Advisory: USMA Inspires Cadets, Community Pledge to Service

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The U.S. Military Academy marks the dedication of its cadets’ and greater communities’ commitment to service during Inspiration Week, an inaugural series of events showcasing history, innovation, volunteerism, athletics and sacrifice from April 25 to May 4.

“As we approach the graduation and commissioning season, we are reminded of the service that our cadets have elected to undertake,” said U.S. Military Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Darryl A. Williams. “Just as they were once inspired to join the Profession of Arms in a time of war, so are they an inspiration to their families, their community and the nation.”

Customarily, the academy educates and inspires the Corps of Cadets about its past and present role in shaping and strengthening the character of the nation, but during Inspiration Week, staff, faculty and community are invited to participate.

Inspiration Week events:

April 25 General Ulysses S. Grant Monument Unveiling
April 27 Retiree Appreciation Day at Eisenhower “Ike” Hall
April 27 General Thaddeus Kosciuszko Wreath Laying Ceremony
May 2 Inspiration to Serve Tour and Projects Day
May 4 44th Hudson Valley Spring Special Olympics

Media interested in covering any of the events should coordinate with the Media Relations Branch at paomediarelations@westpoint.edu or 845-938-2006.

About West Point

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point is a four-year, co-educational, federal, liberal arts college located 50 miles north of New York City. It was founded in 1802 as America's first college of engineering and continues today as the world’s premier leader-development institution, consistently ranked among top colleges in the country. Its mission remains constant—to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the U. S. Army. For more information, go to https://www.westpoint.edu.

WHO: U.S. Military Academy
WHAT: Ulysses S. Grant statue unveiling
WHY: USMA will dedicate a statue of President Ulysses S. Grant to honor his service to the academy, the Army, and the nation, and provide a tribute to his legacy. In 2017, the Committee on Armed Services, U.S. House of Representatives encouraged the Secretary of the Army to consider placing a statue of Ulysses S. Grant at West Point in time for the sesquicentennial of his inauguration as the 18th President of the United States. The West Point Association of Graduates sought Margin of Excellence funding for the statue. Inspired by a personal admiration for Grant, Robert A. McDonald, Class of 1975, and his wife Diane, offered to fully fund the project. The bronze portrait of Grant is a tribute to his significant contributions as an academy graduate, Class of 1843, and U.S. president serving from 1869 to 1877.
WHEN: April 25 at 1 p.m.
WHERE: The Plain

WHO: U. S. Military Academy and West Point
WHAT: Retiree Appreciation Day
WHY: United States military retirees and family members are invited to come to the 45th Annual West Point Retiree Appreciation Day to get updated information and make connections with fellow retirees. Events include: West Point band performance by the Hellcats, guest speakers, cadet review and drill team demonstration and West Point Parachute Team demonstration prior to lunch at Cadet Mess.
WHEN: April 27 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
WHERE: Eisenhower Hall

WHO: U.S. Military Academy and Kosciuszko Foundation
WHAT: Kosciuszko wreath-laying ceremony
WHY: To honor the legacy of General Thaddeus Kosciuszko for his contributions to the academy and American independence. Preceding the wreath-laying, there will be a review of the Corps of Cadets on the Plain. U.S. Army Garrison and military police firing party and West Point Band drummer and bugler will participate in the ceremonies.
WHEN: April 27 at 12:30 a.m.
WHERE: Kosciuszko Monument

WHO: U.S. Military Academy
WHAT: Inspiration to Serve Tour
WHY: The Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic will sponsor the 14th annual Inspiration to Serve cemetery tour, which embodies character, competence and commitment, helps prepare the Class of 2021 (yearlings), who are halfway through their education before the class formally commits to the “Profession of Arms” in an affirmation ceremony in August. The tour the academy’s single most impactful program because it connects the yearlings to the selfless service of the Long Gray Line. Eight U.S. Soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice serving their country in Iraq and or Afghanistan will be honored on the cemetery tour.
WHEN: May 2 from 1 to 5 p.m.
WHERE: West Point Cemetery

WHO: U.S. Military Academy and West Point Garrison
WHAT: Projects Day
WHY: Projects Day highlights academic excellence across the U.S. Military Academy showcasing leaders of character who think critically, internalize their professional identity and will employ their education to help build the Army and the nation’s future. More than 400 cadet capstone projects reflecting senior theses, design projects, culminating performances and extramural research projects affecting current world issues will be presented. Project’s Day fosters an environment that facilitates discussion and innovation while exposing the Corps to Mentors that enable meaningful reflection and feedback for solutions to complex problems. The efforts reflect the academy’s strong connections to the Army, the Department of Defense, academia and beyond. The Army requires leaders who can innovate and adapt concepts, equipment and training to be ready for the next war. Institutional efforts such as USMA’s provide the Army with intellectual capital to drive these efforts.
WHEN: May 2 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
WHERE: Multiple locations throughout West Point

For more in-depth information, download the Projects Day app in the app store or visit the webpage at https://www.westpoint.edu/projects-day

Notable cadet projects:

1. Tactical generator monitoring system – user-friendly generator monitoring device assists soldiers to correctly load generators. Inefficient loading of military generators during deployments consumes unnecessary fuel and decreases generator lifespans requiring more convoys to bring fuel to bases with a greater risk of improvised explosive device casualties.
2. M249 Squad Automatic Weapon sound suppressor – lightweight sound suppressor protects soldiers from exposure to dangerous sound levels and enemy exposure.
3. Raspberry Pi Arduino Conservation System – easy-to-assemble, lightweight sensor network includes video, audio image and motion capabilities to provide additional security to forward deployed soldiers.
4. Tunable rucksack - reduces the stress on a soldier’s joints by allowing the weight to vertically oscillate at a frequency inversely proportional to the soldier’s step.
5. SPEAR program – develop an Immediate Counter ASAT Response Utility System (ICARUS). Cooperative partnership with Operation Space. Seeking to become the first student team to break the Karman Line at 330,000 to reach outer space.

WHO: U.S. Military Academy
WHAT: 44th Hudson Valley Spring Special Olympics
WHY: More than 1,000 athletes from Orange, Rockland, Sullivan, Dutchess, Westchester, Putnam and Ulster counties will take part in organized events. USMA will play a supporting role to the volunteering Cadets (approximately 1,700) to ensure all participants participate in a successful event.

• The event kicks off at 10 a.m. with a parade of athletes and opening ceremonies at Shea Stadium that continue through 4 p.m. Competitive events: track & field, swimming and adaptive games.
• Athletes from West Point, Monroe-Woodbury, North East Special Recreation, Wallkill and many other schools and organizations from the Hudson Valley are expected to attend.
• Omicron Delta Kappa, the Leadership Honor Society at West Point, hosts the event.
• The U.S. Corps of Cadets Color Guard and the West Point Parachute Team are among those scheduled to participate during the day’s activities.
• The Torch Run will begin from the West Point Middle School parking lot at 9:45 a.m., incorporating a contingent of cadets and community support. The group will proceed from the West Point Middle School parking lot down Washington Road, stopping at North Dock at approximately 10:20 a.m., then onto Shea Stadium for the torch lighting. Community members are encouraged to line Washington Road to cheer on the runners.
• Awards are distributed over the course of the day at the end of each athletic event.
• Competitions are scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m.

WHEN: May 4 starting at 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: Competitive events take place at various locations: Shea Stadium, North Athletic Field, Arvin Gym, Crandall Pool and Gillis Field House.