FebruaryPointer 28, View 2013 1 stories are updated and posted weekly at www.usma.edu. OINTER IEW® PVOL. 70, NO. 8 SERVING THE COMMUNITY OF WEST PVOINT AND THE U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY FEBRUARY 28, 2013 Observing crossroads in history The West Point Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic, the Equal Opportunity Office and the Cadet Respect Committee produces “At the Crossroads of Freedom Street and Equality Lane” Black History Month tribute Feb. 19 at Robinson Auditorium. Shown in the background is actual footage from the March on Washington as cadets walked on the stage re-enacting the event, representing more than 100 years of the fight for justice and freedom for African Americans. Story and photos by Kathy Eastwood D.C., and marched in protest. Staff Writer Class of 2016 Cadet Kiara Ocasio- Trujillo, Company H-1, enjoyed participating est Point’s annual Black History in West Point’s annual observance. Month Observance paid “It was a lot of fun,” Ocasio-Trujillo said. Wtribute to the Emancipation “We have a dynamic group of people and we Proclamation and the March on Washington at rehearsed multiple times a week.” Thayer Hall Feb. 19. The theme of this year’s Ocasio-Trujillo and her roommate, Class event was “At the Crossroads of Freedom of 2016 Cadet Dartie Gilet, both write poetry Street and Equality Lane.” and teamed up to recite Margaret Walker’s One of the most important historical “For My People.” events for African Americans was the signing “I think it’s great to be able to contribute of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 that something that is so meaningful to so many freed slaves and allowed African Americans people,” she said. “in suitable condition” to be received in the Class of 2013 Cadet Kiandre Chambers, nation’s armed services. participated last year with the Gospel Choir Yet, African Americans were still fighting and served this year as the director. The West Point Gospel Choir performs at the Black History Month Observance for jobs and equal rights 100 years later in “I’m the performance cadet-in-charge Feb. 19 at Thayer Hall. The annual observance included dance routines and 1963 when thousands gathered in Washington, See BLACK HISTORY MONTH, Page 7 poetry readings. 2 February 28, 2013 News and Features Pointer View IMCOM encourages to take Military Saves Pledge By Amanda Rodriguez “Our intent is for all garrisons to participate in Military Installation Management Command Saves,” Johnson said. “Last year, the Army had 9,388 who took the pledge and we’re hoping for even more this year.” Clink, clink, clink is the sound heard around U.S. Army Johnson explained that wide spread participation and real Installation Management Command during Military Saves change is helped by partnerships with local organizations. Week, Monday-Saturday, as servicemembers start filling “Many bases increase awareness and participation by piggy banks. partnering with Army Community Service centers, youth Across military communities worldwide, servicemembers centers, installation banks/credit unions, AAFES, DECA, will take The Saver Pledge and help themselves, their families military finance office banking liaison officers, marketing, and their country by saving money and reducing debt. PAOs and more,” Johnson said. “We want to share the good Military Saves is part of a national campaign, America news stories about financial information fairs, financial Saves, designed to motivate and encourage families to commit counseling and savings success that have been reported in to reducing debt and create a monthly savings plan. previous years.” Participation begins with taking The Saver Pledge at www. Military Saves Week is coordinated by America Saves and militarysaves.org: “I will help myself by saving money, the Consumer Federation of America in partnership with the reducing debt and building wealth over time. I will help my Department of Defense. It’s an annual opportunity to promote family and my country by encouraging other Americans to good savings behavior and a chance for individuals to assess build wealth, not debt.” their own saving status, organizers said. The intention is to promote communities of savers, Learn more about Military Saves by visiting www. Military Saves Week is ongoing through Saturday. It is according to IMCOM Military Saves coordinator Gale militarysaves.org or share your success story on the designed to motivate and encourage military families Johnson, Financial Readiness and Army Emergency Relief IMCOM Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ to commit to reducing debt and create a monthly program manager. InstallationManagementCommunity. savings plan. COURTESY GRAPHIC RallyPoint gives servicemembers more influence with assignments Submitted by RallyPoint technology. structure elegant and streamlined. complex and difficult challenges,” Aaron For example, RallyPoint has visually As a result, users can strategically Kletzing, co-founder and COO of RallyPoint RallyPoint, a new online professional mapped the entire organizational structure network, develop powerful new professional and a 2006 West Point graduate, said, “but the network that empowers military members to of the Department of Defense down to the relationships and better pursue the military internal job market is extremely inefficient. take greater control over their own careers, lowest unit levels. opportunities they want the most. We felt there should be a better way for is now available to currently serving U.S. The platform then layers on top of that “I’m very excited about what RallyPoint commanders to find the best people for their military populations at duty locations around a user’s existing graph of relationships into can do for our servicemembers because teams, and for junior officers and enlisted the globe. the deepest reaches of the DOD. This is the professional networking is a skill set that the personnel to have deep visibility into the full RallyPoint was created by Iraq War most comprehensive, fully integrated task military doesn’t necessarily encourage or universe of opportunities and assignments veterans who saw and experienced the need organization of the DOD in existence. cultivate,” former Army Chief of Staff retired that might be opening up. for a military-focused networking platform, Yet, the secure platform is simple to use. Gen. George Casey, a RallyPoint advisor, “More autonomy and transparency will one that functions with the military’s highly Once the user confirms his or her military said. “Networking creates opportunities and drive higher fulfillment and better outcomes complex and unique structure, credentials, affiliation and creates a first-of-its kind improves one’s professional development. I for all stakeholders in the DOD’s talent command relationships and language in mind. profile that includes rank and promotion data, especially see how important it is now that I management processes,” he added. Whether it’s career officers seeking to unit affiliations, professional and individual am retired.” RallyPoint is available now as a free deepen their network of peers, graduating skill training, and other past experiences, RallyPoint’s two founders first met just service for active duty, National Guard, cadets looking to make the most of their first RallyPoint visualizes other current military northwest of Baghdad in 2008 and reunited Reserve and pre-commissioned personnel. assignments or enlisted servicemembers peers that the user likely knows—plus in 2011 at Harvard Business School. With just a few clicks, military personnel looking to secure the best PCS opportunities, their extended network of second order “The U.S. Military is the best training can sign up and begin leveraging their RallyPoint enables all members of the connections—with a precision that makes ground in the world for building the skills, relationships across the DOD at www. military using patent-pending networking navigating the DoD’s complex organization discipline and values required to solve rallypoint.com. 40 Mulberry Street, Middletown, NY 10940 POINTER VIEW ® The Army civilian enterprise newspaper, the Pointer View, is an authorized publication for members of the Department of To subscribe to the Pointer View or Defense. Contents of the Pointer View are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Depart- 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- 845-346-3118. 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- Eric S. Bartelt 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, PV Managing Editor, 938-2015 use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, Superintendent marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other nonmerit factor Mike Strasser of the purchaser, user, or patron. A confirmed violation or rejection of this policy of equal opportunity by an Lt. Col. Webster Wright PV Assistant Editor, 938-3079 advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source. Public Affairs Officer Kathy Eastwood PV Staff Writer, 938-3684 Vacant Command Information Chief Tommy Gilligan USMA PAO Photographer, 938-8825 See SUDOKU PUZZLE, Page 12 Website: www.pointerview.com Pointer View News and Features February 28, 2013 3 (Left) Gen. Carter F. Ham, U.S. Army Africa Command, joins the Class of 2013 and invited guests in a series of toasts, the last being to fallen comrades as signified by the vacant table setting.