West Point Mwr Calendar
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
MAY 8, 2014 1 THE MAY 8, 2014 VOL. 71, NO. 18 OINTER IEW® DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY PSERVING THE U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY AND THE COMMUNITY V OF WEST POINT ® U.S. Military Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr. discusses the 20th Maine’s defense of Little Round Top May 4 during the Gettysburg Athletic Team Captain Staff Ride. Caslen, 21 Corps Squad team captains and select staff and faculty participated in the two-day event which teaches cadets about small unit leadership. Lessons Learned at Gettysburg Story and photos by Jim Fox The Department of History’s Lt. Col. David Siry and retired USMA Community Engagement Chief Brig. Gen. Jack Mountcastle, a former USMA D/History faculty If you’re going to be an effective team captain, member himself, led the staff ride May 3-4 to help next year’s Nine-tenths of a mile. you’ve got to be an effective peer leader. crop of team captains garner some lessons from the battlefi eld That’s the distance between victory and defeat after three — USMA Superintendent Lt. Gen.” Robert Caslen Jr. on how young leaders have to build trust within their athletic of the bloodiest days in U.S. history. teams in some of the same ways that military units build trust to But nine-tenths of a mile across numerous fences, through On the afternoon of July 3, 1863, after the longest and be successful in battle. gullies and eventually uphill into the waiting guns of a long-time arguably loudest artillery bombardment in the world until then, Superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr. walked the enemy is quite another matter. roughly 12,000 men from the Confederacy’s best fi ghting force, battlefi eld with the cadets and offered his own take on what Twenty-one U.S. Military Academy Cadet Corps Squad team the Army of Northern Virginia, stepped out of the trees onto Gettysburg had to offer to his up-and-coming athletic leaders. captains took a staff ride to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where Seminary Ridge and walked into history. “If you’re going to be an effective team captain, you’ve got they learned what it was like to be a young leader during the “I never understood why they even tried Pickett’s Charge,” to be an effective peer leader,” Caslen said, in his typical low, American Civil War’s climatic battle and explored what it was Army football team captain Larry Dixon, Class of 2015, said. authoritative voice that makes you lean in a bit to make sure like to be thrusted into ever increasing leadership roles as their “Now that I’ve walked the ground and have seen the battle from you hear him. “To be an effective peer leader you need to share more experienced commanders fell around them. both sides, I understand both perspectives.” See GETTYSBURG, Pages 10-11 2 MAY 8, 2014 NEWS & FEATURES POINTER VIEW Net Zero at West Point Submitted by U.S. Army Garrison—West Point As global resources grow scarcer and costs continue to increase, energy reduction measures have become a worldwide priority. In 2011, the Army launched a Net Zero initiative and selected West Point to participate in a pilot program to become a Net Zero Energy Installation, which is one that produces as much energy on site as it uses. West Point has already initiated several energy reduction measures, including energy savings performance contracts, low cost energy projects, military construction bid savings, light-emitting diode street lighting, new efficient barracks construction and cadet projects. As essential as these initiatives are, equally crucial is community energy awareness and proactive behavior. Achieving Net Zero status is a formidable challenge that can only be conquered through a unified, collective effort. There are a variety of ways to contribute toward our Net Zero energy goals, but the first step is promoting energy consciousness. Becoming aware of where and how we use energy will in turn lead to amended behaviors and reduced consumption. For example, learning that a cell phone charger still draws electricity even when the device is not connected prompts the user to unplug the charger when it is not in use. Though the impact of this action may seem small, it swells a thousand-fold when we all adopt this practice. Many of our daily activities consume energy, whether we’re in the workplace or at home enjoying some leisure time, but opportunities to save energy abound. The following are just a few suggestions on how to remain vigilant about our energy usage. Lighting is perhaps the easiest place to start saving energy. While turning off lights when exiting a room is always a smart practice, also consider using compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) instead of incandescent bulbs. CFLs provide high-quality light output, use 75 percent less energy, and last six to 10 times longer, saving money on both energy bills and replacement costs. Replacing just your five most frequently used light bulbs with CFLs can make a significant difference. Like cell phone chargers, many other electronic products consume energy even when switched off, such as computers and coffee makers. Employing a power strip can alleviate this “phantom” power consumption by completely disconnecting the power supply from the source. For instance, using a power strip with your computer and peripheral equipment (at home or work) helps eliminate wasted energy. Also, when it is time to replace big appliances like a refrigerator, look for Energy Star-rated products. Limiting water use is another practice that helps conserve energy. Taking a shower uses significantly less water than a bath, and smaller or low-flow showerheads conserve even more. Only run dishwashers and laundry machines with a full load and switch to cold water to wash clothes whenever possible. Resources available for the West Point community These practices will not only help to reduce your personal energy consumption, • West Point SHARP Helpline (call or text)—845-659-7467; but will also contribute toward our mission of becoming a Net Zero Energy • USCC SARC, Maj. Missy Rosol—call 938-7479 or 845-401-3476; Installation. • Garrison SARC, Dan Toohey—call 938-5657 or 914-382-8180; Visit energystar.gov/work for additional information and tips to help you become • Installation Victim Advocate, Dan Toohey—call 938-5657 or 914-382-8180; a pioneer of energy conservation. How much can you save? • Military Police Desk—call 938-3333; • Keller Army Community Hospital ER—call 938-4004. 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. 40 Mulberry Street, Middletown, NY 10940 Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use, OINTER IEW® or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, P V To subscribe to the Pointer View or The Army civilian enterprise newspaper, the Pointer View, is an authorized publication for members physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user, of the Department of Defense. Contents of the Pointer View are not necessarily the official views of, or if you have delivery problems, call 845-346-3118. or patron. endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of the Army or West Point. Eric S. Bartelt A confirmed violation or rejection of this policy of equal opportunity by an advertiser The Pointer View ® is an unofficial publication authorized by AR 360-1. The editorial content of the PV Managing Editor, 938-2015 will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source. Pointer View is the responsibility of the West Point Public Affairs Office, Bldg. 600, West Point, New York Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen, Jr. 10996, (845) 938-2015. Superintendent Mike Strasser The Pointer View is printed weekly by the Times Herald-Record, a private firm in no way connected Lt. Col. Webster Wright PV Assistant Editor, 938-3079 with the Department of the Army, under exclusive contract with West Point. The Times Herald-Record is Public Affairs Officer Kathy Eastwood responsible for all commercial advertising. PV Staff Writer, 938-3684 POINTER VIEW MAY 8, 2014 3 (Above, left) Class of 2014 Cadet Geoffrey Gibson shows off the Cadet Open Source Extensible Quadcopter at Projects Day May 1. The idea behind the Extensible Quadcopter is to provide an open source, cost effective hardware and software design so that anyone can make a project requiring an effective and extensible airborne platform. PHOTOS BY SGT. 1ST CLASS CHRISTOPHER FINCHAM/USMA PAO Cadets display intellectual talents at Projects Day Story and photo by Kathy Eastwood Research Development and Engineering Several cadets Staff Writer Center’s challenge to dramatically reduce the worked on a time for a vertical lift airframe to transition design for an Every year, graduating cadets demonstrate from a cold start to take off with the goal to have exoskeleton to what they have learned over 47 months when wheels up in less than five minutes. lessen the load they present their research projects and honors The cadets began their analysis with a of a Soldier . theses to faculty, community members, peers current helicopter checklist and interviewing The design is and corporate and Army leaders. stakeholders. durable and More than 250 presentations from every “We determined that the checklist would not academic department were on display; be able to reach the time desired by AMRDEC portable to everything from posters, presentations, mock and a new design was needed,” Kincade said. ease the work court trials to robotics during this year’s Projects The cadets looked at other technologies of the Soldier Day May 1.