News and Features

  • West Point participates in Opening Day at Yankee Stadium

    The U.S. Military Academy Corps of Cadets and Cadet Color Guard presented the colors prior to the New York Yankees’ Opening Day game against the Baltimore Orioles March 28 at Yankee Stadium. (Not shown) USMA Band vocalist/section leader MaryKay Messenger sang “God Bless America” during the seventh inning stretch. Read More

    Posted on April 4th, 2019 3:43 pm

  • Preparedness Exercise to test West Point’s readiness

    Although West Point has served as an impregnable citadel of Army values for more than 200 years, it is not similarly invincible from the acts of a determined adversary. As members of this community, we all must be prepared—through education and action—to respond rapidly and capably to a full range of potential threats. Readiness is our most potent defense against any foe. The question is, “Are we ready?”
    West Point officials are committed to ensuring the health, safety and welfare of community members; the protection of property; and the sustainment of essential installation operations should an emergency occur.
    Normal day-to-day procedures are not sufficient for assessing effective emergency response, as extraordinary emergency measures must be implemented quickly if impacts on lives, property, utilities and operations are to be kept to a minimum. Read More

    Posted on April 4th, 2019 3:42 pm

  • Army West Point Track and Field provides outreach to VA Hospital

    Each year, as spring break rolls around, the Army West Point Track and Field team packs its bags and travels to warmer weather for its annual training trip. This year in Irvine, California, the cadets took a break from their afternoon practices to visit the Long Beach VA Medical Center.
    During their guided tour of the on-ground facilities, cadets were given the opportunity to reach out to passing veterans and spend time communicating with past and present brothers and sisters in arms.
    The opportunity to connect with the veterans gave cadets an appreciation of those who served before them. This experience brought joy to the eyes of the veterans who were given the chance to talk to and see the youth that will be joining the profession of arms as future Army lieutenants. Read More

    Posted on April 4th, 2019 3:41 pm

  • Civil War symbolically ends: Grant at Appomattox

    The siege of Petersburg, Virginia was a foreshadowing of the Great War in Europe 50  years later. There have always been trenches, barriers and sieges of castles, fortresses or cities in history, but the use of modern heavy artillery and explosives and many miles of entrenchments was new and different. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant decided to out flank the Confederates by making a risky river crossing of the James River in mid-June 1864.
    Of course, Gen. George Meade, commanding the Army of the Potomac, executed it. Grant wanted to push on and capture Petersburg, a railroad hub city a few miles south of Richmond. Gen. Robert Lee was caught unaware at Cold Harbor waiting for the Federals’ next move. The Federals rapid movement and bridging of the James River was totally unexpected. Read More

    Posted on April 4th, 2019 3:32 pm

  • West Point Tax Center is accepting new returns/drop offs through Friday

    By Capt. Hilarie Wiley
    Legal Assistance Attorney
    Office of the Staff Judge Advocate

    The West Point Tax Center is currently operating on the fourth floor of Building 606. Hours of operations are 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
    Currently, the center’s last date when it will be accepting new returns/drop-offs this year is Friday.
    Additionally, instead of scheduling appointments, all patrons (except for cadet candidates) will come in person to pick up paperwork to complete.
    This paperwork will be available in Building 606 in the hallway outside of regular hours of operations for those who need this flexibility.
    After filling out the forms, patrons will meet with a tax preparer, who will review the paperwork for completeness before accepting it.
    Clients will leave the paperwork with the preparer and when the tax return is complete, they will be notified to return a second time to sign their tax return and receive a copy of the return for their records. Read More

    Posted on April 4th, 2019 3:08 pm

  • West Point Band presents “American Tapestry” in Connecticut

    The West Point Band will continue its Masterworks Concert Series with a performance titled “American Tapestry” at 2 p.m. Sunday in Ridgefield, Connecticut. The concert will take place at Ridgefield High School, located at 700 North Salem Road.
    This concert is free and open to all; no tickets are required.
    Join the West Point Band for this family-friendly performance of music by some of your favorite American composers, from Aaron Copland’s famous Hoe-Down to selections from “The Patriot” by John Williams.
    An entertaining mix of patriotic fare is complemented by the virtuosic prowess of featured soloists Staff Sgt. Andrew Dougherty on Bruce Broughton’s “Tuba Concerto,” and Staff Sgt. Manuel Ramos on Weber’s “Concertino, Op. 26” for clarinet.
    Bring your family and friends for an afternoon of musical treasures performed by the Army’s oldest band. Read More

    Posted on April 4th, 2019 3:06 pm

  • FAEP in Spain

    U.S. Military Academy cadets spent spring break in Spain for the Foreign Academy Exchange Program. Read More

    Posted on March 28th, 2019 3:37 pm

  • USMA Band members mentor student musicians

    Members of the West Point Band mentored 75 student musicians from communities across New York City as part of the Harmony Program’s Youth Orchestra Day at Murry Bergtraum High School in Lower Manhattan on March 2.
    The Harmony Program is an education organization that provides free instruments and intensive classical music instruction to 400 children in economically-challenged communities across New York City.
    This city-wide gathering marked the progression of a multi-year collaboration between the West Point Band and the Harmony Program.
    West Point Band members Sgt. 1st Class Kristen Mather de Andrade, along with Staff Sgts. Katrina Owens, Gillian Huff, Alaina Alster and David Bergman, traveled to New York City to work with the 75 elementary and middle school students for Youth Orchestra Day. Read More

    Posted on March 28th, 2019 3:29 pm

  • Schrade performs with Big Yellow Band

    Class of 2020 Cadet Courtney Schrade is the co-captain of the Spirit Band, and one of the stars of the Class of 2020 Russian major contingent.  Excited by the opportunity to study a strategically significant language while immersing herself in the culture of a partner state, Schrade is also taking advantage of what her Study Abroad site has to offer, continuing her own growth while also spreading American culture abroad. The Big Yellow Band, from Kiev, consists mostly of Ukrainian musicians, is an ensemble of both professional and amateur musicians, sharing an atmosphere which encourages a sense of inclusion and optimism. This jazz band has a classic jazz repertoire, combining high-quality execution and a selection of music familiar to a full range of ages and backgrounds. Read More

    Posted on March 28th, 2019 3:28 pm

  • Grant comes East: ‘Along this line if it takes all Summer’

    After the great victory at Chattanooga in November 1863, the western area of operations was dominated by Federal field armies under Grant. The only major object now was to destroy Confederate Braxton Bragg’s Army of the Tennessee, which would clear a path into Georgia and capture of the foremost industrial and transportation hub in the west: Atlanta. Grant wintered in Chattanooga preparing his 80,000 troops in three field armies for the drive into the heart of the Confederacy, which would possibly bring victory and the end of the war in 1864.
    With a stalemate in the east, the west was the theater of maneuver, success and the key to victory. Grant was excited and ready for the spring campaign season.
    This all changed when he was summoned to Washington D.C. Read More

    Posted on March 28th, 2019 3:27 pm

    • Previous Entries »« New Entries