• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

WestJuly Point5, 2012 1 Community Fair, 5-7 p.m. July 12 at Eisenhower Hall. OINTER IEW® PVOL. 69, NO. 26 SERVING THE COMMUNITY OF W VEST POINT, THE U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY JULY 5, 2012 Class of 2016’s journey begins Nearly 1,200 new cadets arrive for Reception Day, take oath of allegiance (Above) New cadets from the Class of 2016 take the oath of allegiance on the Plain marking the end of Reception Day Monday. With the initial transformation from civilians to West Point new cadets behind them, they now enter Cadet Basic Training for the next six weeks. (Right) Before the new cadets marched onto the Plain for the oath ceremony, they practiced marching within their company areas and started the process of becoming more acclimated to military life. At the end of R-Day, the Class of 2016 numbers were 1,193 new cadets with 15 international and 191 women as a part of the new class. PHOTOS BY TOMMY GILLIGAN/USMA PAO 2 July 5, 2012 Commentary Pointer View The Badge: 25 years of duty complete West Point Band Independence Commentary by Lois S. Johnson To me, I always felt that perhaps I had Retired West Point Schoolteacher the most important job anyone could have. I Day concert plus fireworks display was mommy to some, and grandma to others. Submitted by the West Point Band Strong,” 50 West Point cadets will participate After being a schoolteacher for the past I was a counselor, dietitian, nurse, in the “Salute to the States” presentation. 25 years, I had to perform a duty recently referee, athletic trainer, conductor, historian, The West Point Band presents its annual Each cadet will represent his or her that I had never done before—turn in my mathematician, writer and professional book Independence Day concert at 8 p.m. Saturday home state until every state of the Union is identification badge. reader. I was always a listener, shoe-tier, at the Trophy Point Amphitheatre. recognized. I muddled through the extremely tough comforter, artist, nose-wiper, coat-zipperer In the event of inclement weather, the Following the opening ceremonies, the last day of saying all the goodbyes to my and hugger. The list went on as to what I concert will be held at 8 p.m. Sunday. Concert Band will perform a number of students and their parents. was tasked to do for my students. I will miss The performance will feature the Hellcats, selections, including “The Official West Point I nearly made it through the wonderful, them all. the Concert Band and the Benny Havens March,” “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and touching, moving farewell the school I no longer wear that tangible badge, Band. The evening will conclude with a “The Armed Forces Medley.” provided for my fellow retirees and me. having completed my last day of teaching spectacular fireworks display set to the The Band’s rock band, The Benny I almost made it through the loving children. It was the symbol of 25 years of music of the Band. Havens Band, will take over by performing luncheon my grade-level colleagues provided memories. I wore it proudly, having learned This concert is free and open to the The Beatles’ “Hey Jude,” along with other me with, but it was handing in that badge that so much from my students. To be able to finish public. audience favorites. launched me into a puddle of tears. my last years of teaching with the children at The Band is proud to welcome the The performance will conclude with an For me, that badge provided a tangible the West Point Schools was an honor. 58th Superintendent of the U.S. Military a cappella vocal rendition of America the sense of purpose. It had my name boldly My new badge is invisible; I wear it on Academy, Lt. Gen. David H. Huntoon Jr., Beautiful, sung by cadets and active-duty printed on it, and under my name it said, my heart, with a sense of accomplishment at to present the concert’s opening remarks. vocalists. “TEACHER.” having been a small part of many students’ Band commander Lt. Col. Jim Keene will For concert information, cancellations When people asked me what I did for a learning and supporting the U.S. Military conduct the performance. and updates, call 845-938-2617 or visit living, I, of course, would answer that I was a Academy. Following a performance of “Army www.westpointband.com. teacher. Invariably they then would ask what (Editor’s note: The Pointer View I taught. I did not say Pre-K, or that I was would like to thank Lois S. Johnson for her a speech teacher, but I would proudly say, commentary and her 25 years of service as a “children ... I teach small children.” schoolteacher.) Be advised: How to stake your Independence Day concert area To maintain a safe environment and prevent damage to the grass, and preserve the beauty of the Trophy Point Amphitheatre area, those planning to attend the Independence Day concert Saturday are asked to refrain from staking out an area with rope, tape, tarps and/or blankets until after noon on the day of the scheduled concert. The Military Police will remove all items mentioned above that are placed on the Trophy Point Amphitheatre grounds for the purpose of reserving a viewing spot prior to noon the day of the concert. —Provided by the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security ATTENTION: The U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School is seeking volunteers to serve as cadet candidates for its R-Day Rehearsal, which is scheduled from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. July 20. Volunteers must be at least 12 years of age. Contact Christina Overstreet at [email protected] or call 938-3655 to sign up. 40 Mulberry Street, Middletown, NY 10940 POINTER VIEW ® recordonline.com 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 Depart- For information, call (845) 341-1100 ment of the Army or West Point. If you have delivery problems, call The Pointer View ® is an unofficial publication authorized by AR 360-1. The editorial content of the Pointer View is the respon- (845) 343-2181 ext. 3560 sibility 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 The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or of the Army, under exclusive contract with West Point. The Times Herald-Record is responsible for all commercial advertising. supplements, does not constitute endorsement of the products or services ad- vertised by the U.S. Army or the Times Herald-Record. Lt. Gen. David H. Huntoon, Jr. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, Eric S. Bartelt use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, Superintendent Managing Editor, 938-2015 marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. Lt. Col. Webster Wright A confirmed violation or rejection of this policy of equal opportunity by an Mike Strasser advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source. Public Affairs Officer Assistant Editor, 938-2015 Linda L. Mastin Kathy Eastwood Command Information Branch Chief, Staff Writer, 938-2015 See SUDOKU PUZZLE, Page 12 938-8366 Website: www.pointerview.com Pointer View News and Features July 5, 2012 3 SpecialCERTIFIED Reaction Team completes annual testing Story and photo by and control of the incident,” 1st Mike Strasser Lt. Jerod Krueger, DES assistant Assistant Editor operations officer and the officer- in-charge of the event, said. Eight military police The Military Police officers from the Directorate of Investigation Section served Emergency Services’ Special as the hostage negotiators for Reaction Team completed annual the certification, and a team certification June 29. from the New York State Police The area between Mahan and Department’s Mobile Response Grant halls was clearly marked Team was asked to provide with signs indicating a police insight to the SRT during and test was in progress, though after the event. spectators couldn’t help but “Overall the SRT Certification linger and watch as the Military went very well,” Krueger said. Police Soldiers tactically made “All major objectives were their way to Central Apartments, completed resulting in the first to place a phone line inside certification of the West Point for negotiation purposes, and SRT. During the duration of then breaching the interior to the certification, the SRT was respond to the hostage scenario. being evaluated on everything The team was also responsible from notification of the incident for neutralizing the threat and by the SRTOIC to the process extracting the hostages by using of alerting and getting the SRT room clearing techniques. ready to deploy to the site of the “In support of the SRT incident. When the SRT arrives certification and to mimic a real at the scene of the incident, life incident, the Directorate of they are evaluated on making a Emergency Services’ Incident plan based on new intelligence The Special Response Team moves tactically as it prepares a phone line drop inside Central Apartments Command Post as well as the and executing that plan when to allow negotiators to communicate with disgruntled servicemembers inside. The annual certification West Point Fire Department was given guidance by the Provost was conducted June 29 with support from Directorate of Emergency Services personnel and the activated to allow for command Marshal.” New York State Police.

Load more

  13

Copy Link