On October 1, WPAOG presented the 2020 Sylvanus Thayer Award to Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, a six-time U.S. ambassador with more than four decades of experience in the U.S. Foreign Service. In his remarks prior to bestowing the award upon Ambassador Crocker, WPAOG Chairman LTG(R) Joe DeFrancisco ’65, said “His leadership, love of country, and untiring efforts to make our nation better and stronger are lessons all Americans can admire.” Full story. Video of Thayer Award Review. Video of Acceptance Speech. USMA Photos.

West Point held its annual Ring Ceremony for the Class of 2021 on October 2 at Trophy Point, where more than 1,000 Firsties received their West Point Class rings. At the Ring Banquet the following evening, guest speaker General Richard D. Clarke ’84, who currently serves as the 12th Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), reminded the cadets of the responsibility of the West Point Class Ring in a moving speech, “Regardless of value, your rings are much more than a piece of jewelry. It is a connection to the Corps and to the Long Gray Line.” Full story. Video of Ring Ceremony. Photos. Video of USMA 2021 Ring Banquet.

On September 30, the WPAOG Class Services team hosted its annual outreach event for the Class Officers from the Classes of 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. At the breakfast, cadets had the opportunity to meet with WPAOG staff and others from the Academy with whom they will work in the future. Following the breakfast, breakout sessions were held for each of the different classes to allow class officers to engage in discussions of how WPAOG serves them and their classmates now and in the decades ahead. The cadets provided valuable feedback and insight into their experiences and we are thankful for their time and participation. Full story.

Honorable Living Day on September 23 kicked off Honorable Living Week at West Point, focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion. This marked the fourth event hosted by the U.S. Military Academy under the supervision of Superintendent LTG Darryl A. Williams ’83. The day’s discussion centered on eradicating racism with inclusive leadership. “What I ask of you today is to reflect and think about dignity and respect,” Williams said. “We educate, train and inspire. Hopefully, you are inspired today, and you are inspired to a call to action. Focus on listening to understand and not to respond.” The day began with a cadet panel, where cadets shared personal stories about their experiences related to racism and prejudice. The theme for this year’s seminar was “We Stand Together,” focusing on dignity and respect, cultivating an inclusive environment and building cohesive teams. Full story. Honorable Living Day story.

On October 5, at the Herbert Hall Alumni Center, WPAOG hosted the Company Ring and Crest Representatives for the Class of 2022, for an ‘appreciation tailgate.’ The idea for the event came from their class president, CDT Xavier Williams, and Ring and Crest Chairman, CDT Claire Jones. Williams said, “We wanted to have this event as a way to give back to our Company Ring and Crest Reps for the hard work they have put in for our class events over the past couple of years.” Full story.

Camo up and Go Army with our latest t-shirt from Vineyard Vines, due to arrive around Veterans Day. Reserve yours today as this one is sure to sell out quickly. Send a photo of you in one of our Vines t-shirts to giftshop@wpaog.org and receive a special discount off this or any Vineyard Vines item (offer good once from now to Veterans Day). Check out our entire collection of Army t-shirts from Vineyard Vines and watch for new styles arriving this fall.  Shop 24/7 at www.WPAOGGiftShop.com or call us Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm at 800.426.4725.

In an all-new update of WPAOG’s most historic publication, the 2020 Register of Graduates & Former Cadets contains more than 77,000 individual entries recording the names, classes and careers of every West Point graduate from 1802 to 2020. The 2020 Edition features a premium “Red Sash” red cloth binding embossed with gold foil, suitable for display in your office or home library. Early Bird pricing is $115 (plus tax for applicable states). After March 31, 2021 the price will increase to $150! So order now online or call us Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm at 800.426.4725.

Our next West Point Entrepreneur Virtual Speaker Series event will be held on Thursday, October 29 from 2-3:30pm EDT and will feature Joseph B. Anderson Jr. ’65, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, TAG Holdings, LLC. This fireside chat will be moderated by Rob Braggs ’94, Vice President, P&C Distribution and Service Experience, USAA. Register here. If you would like to receive invitation announcements regarding future Entrepreneur events, please email us.

Whether you’re considering a career transition or looking to hire exceptional talent, join us for the Dallas Virtual SACC (Service Academy Career Conference) October 26-30. Register now to join us online at the only job fair exclusively for service academy alumni!

• Participate in three days of employer webinars October 26-28.
• Connect virtually with recruiters from industry-leading employers on October 30.
• Meet with companies who are actually hiring!
• New & improved virtual career event platform!
• Employers are already reaching out to prospective candidates for introductory, pre-screen phone calls.
• Do not miss out on this opportunity to get a job offer during this financial crisis.

Questions? Contact us at careers@wpaog.org. Text “careerservices” to 51555 to stay up to date on hot jobs, webinars and announcements from the WPAOG Career Services team.

Let Grad Link make your relationship with the Long Gray Line stronger and easier than ever before! Grad Link is now integrated with the Sallyport application to enhance your connections to the West Point family by using one single profile. On Sallyport, you can also request or offer support through the Gripping Hands program and connect with your local West Point Society. Get ready to explore your alumni network from any computer or mobile device in the world! Activate your account now with the same email address where you are receiving this newsletter!

Reserve your space in the Spring 2021 West Point Authors Bookshelf, a specially-priced advertising section in West Point magazine showcasing books by West Point affiliated authors. Check out the latest West Point Bookshelf in the Fall 2020 issue to discover and support these books. Learn more about this and other WPAOG advertising and sponsorship opportunities.