West-Point.ORG, The West Point Connection

It really is great to be back here at the United States Military Academy. Of all of the trips as the Chief of Staff of the Army, my favorite is coming back here. The reason is because you are our future. I will talk about that tonight. I want to recognize some distinguished guests. General Jacoby is here, the Commanding General of NORTHCOM and his wife Grace. Chuck, I am so happy you could be here today. I know his son is graduating today. He is very proud of you all. Also Lieutenant General David Perkins, Commander of Combined Arms Center and also a former Commander of the 4th Infantry Division, his wife Ginger and their son Chad Perkins is graduating as part of this class today. I want to welcome all other distinguished guests.

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When his college athletic career ends, Chris Rowley will begin his post-graduate education. But his post-grad work will be different from almost every other athlete in the NCAA baseball tournament. Rowley, the ace of the pitching staff for the United States Military Academy, soon will begin his training as a field artillery officer. “Fort Stewart,” he said. “Second Brigade, Third Infantry Division. That’s a unit that deploys a lot. We don’t really know where we’re going next.” Afghanistan?

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Since my resignation from West Point, one of the most frequently asked questions sent my way has been whether or not I have any regrets. Certainly, I have spent a few minutes contemplating the potential alternative timelines that could have come to be if I had stayed. But, no, I do not regret my decision. Countless events, observations and conversations since then have left me vindicated. Time and time again I have been shown that many in our military suffer from dangerous ideological pollution in the form of Christian supremacy, Dominionism or intolerance in general. Every day as the Special Assistant to the President of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) and Director of MRFF Affairs at West Point I see redundant and nauseating examples of the same old hat. Memorial Day weekend, MRFF sent me to West Point to see first hand how things have been developing since I left.

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Col. Richard L. Hansen, originally from Blue Springs, is the new commander of the New Orleans District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Hansen became the 62nd Commander and District Engineer of the New Orleans District in a formal military change of command ceremony. Maj. Gen. John Peabody, Division Engineer for the Mississippi Valley Division and President of the Mississippi River Commission, placed the Corps of Engineers flag, symbolizing command of the New Orleans District,into Hansen’s hands. In military tradition, the passing of the flag represents the transfer of command. Col. Hansen is a 1986 graduate of Blue Springs High School and a 1990 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy-West Point. He is married to the former Catherine Sutter of Arnold, Mo., and they have two children, John and Matthew.

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“Frontlines of Freedom,” the weekly military talk show that originated on WOOD Radio, hosted by retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Denny Gillem, is returning to its first home. "Six years ago my co-founder and I created Frontlines of Freedom on WOOD radio. June 1 is the show’s six-year anniversary,” Gillem said. "It’s a great honor to be returning to our roots at the finest station in West Michigan." A total of 20 stations in six states air the military talk show that offers in-depth military and veteran information for listeners. Fourteen of the stations are in Michigan, where it's been added to Great Northern Broadcasting's news/talk simulcast on WMTE-AM (1340) in Manistee and WCUZ-FM (100.1) in Bear Lake. The show will air there 3-5 p.m. Saturdays beginning June 8. Gillem, age 72, a resident of West Michigan for nearly 30 years, is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point served 22 years as an Airborne Ranger in the U.S. Army, including two tours in Vietnam, where he earned seven awards for valor and two Purple Hearts.

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West Point military police are investigating an apparent suicide attempt in the parking lot of the U.S. Mint near the U.S. Military Academy, a West Point spokesman said. An unidentified woman was reportedly upset by marital problems when she stabbed herself around noon, officials said.

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Ashlie Christian, 2004 PHS graduate, received her Master’s of Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering with a specialization in Aircraft Design and a minor in Structures from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. She is a graduate of the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY; attended Flight School at Ft. Rucker, AL; is an Army Blackhawk Pilot.

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More than one thousand hats flew into the air at Michie Stadium here, today, and jubilation followed for the U.S. Military Academy's Class of 2013. For West Point's 215th graduating class and the Army's newest group of second lieutenants, this was, as Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel described it in his commencement address, "an important and historic occasion." "Like every man and woman who has stepped forward to serve in uniform you made a courageous decision to offer yourself for a very purposeful life," Hagel said. "This institution has educated, trained and inspired you to help shoulder the weight in defense of our nation."

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Only 500 out of the 5,000 high school juniors who applied to West Point’s Summer Leadership Experience were selected, and among them is Whitewater High junior Samuel McDonald. For one week in June, McDonald will experience life at West Point by living in the cadet barracks, eating in the cadet mess, and participating in academic, leadership, athletic, and military workshops. The purpose of the program is to help juniors with their college-selection process, while giving them an idea of the importance of leadership and sound decision-making in their education, careers, and lives, in general.

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That is, rating female cadets on Facebook, and subsequent acts? Could these be the "unforeseen circumstances" that at the last minute kept the West Point rugby team out of the collegiate championship tournament? Apparently. Rugby magazine reports that "the reason for the withdrawal at this late stage is due to an internal matter at West Point that has seen the team suspended from rugby activities for the foreseeable future." Which leads one to wonder: The offense was grave enough that the cadets involved are not allowed to play rugby. Yet they last weekend apparently still were deemed acceptable to become commissioned officers of the U.S. Army. Would it have been possible to hold off commissioning until the situation is resolved?

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