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West Point Update (Jun 08) |
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Page 2 of 4 3. The Dean scratched his head trying to figure out how to teach all the same academic subject material in two less weeks and came up with a couple of answers. First, shorten Re-organization Week to three days, ending Wednesday evening. Use the Thursday and Friday of that week for academic classes. Second, eliminate some of the holiday time off during the year. Classes are now going to be in session on Columbus Day, Veterans Day, and Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday. Third, eliminate the Re-Orgy week that used to take place in January so that classes can be substituted there instead. Finally, Plebe Parent Weekend, which used to disrupt a portion of one of the Academic Weeks in October has been moved to the beginning of Spring Break in March and Plebes must stay on post over the first weekend of Spring Break, while the upper classes are permitted to leave on Saturday, to host their parents through the following Monday for the new Plebe Parent Weekend. Then Plebes will be permitted to take a shortened Spring Break. By adding a few minutes here or there to the schedule over the academic year the Dean has managed to cram all the same material into two semesters that are two weeks shorter. We knew the Dean was smart. Now, he has proven it.
4. Football. Two big changes for football this year. Recognizing that we were playing teams well beyond our level the academy bought out three teams that were already scheduled for the upcoming 2008 season and replaced them with teams against which we may be able to play competitively. Gone from this years schedule are Ohio State, Georgia Tech, and Tulsa. In their place are New Hampshire, Eastern Michigan, and Buffalo. The opening game this season is Friday 29 August 2008, against Temple University. Second, be prepared to see the Option Offense again. For the past 10 years we have been running a Pro offense called the "West Coast Offense". It's pretty obvious that this will not work with our team so the coaching staff is going back to the Option and we'll see it later this year in our next season. Cross your fingers, and wish for a little luck!
5. The Superintendent has decided that we need to capitalize on our brand name, "West Point." Most of the literature, T-shirts, and other paraphernalia from USMA will now feature the name West Point prominently on it. I think we all realize that the name "Army" or the letters "USMA" do not really tell most Americans who we are but, mention the name "West Point" and a light goes off in their heads. That's what's driving this change. "West Point" is our brand.
6. The program, begun five years ago, to offer graduating cadets either the first post of their choice, the branch of their choice, or guaranteed graduate schooling after eight years of service has been effective. In the Class of 2007 37% of the class elected to add three years of additional active duty service, for a total of eight years active, to receive one of these three choices.
7. The cadet overseas experience is expanding. You are probably aware that West Point exchanges some cadets with the Air Force and Naval Academies for a full semester during Cow year. Well, semester exchanging has expanded to a semester abroad in other countries institutions. This academic year there were 144 cadets serving a semester abroad somewhere. This is a major increase in this program (up from 4 cadets four years ago) and intended to give cadets a broader world view and appreciation for other cultures and languages.
8. It gets even better. This past Spring Break 60 cadets gave up their leave to experience a shortened experience at military academies in other countries. This is a voluntary program and, oversubscribed. And finally, 500 cadets have some sort of travel abroad experience during the summer training periods. Again, the army wants our future officers to understand other cultures.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 21 June 2008 )
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