JULY 7, 2016 1 THE JULY 7, 2016 VOL. 73, NO. 26 ® UTY ONOR OUNTRY OINTER IEW D , H , C PSERVING THE U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY AND THE COMMUNITY V OF WEST POINT ® A Steely Focus (Above) New cadets from the Class of 2020 soak up knowledge from the New Cadet Handbook June 29 during their third day of Cadet Basic Training at the U.S. Military Academy. (Right) Class of 2017 Cadet Anne Reidinger keeps the new cadets in line and focused before their next task during the fi rst week of Cadet Basic Training. P HOTOS BY MICHELLE EBERHART/PV 2 JULY 7, 2016 NEWS & FEATURES POINTER VIEW Thank you for your hard work A Fond Farewell By Col. Landy Dunham during the holiday weekend West Point Garrison Commander By Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr. To the West Point Garrison and Community, USMA Superintendent As the Change of Command and To the West Point Team, Responsibility ceremony for U.S. Army I want to express my deepest thanks for the hard Garrison West Point draws near, Command Sgt. work and outstanding support you all have provided Maj. Joel Crawford and I want to thank all the over this past holiday weekend. Soldiers, cadets, civilians, family members and Our annual Independence Day concert and fireworks citizens of our neighboring communities. We display was a huge success, drawing thousands of agree that serving as your Garrison Command visitors to West Point. The West Point Band, as always, team has been the greatest honor of both of our put on an outstanding performance that both entertained blessed military careers. and inspired everyone in attendance, particularly the West Point is home to the world’s premier new cadets who enjoyed a brief break from Cadet Basic leader development institution, where we Training. educate, train and inspire leaders of character The Band also responded to a last-minute request who are committed to the values of Duty, Honor, to travel to New York City and perform on Fox and Country. Friends that morning. I truly appreciate their flexibility Sustaining West Point takes an amazing and willingness to represent West Point to a nationwide audience. team of teams consisting of our Garrison, the Additionally, I’d like to thank the Directorate of Emergency Services team for their many elements of the United States Military Col. Landy Dunham herculean efforts in maintaining crowd control and security at Trophy Point, as well as getting Academy, Keller Army Community Hospital most of all you have shown us love. Thank you. our visitors on and off post safely. and all other supporting organizations. We will certainly miss our rockbound On Monday, we conducted funeral services for Cadet Tom Surdyke from the Class of It also takes the efforts of hundreds of highland home and each and every one of you. 2019, who passed away last week while heroically saving a civilian swimmer’s life during outstanding local community volunteers with a I ask that you welcome the new USAG West his leave. The Surdyke family asked to have services on July 4, which would have been desire to serve and the same strong commitment Point Command team with open arms. Col. Tom’s 19th birthday, and I’m grateful for the incredible support everyone provided to honor to excellence. Andy Hanson and Command Sgt. Maj. Roderick the family’s wishes. For the past two years, this community has Taylor represent the best of our Army and are So many of you from USCC, the Chaplain’s office, the Association of Graduates and shown Command Sgt. Maj. Crawford and me eager to join this winning team. the USMA staff went above and beyond, working on an accelerated timeline over a holiday commitment, wisdom, courage and loyalty, but Beat Navy! weekend, in order to support the Surdyke family and provide a proper tribute to our fallen teammate. Additionally, the Village of Highland Falls and a number of local businesses stepped in on short notice to support the family. I am personally overwhelmed by your dedication, commitment to excellence and USMA announces new CSM willingness to always go the extra mile. Words cannot fully express my appreciation for all of your efforts and I am proud to lead such an amazing group of professionals. By West Point Public Affairs Office the 19th Command Thank you for all you do each and every day to make us the world’s premier leader Sergeant Major of development institution. The Department of the Army announced the U.S. Military Beat Navy! Tuesday the selection of Command Sgt. Maj. Academy at West Timothy A. Guden as the 19th Command Point,” Guden said. Sergeant Major of the United States Military “I am excited and Academy at West Point. honored to be able “Command Sergeant Major Guden is to serve at this New Cadet Visitation Day takes place an outstanding leader who brings a wealth very prestigious of experience to this important position,” institution and Command Sgt. Maj. Superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen, Jr. the immense Timothy Guden from 1-5 p.m. July 17 for Class of 2020 said. “He will be a great role model for the Corps importance of its purpose does not escape me of Cadets as well as our staff and faculty, and for one second. I look forward to serving with New Cadet Visitation Day, commonly referred to as the “Ice Cream Social,” is scheduled we look forward to him joining the West Point each and every member of the West Point team 1-5 p.m. July 17. leadership team.” as we mold America’s sons and daughters into Volunteers are needed and they should review important information on the sign-up page Guden is currently the Joint Force commissioned leaders of character who will at the Academy Management System (AMS) website at https://apps.usma.edu/. Headquarters-National Capital Region serve within and be the future of this great Volunteers from across the West Point community will pick up new cadets from the Command Sergeant Major in Fort McNair, profession we call the Army.” barracks, listen to their stories, allow them to communicate with friends and family, and share Washington, D.C. Guden will assume responsibility of the light refreshments. The Class of 2020 has approximately 1,300 new cadets. “It is truly humbling to have been selected as Academy later this summer. 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 845-346-3214. of the Department of Defense. Contents of the Pointer View are not necessarily the official views of, or constitute endorsement of the products or services advertised by the U.S. Army or the Times Herald- Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen, Jr. Michelle Eberhart 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 publication will be made available for purchase, use or patronage Lt. Col. Christopher G. Kasker [email protected] Affairs Office, Bldg. 600, West Point, New York 10996, (845) 938-2015. without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, Public Affairs Officer Kathy Eastwood The Pointer View is printed weekly by the Times Herald-Record, a private firm in no way connected political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Eric S. Bartelt PV Staff Writer, 938-3684 with the Department of the Army, under exclusive contract with West Point. The Times Herald-Record is If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher PV Managing Editor, 938-2015 responsible for all commercial advertising. will refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation has been corrected. [email protected] [email protected] POINTER VIEW IN FOCUS: COMMAND CHANGES JULY 7, 2016 3 Budihas takes charge at USMAPS Col. Christopher Budihas assumed command of the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School (USMAPS) during a ceremony at Bates Auditorium July 1. Budihas graduated from Jacksonville University and was commissioned as a Distinguished Military Graduate in the Infantry in 1994. He originally enlisted into the Marines in 1987 as a rifleman, before being selected into the enlisted commissioning program. PHOTOS BY MICHELLE EBERHART/PV Rutledge new 2nd Aviation Commander U.S. Military Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr., presents the 2nd Aviation Detachment guidon to incoming 2nd Avn. Commander CW4 Michael G. Rutledge July 1 at the 2nd Avn. Hanger at Stewart Airport. Rutledge enlisted in the U.S. Navy, became a Naval Aircrewman and Helicopter Rescue Combat Support Squadron Five at Naval Air Station Agana, Guam as a crew chief on a CH-46. Rutledge was accepted to Army Warrant Officer Candidate School in 2002 and follow-on training as an Army Aviator. Rutledge replaces CW5 Alan C. Mack who was the commander of the West Point Flight Detachment (2nd AVN) since July 12, 2013. PHOTO BY KATHY EASTWOOD/PV 4 JULY 7, 2016 POINTER VIEW West Point Cadet experiences Civil Affairs, Cultural Training Story and photo by Spc. Angela Lorden their experiences in the Army to better his training opportunities that cross his way. seen how it’s changed people, for the better.