Branch Week at West Point took place from August 31 to September 1. Annually, the DMI Accessions plans, coordinates, and executes USMA’s Branch Week to showcase the lethality and capability of the U.S. Army. The week is designed to give cadets a chance to learn more about the diversity of future career opportunities through interaction with Branch Representatives (both in person and virtually) and U.S. Army equipment staged on the Plain. Photos. View Branch Week video.

As several cadets streamed into the second floor of Cullum Hall, the task at hand was simply part of the “new normal” for them — getting swabbed for COVID-19. To fight complacency in a “bubble” environment, USMA has continued its rigorous COVID-19 strategy from the summer with the proactive approach of executing surveillance testing on a weekly basis during the academic year. Currently, as the testing strategy stands, USMA and USMAPS test 2.5% of cadets, about 115 total, randomly per week. In addition, about 1% of the USMA population including DOD civilians, staff and faculty and 10% of clinical health personnel are tested every two weeks. Full story.

A person’s attitude can be contagious, and keeping the right people by your side to help you make important decisions can be the difference between being a reliable leader or one that leads his or her subordinates astray. For First Captain Reilly McGinnis, Class of 2021, this has been her personal adage since she began her cadet career at West Point. Serving as First Captain comes with a lot of responsibility, but McGinnis sees herself being a servant-leader for the long haul. Full story.

All USMA graduates are encouraged to vote in the WPAOG 2020 Annual Election. Not later than October 17, proxies will be emailed or mailed to each graduate. Graduates whose email address is on file at WPAOG will receive an email that contains a link to a personalized, confidential online voting site maintained by Amplitude Research, Inc. Other graduates will receive paper proxies via the U.S. Postal Service. Voting closes at 5pm EST on November 16, the evening before the WPAOG Annual Meeting and Election, which will take place at 5pm EST on November 17. This year the Annual Meeting will take place at The Hotel Thayer, West Point, New York.

Looking for a way to share the excitement of West Point’s victory over Louisiana-Monroe while still maintaining social distancing? Join us this Saturday, September 12 at 1:30pm EDT for a virtual tailgate gathering! Simply turn on the game and join the online party, using a Chrome browser for the best experience. Chat with fellow fans, learn some West Point facts, enter raffles, and take advantage of some special WPAOG Gift Shop flash sales all from the comfort of your own home! Space is limited so please RSVP today to reserve your spot. For questions, please email alumni-services@wpaog.org. Go Army!  Beat LA-Monroe!

In 1907, Buffalo Soldiers, recognized by many as the best Cavalrymen in the Army, began serving at West Point and teaching Cadets horsemanship, often in the “Riding Hall” that we now know as Thayer Hall, until World War II. This service is recognized annually at West Point. On September 6, the 59th annual Buffalo Soldier Memorial Ceremony was held at Buffalo Soldier Field. Although the public could not attend the ceremony this year due to COVID-19, West Point continues to honor the legacy of the 9th and 10th Cavalry Units of the Buffalo Soldiers stationed at West Point. Photos. View video “Buffalo Soldiers: A West Point Story.”

It’s been five years since the last Register was published, and we are preparing for the next edition of WPAOG’s oldest publication. This edition will be an indispensable treasury of military history, with individual entries recording the names, classes and careers of every West Point graduate from 1802 to the present. Your career biography should contain as a minimum your military assignments and decorations, and can also include your career after the military. You can help make this issue as up-to-date as possible – just login and update your Register entry at WestPointAOG.org/RegisterUpdate. We plan to open sales in October – so stay tuned!

In a reflective article, CDT John Cote ’22 describes an aspect of this summer’s upperclass Cadet Leader Development training called “Tree Talks,” which fostered cadet discussion on important issues at West Point. Topics such as racism, mental health and sexual assault and harassment were discussed one-to-one in an informal environment after training in active listening. The goal was to develop a better understanding of these issues by listening to the perspective of someone with a different background. And a better understanding leads to more efficient efforts toward solutions. Full story.

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. 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 Winter 2020 issue to discover and support these books. Learn more about this and other WPAOG advertising and sponsorship opportunities.