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The Special Forces Scholar
Since 1960, nearly 150 West Point graduates have pursued graduate study as Olmsted Scholars, many of whom later rose to important positions of senior leadership in the Army (including Ambassador and General John P. Abizaid ’73 [Retired], former Commander, U.S. Central Command; and Lieutenant General Patrick J. Donahue ’80 [Retired], former Deputy Commander, U.S. Army…
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Duty, Honor, Country—All the Way!
“Stand up! Hook up! Shuffle to the door! Airborne!” Now imagine taking a long walk toward, not away from, a mine or IED and diffusing it without a bomb suit or robot, instead with what could be jumped in: rope, scissors, and explosives. Fire in the hole! Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) combined with Airborne—that’s courageous,…
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Eyes Right: No Excuse
Throughout the entirety of my first year at West Point, these were the only four acceptable answers to any question. I collided with this new reality a generation ago, on Reception Day in June 1992. A cadet wearing a red sash told me to learn only these four responses during Beast Barracks.
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West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center: Now More than Ever
The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point (CTC) has been featured in the pages of West Point magazine before; however, those articles came at a time when counterterrorism played a central role in national security and in the lives of graduates.
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The West Point Coaches’ Character-Building Formula
Using an unwritten formula, West Point coaches have inspired and helped train thousands of cadets to become commissioned leaders of character. What principles would be on the West Point coach’s blueprint for character? It could start, “I am a West Point coach who coaches warrior athletes,” and would likely include an ethos about Duty, Honor,…
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Celebrating 20 Years: The Master Teacher Program
The United States Military Academy is investing in faculty development. On May 13, 2024, the Master Teacher Program (MTP) celebrated two important milestones: completing 20 years in existence and surpassing 1,000 graduates.
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Overcoming Obstacles: Redesigning the IOCT
Due to potential future renovations of Hayes Gymnasium, the Arvin Cadet Physical Development Center is seeking an alternative space to house the Indoor Obstacle Course Test (IOCT) for several years. The test became a stand-alone graduation requirement beginning with the Class of 1977.
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“Duty, Honor, Country” Meets “Faster, Higher, Stronger”
Every living graduate is familiar with General Douglas MacArthur’s famous dictum: “Every cadet an athlete.” MacArthur, Class of 1903, introduced this philosophy when he became West Point Superintendent in 1919, realizing the importance of physical fitness and intramural athletic programs in the wake of the modern warfare he witnessed in World War I.
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The Olympic Modern Pentathlon Legacy of West Point
The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in Paris this summer mark the end of an era for the modern pentathlon. Since the inception of modern pentathlon at the 1912 Olympics, horseback riding over jumps has been one of the five disciplines of the sport (along with fencing, pistol shooting, swimming, and cross-country running).
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Caring Connections: New Veterans Services Initiative
On November 11, 2023, the West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) announced that it is launching a new enhancement to its Grads Helping Grads Program, one that is pertinent to every member of the Long Gray Line. The initiative? Veterans services.
