The WPAOG Parent Handbook provides everything you need to know about being a member of the West Point community and participating in your cadet’s 47-month experience. The guide includes valuable information about visiting West Point, resources available to families, WPAOG support and services, connecting with other families through the WPAOG website’s Parent Portal, how to become involved with Parents Clubs, and special events. Thanks to generous donations to funds like the West Point Parents Fund, the Parent Handbook is available now to download from the Parent Portal for all families. If you have any questions, please contact Shelisa Baskerville at 845.446.1535 or parentrelations@wpaog.org.

USMA welcomed over 1,200 cadet candidates from every state in the nation last week starting on Sunday, July 12. Reception Day (R-Day) was staggered over three days this year to safeguard the health and welfare of all cadet candidates, families, and community members. The days mark the beginning of Cadet Basic Training and the first day of their transition from civilian to new cadet and a member of the Class of 2024. On July 15, the Class of 2024 participated in the Oath Ceremony & Review. WPAOG Photos. USMA Photos. Facts about the Class of 2024.

WPAOG is excited to welcome the Class of 2024 parents and families to West Point! As a reminder to all, parents receive regular updates on the Academy and the Corps of Cadets through our quarterly West Point magazine, this monthly Parent Review enewsletter, and access to the Parent Portal on our website. Because we were not able to meet the New Cadet parents in person this year, we made a welcome video which is a great reminder of all the ways that WPAOG is here for parents.

Flexibility is a word not just used to describe the dexterity of a gymnast or a highly-skilled athlete, it also pertains to the mental swiftness and ability to overcome the circumstances of an ever-changing environment that may pose many difficulties for ultimate success. As the stress of COVID-19 continued to ravage the world during the spring, it also played a role in disrupting the initial Cadet Summer Training schedule. Nevertheless, USMA’s Department of Military Instruction was able to redevelop the original summer training plan in three weeks, squeezing three-plus months of training into six weeks. Full story.

Cadet Summer Training at USMA will be conducted differently than in previous years this summer, but one thing remains the same. More than 1,000 active duty Soldiers will be at West Point, taking responsibility for developing and training cadets. This summer’s task force comes from 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Polk, LA, with the main force of Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, Task Force Ramrod. There are currently 785 Soldiers on the installation preparing to run summer training, and that number will swell to more than 1,000 once all auxiliary units arrive. Full story.

Relax and enjoy the summer sun in our newest styles from Tommy Bahama. Our Tropics Jacquard Camp Shirt is everything you will want and need in a summer shirt: silk jacquard with a subtle, solid Hawaiian print, and the Athena helmet as the finishing touch. Our store in Herbert Hall is now open and waiting to welcome you back. Remember, you can also place your order online at WPAOGGiftShop.com, or by phone at 1.800.426.4725.

We are so proud of the many ways that West Point graduates are contributing in the global fight against COVID-19! They are serving Haiti (Palmatier ’74), and the Navajo Nation (Fuhrmeister ’74). Taking care of soldiers (Boeckmann ’12) and training fellow healthcare workers (Bunin ’96, Hueman ’96). From leveraging data analytics and artificial intelligence (Hoffman ’92, Sulley ’92, Boyle ’90) to proactive efforts to get ahead of the virus (Underwood ’87). From protecting hospice patients (Thurman ’00) to designing ventilators (Callahan ’86), and from leading a hospital’s response to the pandemic (Ellis ’91) to creating alternative care sites (Fogarty ’10) the Long Gray Line continues to make a difference! Learn more about West Point grads on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19 by following WPAOG on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and in the upcoming Summer issue of West Point magazine, coming to mailboxes in August.

WPAOG won two Gold Stevie® Awards and two Silver Stevie Awards in the 18th Annual American Business Awards®. The competition included more than 3,600 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry. WPAOG’s Gold awards were for Public Relations: NonProfit Fund Raising (150th Anniversary Video), and Other Publication – Association or Non-Profit (Parent Handbook). The Silver Awards were for Organization of the Year – Non-Profit or Government – Small, and Human Resources Team of the Year (The New Career Services Team). Read More.

The 17th induction class into the Army Sports Hall of Fame features nine inductees:

Rhonda Barush ’86, Rifle
Leamon Hall ’78, Football
Don Kutyna ’57, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Jack Price ’33, Football
Stewart Sherard ’62, Men’s Basketball Athlete and Assistant Coach
Kenny Smith ’67, Baseball, Hockey
Gene Ventriglia, Women’s Soccer Head Coach
Cardell Williams ’83, Men's Track & Field
Ron Zinn ’62, Olympian

The honorees will be officially inducted into the Army Sports Hall of Fame on October 9. Read more.

A limited number of Army-Navy hotel rooms are still open in the Alumni Block. Click here for more information. Rooms are first-come, first-serve, so book your room today before they sell out! Have free time? Take part in our 2nd annual Army-Navy Button Design Contest. Entries are due Friday, August 28, and the winner will receive 2 free tailgate tickets. Tailgate details to follow.

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.