AUGUST 20, 2020 1 WWW.WESTPOINT.EDU THE AUGUST 20, 2020 VOL. 77, NO. 32 OINTER IEW® DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY PSERVING THE U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY AND THE COMMUNITY V OF WEST POINT ® SEE PAGES 4-6 • • BACK TO CLASS AT WEST POINT The U.S. Military Academy holds its fi rst day of classes Monday. Classes were taught in person, remotely and through a hybrid system. It marked the fi rst time cadets attended classes in person since they left for spring break in March. (Top) Maj. John Morrow teaches General Psychology for Leaders while taking advantage of one of the temporary outdoor classrooms. (Above) Members of the Corps of Cadets change classes during the fi rst day of the academic year. (Left) Class of 2022 Cadet Xavier Williams attends a remote class. Photos by Brandon O'Connor/PV and Class of 2022 Cadet Paul Tan 2 AUGUST 20, 2020 NEWS & FEATURES POINTER VIEW West Point conducts a ribbon-cutting ceremony to recognize the reopening of Grant Hall at West Point Friday. The offi cial party consists of (left to right) Joe Kokolakis, president, J. Kokolakis Construction; Maria Hoagland, GM Culinary Group, U.S. Military Academy; Brig. Gen. Curtis A. Buzzard, Commandant of Cadets; Col. Tom Hansbarger, director of Cadet Activities; Maj. Matthew Pride, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District Offi ce; and Frank Bloomer, deputy director, DPW, USMA. Photo by John Pellino/USMA PAO Grant Barracks, Hall reopen after renovation By Dave Conrad a media release from the ACOE. Cain said that the new air conditioning reopened Saturday, but a ribbon cutting USAG West Point Public Affairs “After the renovation, the barracks will system is probably the biggest quality-of- ceremony was held the day before bringing have a more traditional layout,” Tim Cain, life improvement, but it wasn’t the biggest together the many agencies that worked on One of West Point’s oldest barracks the project engineer, said. challenge. the project. reopened this week, following the completion Although the building will house fewer “We dug out the courtyard for new water “Thank you everyone for being here of an Army Corps of Engineers project, cadets, the new layout includes collaboration and other lines, and we found what looks like as we reopen Grant Hall, marking another which began in December 2018. rooms, a more integrated floor plan and a buried building,” he said. milestone in our infrastructure modernization Grant Hall and Grant Barracks were upgraded cell reception, improving the As part of the upgrade, the Corps of efforts and honoring one of our most both modernized under the ACOE “Barracks quality of life in the building. Engineers also renovated the restaurant in notable leaders from the Long Gray Line,” Upgrade Program.” “The new floors are terrazzo instead Grant Hall. Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. Curtis The project encompasses almost 125,000 of the old tile, so they’re more durable,” “For the Grant Hall restoration, we A. Buzzard said during the ribbon-cutting square feet and includes the removal of Cain said. brought in artists to strip the old paint ceremony. “This renovation project is part asbestos and all lead-containing materials, Along with new flooring, the living and recreate all the unit insignia and other of our multi-year Cadet Barracks Upgrade roof and window replacements, restoration quarters and rest rooms have all been historical features throughout the hall,” Cain Program. It is the result of some incredible of historic items, exterior repairs to the upgraded with modern lighting and said. “The goal was not to make it look new, teamwork across the West Point enterprise.” existing masonry, new furnishings and, amenities. The building has granite outer but to restore it to its original appearance.” The updated Grant Hall has multiple new most significantly, new heating, ventilation walls, covering inner brick construction and Grant Hall is the site of the original restaurant offerings including a PJ’s Coffee and air conditioning systems, according to new blast resistant windows. Cadet Mess, built in 1852. It officially and “flex-mex” restaurant Burrito Bowl. 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. Contents of the Pointer View are not necessarily the offi cial views of, or constitute endorsement of the products or services advertised by the U.S. Army or the Times Herald- Lt. Gen. Darryl A. Williams Brandon O’Connor endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of the Army or the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Record. Superintendent PV Assistant Editor, 938-3079 The editorial content of the Pointer View is the responsibility of the U.S. Military Academy Public Everything advertised in this pub li ca tion will be made available for purchase, use or pa tron age Lt. Col. Christopher Ophardt [email protected] Affairs Offi ce, Bldg. 600, West Point, New York 10996, (845) 938-2015. with out regard to race, color, re li gion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, phys i cal handi cap, Public Affairs Officer Jorge Garcia The Pointer View is printed weekly by the Times Herald-Record, a pri vate fi rm in no way connect ed po liti cal af fi l i a tion or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or pa tron. Eric S. Bartelt PV Staff Writer, 938-3684 with the De partment of the Army, under ex clu sive con tract with West Point. The Times Herald-Record is If a violation or re jec tion of this equal opportunity policy by an ad ver tis er is confi rmed, the publisher PV Managing Editor, 938-2015 [email protected] responsible for all commercial advertising. will refuse to print ad ver tis ing from that source until the violation has been corrected. [email protected] POINT POINTER VIEW IN FOCUS: CLASS OF 2024 ACCEPTANCE DAY AUGUST 20, 2020 3 Class of 2024 officially integrates with Corps at A-Day By Jorge Garcia PV Staff Writer After enduring four weeks of Cadet Basic Training and overcoming many challenges, the U.S. Military Academy’s Class of 2024 officially integrated into the Corps of Cadets during the Acceptance Day Parade Saturday. The plebes (freshman) spent Reorganization Week on The Plain rehearsing parade formation and marching in cadence in preparation for the ceremony. They also acquired textbooks and laptops for the upcoming semester. Training concluded with festive music performed by the West Point Band and the plebes marching triumphantly onto The Plain donning their white over grays with white face masks. The plebes filed into their companies and marched in formation past the reviewing party as they were accepted into the Corps. Family and friends were unable to attend the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the inconvenience, the event was live-streamed, and plebes rejoiced in spirit with their loved ones. “I feel very humbled. My father graduated in 1990, my uncle graduated in ‘96 and I hear all these stories about everything going on in West Point.” Class of 2024 Cadet Sean Kyuh Huh said. “I wasn’t necessarily raised on the idea that I was going to West Point, but it was always that if you ever wanted to serve Members of the U.S. Military Academy Class of 2024 officially join the Corps of Cadets during the Acceptance Day something bigger than yourself — if you ever Parade on The Plain at West Point Saturday. Photo by John Pellino/USMA PAO want to feel very accomplished in what you’re this is one the most memorable moments in everything. So, just go to West Point and know ordered for them and upperclassmen provided doing, look at West Point.” my life.” this has got to be hard and prepare yourself for PlayStations and Xboxes. Despite following in the same footsteps Class of 2024 Cadet Thomas Woodbery that,” Woodbery said of the advice he received “I still don’t think we’re going to see as his father and uncle, Huh encountered the stressed the importance of embracing the from his parents. anyone until Christmas, and like, I’m OK with unique challenge of completing CBT during hardship of CBT. His parents’ advice on the Typically, following the parade, the plebes that,” Class of 2024 Cadet Matthew Eckert a pandemic. Huh said it was difficult at first dangers of approaching the training with get embraced by their families and can leave said. “We know our family and friends are knowing that he wouldn’t be able to see his unrealistic expectations played a crucial role the base and spend the remainder of the day proud of us and that they’re watching online. family on A-Day due to COVID-19, but he in keeping Woodbery resilient throughout with them. However, due to COVID-19, And so, even if they are not here in person, knew he had to dig deep in order to succeed CBT before being accepted into the Corps of they were unable to leave base. Pizza was they’re still here for us in spirit.” and complete his training. Cadets. “Experiencing that allows a Soldier “It’s supposed to to understand that it’s a very humbling be hard and there’s experience.” Huh said. “I know at this point a reason behind (Above) The West Point Band plays music during the Acceptance Day Parade on The Plain Saturday.