Range Operations closed DPTMS Range Operations is closed for annual inventories March 19-20. The fire desk will be open for key issue or maintenance support. For details, call Range Operations Officer Alec Lazore at 938-3007. “Little Shop of Horrors” James I. O’Neill High School presents a musical “Little Shop of Horrors,” directed by Donald Kimmel and starring Andrea Cutaia, John Lawson, Erin Proctor and Ron Dodge. The voice of the man-eating plant will be played by Mira Dimitrova-Manning. The performance times are 7 p.m. March 20-21 and 2 p.m. March 22. There is a fee for this event. The 50’s era story revolves around a struggling flower shop whose business is temporarily revived by an unusual plant from outer space. The dark comedy is lightened by doo-wop music and an undercurrent of romance. James I. O’Neill is located at 21 Morgan Farm Road in Highland Falls. Night of the Arts The inaugural “John Calabro Night of the Arts,” celebrating cadet artistic achievement, is scheduled 6 p.m. April 10 in the Haig Room, Jefferson Hall. All cadets are welcome to submit original submissions in the following categories: film, studio arts, photography, prose, poetry and music. Submit all entries or questions to NOTA@usma.edu. All submissions must be received by March 27 for judging. WPSC Grant application Each year, the West Point Spouses’ Club raises thousands of dollars to help the West Point community, the surrounding areas and national foundations, which support veterans and their families. The Grant application deadline has been extended to March 31. All applications must be postmarked by this date. FAST course available The Army Education Center will offer a Functional Academic Skills Training course. The course is designed to strengthen skills needed to improve the General Technical score of the Armed Forces Classification Test. The class will meet at the Army Education Center, Bldg. 683 Buckner Loop (next to Subway) 5-8:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, starting Monday through March 25. Contact Nancy Judd at 938-3464 or Neil Sakumoto at 9385389 for an enrollment form (commander approval required) at your earliest convenience. Ethics of War The Department of English and Philosophy is hosting its second annual “Ethics of War” conference March 27-28. The Ethics of War conference is a project of Villanova Unviersity and West Point. The distinguished speakers include Nigel Biggar, Richard B. Miller, Fiona Robinson, Jeremy Waldron and Michael Walzar. For details and to register, visit www.westpoint.edu/dep. FAST Class in April Raise your GT score. The Army Education Center, 683 Buckner Loop (next to Subway), is offering a Functional Academic Skills Training (FAST) from April 20-May 12. The class meets 12:30-4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Contact Nancy Judd at 938-3464 or Neil Sakumoto at 9385389 for an enrollment form. Commander approval is required prior to April 13. IETD Computer Training Program The Information Education and Technology Division is offering computer courses that include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, computer skills, keyboard typing skills lab, Dell XT3 Tablet, Lenovo Tablet and Apple iPad information system. Most courses are held over three days, 1-4 p.m. TuesdayThursday. Courses are offered to O/Dean Staff and Faculty, and if space permits, to other departments and USMA affiliates (tenant organizations, USMA spouses and volunteers.) Courses are held in Jefferson Memorial Library (Bldg. 758), 4th Floor, Room 414 (IETD Classroom). For details, contact Thomas A. Gorman at 938-1186 or email Thomas.Gorman@usma.edu. OUTSIDE THE GATES Huge Rummage Sale There is a rummage sale for clothes, accessories toys and household items 9 a.m.-1 p.m. March 21 at the Cornwall Presbyterian Church, 222 Hudson Street (Route 218), Cornwallon-Hudson. Food and beverages will be served. Come search for bargains. Call 534-2903 or visit www.CornwallPresbyterian.org for directions and details. Meet Live Snakes The Hudson Highlands Nature Museum presents Snakes Alive! at 10 a.m. March 21. Join environmental educator Pam Golben for this program at the Wildlife Education Center, 25 Boulevard, Cornwall-on-Hudson. For details, visit hhnm.org or call 534-5506, ext. 204. 2nd Infantry Division Veterans The Mid-Atlantic Branch of the Second Indianhead Division Association will host its annual reunion May 1-3 at the Continental Inn in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. All veterans of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division are invited. For details, call Harry Roye at 804-526-0828 or send an email to Hkroye@comcast.net. The West Point ID Card Operations Office will conduct business on an appointment-only basis for all DEERS and ID Card operations. Hours of Operation: 8-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m. To make an appointment, visit https://rapids-appointments. dmdc.osd.mil Time Slots are now available. Call 938-2607 to reserve a slot. For details, call 938-8483. Pointer View 12 marCH 12, 2015 WEST POINT MWR CALENDAR start and finish point is at the Thayer Statue area. FEATURED EVENT Shamrock N’ Roll 5K The MWR Fitness Center presents the Shamrock N’ Roll 5K Saturday. Registration is at 7 a.m., shotgun start at 8 a.m. Wear your best rocker outfit and win, prizes also for top three runners. Enjoy refreshments and brew after the race. Start and finish at the MWR Fitness Center. Pre-registration is ongoing and there is a fee associated with this event. Cadets must register, but the fee is waived. For details, call 938-6490. JUST ANNOUNCED Leprechaun Thaw Festival Come celebrate the end of the ski season and St. Patrick’s Day with MWR and Lewis the Lucky Leprechaun 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. There will be pond skimming, rail jam, green egg hunt, DJ, prizes and more. Pre-registration is underway at the Ski Ticket Office or by calling 938-8810. 30-minute Beginner Boot Camp The MWR Fitness Center Beginner Boot Camp is back, so get out of the house and join us. Need to lose some winter weight or suffering from an injury? The Fitness Center is pleased to offer something a little slower with more modifications available. The camp is scheduled at 8:45 a.m. Tuesdays at Gillis Field House beginning March 24 through April. There is a small fee for this class, and children are welcome to play on the side. For details, call 938-6490. Spring Preschool Story Hour The West Point Post Library will hold its Spring Preschool Story Hour March 24-April 28. The story times will be held at 1:30 pm. every Tuesday and is open to all West Point community children ages 3-5. Pre-registration is required. Call 938-2974 or stop by the library in Bldg. 622 to sign up. Friday Night Jam Join the MWR Fitness Center for Friday Night Jam Belly Dancing 5:30-6:30 p.m. on March 27, April 30 and May 29 For details, call 938-6490. Wing Eating Challenge Join the Army Emergency Relief campaign with a Wing Eating Challenge 5:30-6:30 p.m. April 1 at the MWR Bowling Center. There is an entry fee to participate (cash only). There will be prizes for the winner in each age group as well as door prizes. All proceeds go directly to the 2015 West Point AER Campaign. For details, call 938-0636 or Allison.walker@usma.edu. “Walk A Mile” April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Come and join MWR’s annual “Walk A Mile” with the West Point Sexual Assault response coordinators and victim advocates for the Garrison (ACS/MWR), USMA and KACH, along with the Cadets Against Sexual Harassment/Assault organization in the Corps of Cadets. The event is scheduled from 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. April 2. The Easter Sunday Brunch and Easter Egg Hunt Join the West Point Club April 5 for its annual Easter Sunday Brunch and Egg Hunt. Two seatings and egg hunts are available. First seating is at 11 a.m. with egg hunt at 12:30 p.m. Second seating is at 1 p.m. with egg hunt at 2:30 p.m. The Easter Egg Hunt is for Sunday Brunch patrons only. Reservations are required by calling 938-5120. FOR THE ADULTS Financial Readiness Class with ACS Want to achieve financial success? Take a financial readiness class with ACS. All classes are held at the ACS Heritage Room, Bldg. 622, 3-4 p.m. unless otherwise noted. The dates are: • First-term Financial Readiness—8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. March 25. For details, call 938-5839 or email amy.weyhrauch@usma. edu. Hired! Workforce Preparation Workshop All interested youth must have a current CYSS Membership on file to attend Hired! workforce preparation workshops at the Youth Center, Bldg. 500, Washington Road. All workshops are free and for youth, grades 6-12. • Identity Theft and You!—4-5 p.m. Wednesday; • What does a Career Provide?—4-5 p.m. April 1. Completing six workshops is a prerequisite for the Hired! Program. To learn more about the program, call Marion DeClemente at 938-8889. RecycleMania Tournament Join students all across the U.S. and Canada competing in RecycleMania, the eight-week recycling competition. The tournament runs through March 29. For details, visit recyclemania.org or call West Point Recycling at 938-4281. AER Bake Sale Take a break from Easter baking and come out to support your 2015 Army Emergency Relief Campaign 10 a.m.-1 p.m. April 4 at the Exchange and Commissary complexes. A variety of baked goods will be available from sweet to savory, breakfast items, breads and more. All proceeds go directly to the 2015 AER Campaign. For details, contact 938-0636 or Allison.walker@usma.edu. Volunteer Recognition Ceremony All West Point community volunteers are invited to attend the annual Volunteer Recognition Ceremony 10:30-11:15 a.m. April 8, a reception will follow the official ceremony. The event will be held in the U.S. Military Academy Prep School Auditorium, located near the Washington Gate on 950 Reynolds Road. Call Army Community Service’s Jen Partridge at 938-3655 or email jennifer.partridge@usma.edu to RSVP. FOR THE FAMILIES March trip with Leisure Travel Services • The Rockettes are back in the New York Spring Spectacular at the Radio City Music Hall stage, March 13 and 20. Leave West Point at 4:30 p.m. Leave immediately after the show. There is a minimal fee for these trips and events. For details, call 938-3601. www.westpointmwr.com EFMP Family Event/PAWS for KIDS As the weather gets colder and calendars get fuller, remember your fun Exceptional Family Member Program events. Come by to have some fun or meet other families with special needs you might have in common. All our events are free and held at ACS, Bldg. 622 unless otherwise noted. • Tuesday—PAWS for KIDS, 3:30-5 p.m. For details, contact EFMP Program Manager Josephine Toohey at 938-5655, Josephine.toohey@usma.edu or the program assistant Anne Marshall at 938-0232 or anne.marshall@usma. edu. ACS Family Readiness Group Winter Class Schedule Attendees will discuss all aspects of Family Readiness Groups, from discussing what a FRG is, having an effective FRG, the role of FRGs in today’s Army, the role of volunteers in the FRG, or how to keep and raise funds legally and within the Army’s regulatory guidance and local procedures. This quarter’s session will be held at the Army Community Service offices in Bldg. 622. The session is scheduled 4-5 p.m. March 25. For details or to reserve your seat, contact Michelle Bradley at 845-938-4621 or michelle.bradley@usma.edu. Seafest Night A night with unlimited shrimp, clams, crab legs and so much more. The event is scheduled 6-9 p.m. March 27 at the West Point Club. To make reservations, which are required, call 938-5120. West Point 5K/10K Registration is now open for the West Point 5K/10K on May 9. Register online with www.active.com, keyword “West Point.” For details, call 938-4690. “To Go” Family Dining from the West Point Club Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the West Point Club will have “Dinners to Go.” Place your order with the Club by 2 p.m. and let us know what time you would like to pick it up and we will have it ready for you. This is the perfect dinner solution for all those working in Central Area. The dinner menu can be viewed at www. westpointwmr.com/club. For details and to place your orders, call 938-5120. Family Readiness Group classes are now available online There are limited Family Readiness Group classes currently available online, with more to come. Check out the Army Community Service Mobilization and Deployment webpage for the classes and instructions for completing the training and getting your certificate of training. Visit us at westpointmwr.com and click on the ACS drop down menu for the Mobilization/Deployment link. For details, contact Michelle Bradley at 938-4621 or email michelle.bradley@usma.edu. FOR THE YOUTHS Wee Ones Play Group and Wee Chat The Family Advocacy Program offers the Wee Ones Open Play Group 9:30-11 a.m. Mondays. Wee Chat will meet 9:30-11 a.m. March 12 and 26. Both events are now held at the Youth Center Gymnasium, Bldg. 500. For details, call 938-3369 or 938-0629. Pointer View marCH 12, 2015 March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Submitted by the Keller’s Primary Care Department Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of death from cancer. Colorectal cancer affects all racial and ethnic groups and is most often found in people ages 50 and older. The best way to prevent colorectal cancer is to get screened regularly starting at age 50. There are often no signs or symptoms of colorectal cancer – that’s why it’s so important to get screened. To increase awareness about the importance of colorectal cancer screening, Keller Army Community Hospital is proudly participating in Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Locally, in Orange County, New York, there were 147 average annual cases of colorectal cancer between 2007 and 2011, according to the ‘National Cancer Institute and CDC – CDC State Cancer Profile 2007-2011.’ The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for colorectal cancer using fecal occult blood testing or colonoscopy in adults, beginning at age 50 years and continuing until age 75 years. “The clinical evidence supporting these screening recommendations is vast and receives the highest recommendation given by the USPSTF. In other words, the benefits of screening are proven to outweigh risks and save lives,” said Lt. Col. Troy Prairie, M.D., Director of Primary Care Department at KACH, and Col. Alan Beitler, M.D. Chief of General Surgery at KACH. Here at Keller Army Hospital we highly recommend screening by a colonoscopy performed by our general surgery team. If the study is normal (no polyps or cancer), the procedure is repeated every 10 years until you turn 75 and then it becomes a case by case discussion between you and your physician whether screenings should continue. If you prefer not to have a colonoscopy, we are happy to discuss yearly testing through the use of fecal occult blood cards. However, colonoscopy is more accurate and the preferred method. To discuss your colon and rectal cancer screening options, call (845) 938-7992 and schedule an appointment with your primary care provider today. People over age 50 have the highest risk of colorectal cancer. You may also be at higher risk if you are African-American, smoke, or have a family history of colorectal cancer. Everyone can take these healthy steps to help prevent colorectal cancer: • Get screened starting at age 50; • Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke; • Get plenty of physical activity and eat healthy. For more information, visit www. TRICAREonline.com, or the public website at http://kach.amedd.army.mil. Our team of providers, nurses and medics at Keller Army Community Hospital stand ready to help every patient develop a goal directed diet and exercise program tailored to your individual needs. Call today to schedule an appointment aimed at reducing your risk of colorectal cancer. MOVIES at MAHAN Theatre schedule at Mahan Hall, Bldg. 752. Friday—Cinderella, PG, 7:30 p.m. Saturday—Cinderella, PG, 7:30 p.m. March 20—Cinderella, PG-13, 9:30 p.m. (For movie details and updates schedules, visit www. shopmyexchange.com/reel-time-theatres/WestPoint-1044343.) LifeWorks at Balfour Beatty Communities • St. Patrick’s Day: West Point families are invited to join us at the West Point Museum to participate in a St. Patrick’s Day Museum Scavenger Hunt starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Explore the Museum’s six galleries and see if you can’t find answers to the questions. After the hunt, there will be prizes and in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, BBC will be serving green snacks. Register by Friday via email to jgellman@ bbcgrp.com with number of adults and children. Don’t forget to wear green attire. • Big Bird’s Birthday: March 20 is the first day of spring. You know what that means? It’s Big Bird’s birthday too. You are invited to stop by 132 Bartlett Loop at 2:30 p.m. to celebrate Big Bird’s special day. 13 Keller Corner Keller information Get up-to-date Keller Army Community Hospital information at http://kach. amedd.army.mil/ or on social media a t h t t p : / / w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / kellerarmycommunityhospital/. made (also with or without referral) by calling (845) 938-3324. PT sick call will be held at 7:30 a.m. Monday-Friday, except on federal and training holidays, and periodically as announced. Physical Therapy “Sick Call” for Active Duty and Family Members at KACH Got new sprains or strains? Did you wipe out on the ski slope or over-do it shoveling snow? Starting this month, active duty members and their dependents will be able to see a Physical Therapist (PT), at Keller, for musculo-skeletal injuries on a walk-in basis—without an appointment at 7:30 a.m. The intent of this pilot program is for members of the West Point community who sustain new injuries to be able to quickly receive an evaluation, diagnosis and plan of care as soon as possible and without the need for a referral. The PT will assess the need for X-rays, other diagnostic studies, or other specialty care required. This time is not intended for chronic conditions that have been ongoing for weeks or months. For these more chronic conditions, routine appointments can be Keller offers Childbirth Education Classes Are you expecting a child this summer? Are you nervous because you’re not sure what to expect? If so, please join Keller Army Community Hospital’s Childbirth Education Class Series. The course begins April 1 and continues every Wednesday in April. To register and/or get details, contact Keller’s Labor & Delivery unit at 938-3210. Let us know how we are doing The mission of Keller Army Community Hospital is to provide high quality, patientcentered care with a focus on health and wellness to improve readiness of the Force and enhance the lives of all beneficiaries. Let us know if we are achieving this by filling out the Army Provider Level Satisfaction Survey when you receive it in the mail. We value your opinion. West Point Command Channel Channels 8/23 For the week of March 12-19 Army Newswatch Thursday, Friday and Monday-March 19 8:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. 15 M 12, 2015 Sports Five Army wrestlers place at EIWA Championships Pointer View arch By Harrison Antognioni Army Athletic Communications Russell Parsons at 157 pounds lost his first two matches of the day, but rebounded to win and finish fifth at the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Championships March 7 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Courtesy Photos Five members of the Army wrestling team finished in the top eight of their respective weight classes, including three who grabbed automatic bids to the NCAA Championships, during the final day of the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Championships on March 7 at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Russell Parsons (157 pounds), Cole Gracey (165) and Bryce Barnes (197) each met the finishing requirements that were determined in the NCAA qualifier allocations that were unveiled last week. Parsons began the day with a pair of setbacks before defeating Penn’s Brooks Martino, 10-3, to finish fifth in his weight class. The top seven finishers at 157 pounds automatically qualified for the NCAAs. Gracey went 2-1 on Saturday, dropping his third match before rebounding with a pair of 4-2 victories, including a win over Columbia’s Tyrel White in the third-place bout. Barnes finished fifth at 197 pounds and started competition on Saturday with an 8-2 win over Binghamton’s Caleb Wallace. He defeated Columbia’s Matt Idelson in the fifth-place match to earn automatic qualification to the NCAA Championships, as the top six finishers at 197 earned automatic bids. Brian Harvey (174) and Logan Everett (141) also placed, with Harvey finishing fourth at 174 and Everett taking eighth at 141. Harvey went 1-2 on the day, including a 13-1 major decision over Conan Schuster from Sacred Heart. He dropped a narrow 3-2 sudden-victory decision to Cornell’s George Pickett in the thirdplace bout. Everett began the day by topping American’s Michael Sprague, but lost each of his final two matches. As a team, the Black Knights placed 10th in the 16-team league with 55 points, while Cornell totaled 176 points to finish first. Gymnastics coach Van Everen earns 150th win By Kelly Dumrauf Army Athletic Communications The Army gymnastics squad continued its success against conference opponents Sunday afternoon, claiming a 414.700412.200 victory over the Pride of Springfield College. The win marks the 150th dual victory of head coach Doug Van Everen’s career. Army claimed four team victories and four individual event wins. The Black Knights claimed the still rings, vault, pommel horse and high bar titles while Sam Kusnitz posted top marks on floor exercise and Jesse Glenn earned first place finishes on vault, parallel bars and high bar. Glenn also earned the all-around title, posting a score of 84.050 to best Springfield’s Jon Zirna’s mark of 82.850. “Today was a tough meet,” said Van Everen. “Seth Cannon and Connor Venrick did very well and helped lead us to the win. We’ll need to keep improving and getting better if we want to have a shot at the conference championships, but I’m happy we came out with the win today.” Posting a team score of 68.700 on floor, Army was led by a first place finish from Kuznitz who posted a mark of 14.100. Finishing second for the Black Knights and taking sixth overall was Seth Cannon who earned a score of 13.800. Also competing on floor exercise was Joe Pritts (13.650), Nathan Goff (13.600) and Glenn (13.550). The reigning Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Specialist of the Week Connor Venrick as again solid for Army on pommel horse, taking third place with a score of 14.500. He was followed by Nathan Goff in sixth place with a mark of 13.600. Army posted a team score of 67.100 on the apparatus with Andre Hufnagel earning a score of 13.500, Cannon posting a score of 13.000 and Glenn earning a 12.500. The Black Knights posted their first team victory of the afternoon on still rings, led by a second place finish from Venrick who earned a score of 14.100. Goff posted a mark of 14.050 for third place and was followed by Glenn in fourth with a score of 13.800. Also competing on still rings for the Black Knights was Pritts (13.650) and Ryan Wilson (12.900). Glenn’s first place mark of 14.750 on vault led Army to a team score of 71.750 on vault to earn its second team victory of the meet. Cannon earned second with a score of 14.500 and was followed by Kusnitz in fourth with a score of 14.300, Wilson in fifth with a score of 14.200 and Pritts in ninth with a mark of 14.000. Army posted a mark of 68.600 on parallel bars to capture the team title, led by Glenn’s first place mark of 14.500. He was followed closely by teammate Chris Short in second place with a score of 14.400. Also competing for the Black Knights on parallel bars was Goff (13.700), Kusnitz (13.500) and Nick McAfee (12.500). The Black Knights closed out the afternoon with a win on high bar, posting a team score of 70.050. Glenn again led the way, scoring a season-high 14.950 en route to his third individual title on the afternoon. Kusnitz took second with a score of 14.500 and was joined by Goff (13.700), Cannon (13.600) and Short (13.300). With the win, Army improves to 2-0 on the season in dual scoring against Springfield, posting an overall mark of 4-3. 16 March 12, 2015 Pointer View Junior forward Aimee Oertner scored nine points and added three blocks during Army’s 76-57 loss to Lehigh in the Patriot League semifinals Monday at Christl Arena. The Black Knights’ record is 23-7 overall on the season as they wait for possible selection to a national postseason tournament. Eric S. Bartelt/PV Lehigh shoots past Army in PL semifinals By Harrison Antognioni Army Athletic Communications Sixth-seeded Lehigh used a 12-2 run in the first half to build a double-digit lead and didn’t look back as it defeated the secondseeded Army Women’s Basketball team, 76-57, in the Patriot League semifinals on Monday at Christl Arena. Lehigh advances to the conference championship, where it will face top-seeded American on Saturday. Army (23-7, 14-4 Patriot League) received a game-high 33 points from junior Kelsey Minato, as the co-captain shot 8-of-12 from three-point range to tie her own program record with eight threes and turned in a 7-of-7 performance at the foul line. Senior Olivia Schretzman finished with 10 points and six rebounds for the Black Knights, while junior Aimee Oertner added nine points and three blocks. Four players scored in double figures for Lehigh (19-11, 9-9), including senior Sarah Williams, who totaled a team-high 17 points. Junior Kerry Kinek (13 points, 11 rebounds) and sophomore Lexi Martins (16 points, 11 rebounds) each tallied double-doubles and freshman Quinci Mann scored 16 points. Lehigh opened up a 7-4 lead to begin the game, but Army answered with five straight points to take a 9-7 advantage 3:07 into the first half. The Mountain Hawks scored the next four to regain the lead before Minato made a free throw to complete a four-point play, after drawing a shooting foul on her made threepoint attempt, and put the Black Knights up 13-11 with 12:12 remaining in the frame. Army maintained its two-point cushion with a 19-17 lead before Lehigh went off on a 12-2 run to take a 10-point advantage, 31-21, at the 3:15 mark of the period. The hosts were able to cut their deficit to eight, but the Mountain Hawks netted the final four points of the half to include a layup by Martins with six seconds remaining, as the visitors entered the break with a 37-25 lead. Lehigh shot 53.3 percent (16-of-30) from the floor in the half, while Army managed 21.2 percent (7-of-33) shooting. The visitors kept their 12-point lead early on in the second half before Minato knocked down a triple to cap a 7-0 Army run that brought the Black Knights back to within five, 45-40, with 11:52 left in the half. Lehigh scored nine of the game’s next 11 points to build its lead back to double digits until Minato hit another three-pointer to cap a 7-2 Black Knights’ run and make the score 55-49. Lehigh continued to have answers though, as it scored four points in a row to begin a 10-3 run that put the Mountain Hawks up 65-52 at the 3:20 mark of the second half. The visitors continued to hit their field goals down the stretch to pull away for the 19-point victory. “I think Lehigh came out with tremendous focus and aggressiveness,” Army head coach Dave Magarity said. “Their offensive production and their ability to make tough shots were impressive. Shooting 7-for-33 in the first half made it difficult to come back and we just didn’t have what we needed offensively.” Army will await the possible selection to a national postseason tournament, which could come following the Patriot League championship.