ArmyApril Softball 26, 2012 vs. 1 Lehigh (DH), 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Army Softball Complex. OINTER IEW® PVOL. 69, NO. 16 SERVING THE COMMUNITY OF W VEST POINT, THE U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY APRIL 26, 2012 The Struggles of Sandhurst The rope bridge event required squads, such as Company I-1 members (above), to construct an improvised bridge to cross a water obstacle while carrying various burdens. The site tests a team’s ability to solve problems using Soldier skills. Cadets competed in the 2012 Sandhurst Military Skills Competition, April 20-21, which is a two-day military training course at Camp Buckner. The Sandhurst Competition involves each U.S. Military Academy Cadet Company and visiting international and ROTC teams that provide a nine-member squad with two alternates. Each squad is required to perform a series of challenging military tasks during a rapid, non-tactical move along a partly-prescribed 13.2-kilometer route. See pages 10-11 for story and photos on the Sandhurst Competition. MIKE STRAssER/PV 2 April 26, 2012 News and Features/Commentary Pointer View West Point’s guidelines for child supervision COMING TUESDAY ... Submitted by ACS’ Family to ensure a child’s safety, the have access to indirect supervision Advocacy Program physical and emotional well-being (neighbor, checking with parent by of the child can be compromised. phone) and a Home Alone Plan; April is observed as Child Abuse What does this mean? In just a few – Ages 11-13—can be left alone Prevention Month, and this year’s seconds, a child can pull something for up to six hours with ready access theme is “Child Abuse … It’s No over his or herself, can fall down to adult supervision; Secret—Everyone Can Help.” and hit his or her head, can throw a – Ages 14-18—may be left The central theme is awareness toy out of frustration and knock over at home alone with the parents of child safety and supervision. One a lamp—the list of possibilities and responsible for the conduct and question that frequently comes up is, consequences is endless. well-being of their children. “When is it OK for me to leave my Line of sight supervision • Everybody else is doing it in child alone?” is essential for young children, my neighborhood, so what’s the Each child is different. Some anywhere and anytime. big deal? children are simply too young to be Children ages 0-9 years old “Young children move quickly, left home alone, or left unattended cannot be left alone in a vehicle. At actively explore their environment in a vehicle, even for just a minute. age 10, a child may be left alone in and can hurt themselves even with The U.S. Army Garrison West a vehicle not more than 15 minutes the best of supervision. When a Point Policy Memorandum #20, and the keys must be removed. parent is not around, the opportunity “Supervision of Minor Children Here are the questions that for an accidental injury increases, at West Point” provides guidelines were pondered earlier with the and the longer the parent is gone, based on a child’s age and grade in appropriate answers: there’s more opportunity for serious, school. • When can my child baby-sit accidental injuries. There can be no To access the document, other children? compromise when it comes to the visit www.westpointmwr.com/ “If a child is interested in safety of a child.” ACTIVITY/ACS/FAP.htm. babysitting children other than his • Is your child too young to be Consider the following or her siblings, the suggested age left unsupervised? questions: is between 11-13. Attending and Consider the following factors • I’m only going to be gone for completing a baby-sitting course, in deciding whether your child is a few minutes. What can possibly such as one from the American Red too young to be left unsupervised: go wrong? Cross, is highly recommended. – The child’s age and maturity; • What is the age I can leave my • What is the age I can leave my – The child’s health or need for The U.S. Military Academy is launching its new website Tuesday. child alone at home? child alone at home? constant supervision; The site allows for easier navigation while offering updated news • When can my child baby-sit “Safeguarding children is a – The relative safety or the and photo content on a continuous basis. The site offers a new other children? parental responsibility. The dangers of the child’s environment; design that provides a sense of uniformity and branding across all • Everybody else is doing it in following guidelines are provided – The reason for leaving the West Point pages, including internal agencies and departments. my neighborhood, so what’s the for parents to help make their child; To access the website starting Tuesday, visit www.usma.edu. big deal? decision easier (excerpts from – The length of time the child is For more information, call 938-4261. Young children (infants to about USAG WP Policy Memorandum being left alone; 4 years old) base their feelings of #20): – The responsibilities assigned being left alone. may result in adverse consequences security on being able to see as well – Newborn to age 4—cannot to the child; Military and Department of to the sponsor. as touch their parent. be left alone at home or left alone – The availability of parents, Defense civilian sponsors are For more information on Children in this age group also in a vehicle; neighbors or others in case of responsible, at all times, for the parenting strategies, contact the get scared when a parent is out – Ages 5-9—cannot be left problems; supervision, health, safety and Family Advocacy Program at 845- of sight. Add to this the natural alone at home or left alone in a – Any past history of injuries, welfare of their family members on 938-3369; Military One Source curiosity of a child learning to vehicle; accidents or problems when the West Point. at 1-800-342-9647 or www. crawl, walk and explore. – Age 10—can be left alone for child was left alone; Deliberate failure to provide militaryonesource.com (User ID: If a parent is not readily available up to three hours, although must – Is your child comfortable with reasonable care of minor children military and password: onesource). 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. Sherri Reed 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 15 938-8366 Website: www.pointerview.com Pointer View News and Features April 26, 2012 3 Celebrating a new home for USMAPS Ribbon-cutting ceremony marks third and final move for Preparatory School Story and photo by Mike Strasser Assistant Editor Col. Tyge Rugenstein was on his way to Fort Monmouth, N.J., to check housing options in 2005 before assuming command at the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School as the new commandant. He then heard on a local news station that the installation was to be closed as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure action. His wife wondered if a U-turn would be an appropriate move. Instead, Rugenstein lead the way for the school’s transition to West Point and at the ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday he thanked all the people who contributed to what he confidently said would be the third and final move for USMAPS. “As you can see, the USMAPS campus is spectacular, but it did not materialize without incredible effort from an extremely dedicated team of professionals,” Rugenstein said, noting the many architects, engineers, contractors and staff who supported the move, design and construction of the school. From the groundbreaking ceremony in September 2009 until the first foundations were laid in April 2010, the contractors and Corps of Engineers The official party for the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School's ribbon-cutting ceremony team underwent a 15-month build phase to complete the barracks, dining April 23 was, from left, U.S.