100 Nights to Graduation • SEE PAGE 3 • (Right Photo) Retired Gen
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FEBRUARY 20, 2020 1 WWW.WESTPOINT.EDU THE FEBRUARY 20, 2020 VOL. 77, NO. 7 OINTER IEW® DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY PSERVING THE U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY AND THE COMMUNITY V OF WEST POINT ® 100 nights to graduation • SEE PAGE 3 • (Right photo) Retired Gen. David G. Perkins, Class of 1980 and former commander of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, speaks to the Firstie class during its 100th Night banquet Saturday. (Above photo) Class of 2020 President Joshua Phillips (left) and Cadet Company D-3 Commander Aidan Hanrahan (right) present a gift to fellow Company D-3 alum Perkins after his speech. Photos by Bryan Ilyankoff/USMA PAO 2 FEBRUARY 20, 2020 NEWS & FEATURES POINTER VIEW Class of 2020 Cadet Eraldo John, an international cadet from Tanzania, leads an open discussion about honorable living at the U.S. Military Academy and beyond with 40 international cadets and fi ve staff and faculty members Feb. 11 in Thayer Hall. Courtesy Photos Tanzanian cadet leads discussion on honorable living By Retired Lt. Col. Dave Jones “The SLDP is a developmental program “The international cadets asked me tough and Eric S. Bartelt for those cadets who have violated the Honor questions that helped me reflect deeper into MX400 Offi cership seminar leader and Code,” Jones said. “Cadet John shared his my character to realize my flaws, which is a PV Managing Editor personal experience and then led a discussion step toward the internalization of the spirit of about honorable living from the international the Cadet Honor Code: Live honorably, lead Class of 2020 Cadet Eraldo John, an cadet perspective. honorably and demonstrate excellence,” John international cadet from Tanzania, led an “(It’s about) representing West Point’s said. “I hope that this discussion helped my open discussion about honorable living at the values of Duty, Honor, Country as a future fellow international cadets understand that U.S. Military Academy and beyond with 40 graduate of the academy,” Jones added. “All living honorably is a perpetual developmental international cadets and fi ve staff and faculty of the topics reinforce honorable living—and process for leaders of character.” members Feb. 11 in Thayer Hall. he broke it down to many areas of cadet life.” Being honest with himself and reflecting The discussion titled, “Living Honorably, This is the fi rst time this type of forum has deeper into the recesses of his mind, John Leading Honorably and Demonstrating been held with international cadets. viewed the SLDP as a way to help his and the Excellence,” included topics on accountability “It is a unique opportunity to have an other international cadets’ leadership abilities and ownership, integrity and respect, role international cadet lead a discussion with all when faced with tough moral decisions in the models and being moral leaders while at West other international cadets (on honorable living),” future by leaning on what the Cadet Honor Code Point. Jones said. “They all share the challenges of values teach them. The international cadets will take what being here at West Point, for many of whom “I learned that the spirit of the Cadet Honor they’ve learned and return back to their English is a second language. However, they Code calls me to live above the common level of countries to serve in their Armed Forces, said all have the responsibility of learning and life by demonstrating excellence in everything Class of 2020 Cadet Eraldo John retired Lt. Col. Dave Jones, MX400 Offi cership developing here at the U.S. Military Academy, that I do,” John said. “I realized that the spirit of chose this forum for his Special seminar leader. and then as future West Point graduates carrying the honor code is the essence to the three aspects Leader Development Project (SLDP), John chose this forum for his Special Leader all they have learned and internalized and share that certifies any Army professional: character, in addition to leading a similar Development Project (SLDP), in addition to that as moral leaders in their own countries.” competence and commitment. The synergy discussion at the U.S. Military leading a similar discussion at the U.S. Military John said he has confidence the discussion relationship between the spirit of Cadet Honor Academy Preparatory School for Academy Preparatory School for select cadet allowed him to develop and become a better Code and the 3C’s helps in my development to select cadet candidates. candidates, Jones said. leader of character. becoming a better leader of character.” 40 Mulberry Street, Middletown, NY 10940 POINTER VIEW ® To subscribe to the Pointer View or The Army civilian enterprise newspaper, the Pointer View, is an authorized publication for members The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not if you have delivery problems, call 845-346-3213. of the Department of Defense. 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[email protected] POINT POINTER VIEW IN FOCUS: 100TH NIGHT WEEKEND FEBRUARY 20, 2020 3 Class of 2020 celebrates 100 days until graduation with show, banquet Story and photo by Brandon O’Connor PV Assistant Editor Standing on stage in a blonde wig at the opening of the annual 100th Night Show, Class of 2020 Cadet Evan Brunner says goodbye to the classmates portraying his parents and sets off on his 47-month experience at the U.S. Military Academy. When he next returns to stage, Brunner’s wig has been replaced by a bald cap symbolizing the haircut male new cadets receive on Reception Day and he begins to sing. Brunner’s on-stage journey takes him through the ups and downs of his time at the academy including Beast Barracks, plebe duties, his first Army-Navy Game and finally Firstie year and the changes that came along with a new commandant of cadets and brigade tactical officer. The 47 months become 19 scenes across two acts, with slightly more singing and dancing than is typically found at the academy, as Brunner and his classmates recap their cadet career with only 100 days left. The 100th Night Show has been a tradition at West Point since 1871 and has been performed as an original musical since 1903. The show is a chance for the cadets in the graduating class to remember their time at West Point and poke fun at the experience as it comes to an end. The show is unique each year and is written, choreographed and produced by members of the class. This year, Class of 2020 Cadets Taylor Krug and Jacob Wells co-wrote the show. “You don’t get quite everything (into the show). You get the big moments; the parts people are still talking about today,” Krug said. “When we did auditions, we asked all of our now cast members what’s one thing you’ll talk about 20 years from now? We tried to put those events and those jokes into our show.” Krug and Wells have both been involved in the Theater Arts Guild while at West Point and worked on the technical crew for the 100th Night Show the last three years. This year, along with co-writing the show, they stepped into the role of producer, Krug, and director, Wells. As they worked to bring the show to life, they said they leaned on what they had learned from working on previous shows. Things they remembered not working they made sure not to include and parts they thought were funny they built upon in their own show. This year’s show used the popular anonymous messaging apps Yik Yak and Jodel as a major part of the story. It also included a duet between cadets portraying Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. Curtis A. Buzzard and Brigade Tactical Officer Col. Kyle Marsh. “It’s another way we can be diverse,” Brunner, who stars in the show, said of why it is put on every year. “A lot of times you come to a military academy and you think they’re going to do drill, they’re going to do ceremony and they’re going to learn how to be Soldiers.