OCTOBER 29, 2020 1 WWW.WESTPOINT.EDU THE OCTOBER 29, 2020 VOL. 77, NO. 42 OINTER IEW® DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY PSERVING THE U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY AND THE COMMUNITY V OF WEST POINT ® Meyer receives Nininger Award SEE PAGES 4-5 • • The West Point Association of Graduates hosted its 15th annual Alexander R. Nininger Award for Valor at Arms Oct. 22 at the Cadet Mess Hall. WPAOG recognized Maj. John A. Meyer, U.S. Military Academy Class of 2005, for his courage under fi re and commitment to mission accomplishment while earning a Silver Star for heroic actions during combat operations with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade July 27, 2007, during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The award is intended to further the ideals of West Point by presenting an exemplar of heroism in the profession of arms to the Corps of Cadets. (Above) Meyer receives the Nininger Award medal as he stands with the Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. Curtis A. Buzzard (right) and AOG President Todd Browne. (Left) Meyer receives a gift from the Corps of Cadets, which is presented by Class of 2021 Cadet and Deputy Brigade Commander Tyrese Bender. Photos by Tarnish Pride/ USMA PAO 2 OCTOBER 29, 2020 NEWS & FEATURES POINTER VIEW Hatch Act, DOD regulations govern political activities By Samantha Hill position when endorsing a candidate in a partisan REDSTONE ARSENAL, election; not wearing a Ala.—With 2020 being an political campaign button election year, Soldiers and to work; not soliciting Department of the Army campaign contributions; civilians must remember etc. What may be considered laws and directives outlining less straightforward is what can and can’t be done how the Hatch Act and when it comes to political DODD 1344.10 apply to support — including what social media and online is done online and during communication. telework hours. With COVID-19 causing Department of the Army many employees to work civilians must adhere to the from home, it is important Hatch Act, which is a law to remember these rules still intended to assure the public apply. that federal programs are “Remember that even being administered fairly though you are in your own and without the influence of home, when teleworking partisan politics. you are on duty and may not “It also serves to shield engage in partisan political federal employees from activities, even on personal partisan political coercion communication devices,” and political influence in Wilde said. “It is permissible personnel decisions,” said for most employees to Larry Wilde, an ethics engage in political activity counselor at Army Materiel from home outside of duty Command. “In large part hours, but government because of the Hatch Act, furnished equipment may personnel decisions are never be used for political based on merit, not patronage activities.” or political affiliation.” He said it is also important In the same manner — whether on duty or off as the Hatch Act, military duty — not to like, share or members are under the DOD retweet a post that solicits Directive 1344.10, “Political political contributions, Activities by Members of including invitations to the Armed Forces on Active fundraising events. When Duty.” Both help avoid communicating online, it the perception of official is important to be aware DOD sponsorship, approval of what actions violate or endorsement of any the Hatch Act and DODD partisan political candidate, 1344.10. campaign or cause. While “In the case of an personnel are encouraged to inadvertent violation on vote, members of the Armed social media, the employee Forces on active duty and should take steps to correct civilian government workers the violation as quickly as while on duty should not possible, such as by deleting engage in partisan political the post or removing the activities. like,” Wilde said. “A Many of the rules minor accidental violation outlined within the Hatch of the Hatch Act is rarely Department of the Army civilians must adhere to the Hatch Act, which is a law intended to assure the Act and DODD 1344.10 punishable, but employees public that federal programs are being administered fairly and without the infl uence of partisan politics. are straightforward: not should still take care to In the same manner as the Hatch Act, military members are under the DOD Directive 1344.10, “Political mentioning your official follow the rules.” Activities by Members of the Armed Forces on Active Duty.” Courtesy Graphic 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 endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of the Army or the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Record. Superintendent Vacant 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 PV Assistant Editor 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: AMERICA'S RACE ON VETERANS DAY OCTOBER 29, 2020 3 The Army West Point cross country program announced Monday that the U.S. Military Academy will host the inaugural ‘America’s Race’ service academy cross country championships on the historic West Point Plain on Nov. 11. Courtesy Graphic Army to host Navy, Air Force in ‘America’s Race’ on The Plain By Nick Lovera Military Academy at West Point.” for everyone involved,” Smith said. “As Army Athletic Communications The Veterans Day competition will begin the race unfolds, the runners will pass with the women’s 6K race at 2:30 p.m. under the watchful eyes of the statues of The Army West Point cross country followed by the men’s 8K race at 3:30 p.m. Grant, MacArthur, Washington, Patton and program announced Monday that the U.S. The entirety of the competition will take Eisenhower, set against the backdrop of the Military Academy will host the inaugural place on The Plain and attendance will be buildings where those and countless other ‘America’s Race’ service academy cross limited to the Corps of Cadets. cadets have lived and learned.” country championships on the historic West The grounds of The Plain are entrenched The Army and Navy cross country Point Plain on Nov. 11. in the long history of the U.S. Military programs have each seen success thus far in America’s Race, presented by USAA, will academy. the shortened 2020 season. be the first major athletic event to take place As the original grounds of the academy In the annual Army-Navy ‘Star’ Meet on the parade grounds of The Plain since in 1778, it remains the site of the longest earlier this month, Army and Navy split the opening of Michie Stadium in 1924 and continually occupied U.S. Army Garrison results among the women’s and men’s the first ever tri-meet contest among Army, in America. competitions with the Black Knights winning Navy and Air Force. The competition will be The land was the site for the first Army- the women’s meet and Navy winning the streamed live on ESPN Plus. Navy football game in 1890 and was the men’s meet. The meet will mark Air Force’s “This event is special on several levels,” home field for the Army football team until first competition of 2020. Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Michie Stadium opened in 1924. Earlier The Falcons finished eighth in the Mike Smith said. “It is a salute to service and this year, The Plain hosted the U.S. Military USTFCCA Women’s National Coaches’ Poll a celebration of the commitment to serve Academy graduation ceremony for the first in 2019. Army last competed with Air Force our country made by young men and women time since 1977. in a head-to-head competition in 1962. at the three service academies that sponsor “The opportunity to compete on this “This is a once in a lifetime event, on Division I cross country on a day that we as a hallowed patch of ground traversed by all a special day, at one of America’s national country come together to recognize and honor cadets at one time or another and presided treasures, contested on a piece of ground that military service.