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Financial Report - December 31, 2000

Checking/Savings Total
Previous US Bank 9/30/2000 $1,389.55 $551.88 $1,941.43
11/30/2000 $958.55 $552.95 $1,511.50
Current 12/31/2000 $958.55 $553.44 $1,511.99
Checking Expenses - cleared
#344 George Mears $135.00 Reimbursement for badge order
#345 WPPC of NY $224.19 13 source books
#346 George Mears $71.81 Reim for boodle & mailing Total expenses $431.00
Savings Deposits
Interest for October $.55
Interest for November + $.52
Subtotal $1.07
Interest for December + $.49
Total deposits $1.56
$1,511.99 available as of December 31, 2000

Respectfully submitted:
George & Evelyn Mears

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POST NIGHT - FIRSTIES

The procedure is simple. Each Unit and Post has informed the Academy as to the number of slots available for graduating Lieutenant's in the branch in question. After all the Firsties are assembled with their other classmates of the same branch the cadet who is first in order of merit in the group is asked which post assignment he wants to select. For example, there may be 12 postings available at Ft. Bragg and only one available at Stuttgart, Germany. Once the post in Stutgart, Germany is selected that location is closed and the remaining slots are still available. The last cadet in order of merit (his standing in the class) takes whichever slot is still available.  After this evening in February the graduating Firsties will know where they are going to wind up in the Army for their first troop assignment.

Larry D. Smith, '62
wpp-net moderator

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CPME's Combined Arms Team - The VET

     Duty. Honor. Country. These three words are arguably the most important words at West Point; add respect for others, professional ethics and Army values and you have a list of difficult topics to teach cadets.  West Point's Center for the Professional Military Ethic (CPME) is tasked with developing programs to teach these higher level concepts to the cadets.  The company Values Education Team (VET) takes these programs and translates them for cadet understanding and internalization. Of the many missions for staff and faculty, this is one of the most important that they accomplish.
     The VET provides a team oriented approach to the moral and ethical education of a cadet company. The team consists of a company's Tactical Officer and Tactical Non-Commissioned Officer, the first and second class honor, respect, and ADDIC representatives, the cadet company commander and six staff and faculty members. The staff and faculty members are civilian and military volunteers who use teaching, coaching and mentoring techniques to impart professional character and commitment to cadets.
     VET classes include honor, respect, professional ethics and Army values. Classes are taught throughout the year. Most classes are taught by the cadets themselves with the VET members serving in a mentoring role, although some classes can be taught by officers if a more experienced perspective is desired. Candid discussions and honest introspection are encouraged in the classes, as opposed to traditional lectures. The large number of VET members present (usually 2-3 per class) enable small group discussions to occur, facilitating more cadet participation. Along with classes for cadets, VET volunteers are invited to many cadet company functions, including meals in the mess hall and tailgates. Many times, this enables informal mentor relationships with individual cadets to develop.
     According to MAJ Benjamin Webb, the Education Officer in CPME, "The VET is a vital program in the character development process for cadets.  Its strength lies in the quality of volunteers and the tremendous command emphasis and support the program receives in the USMA community."
     First Class Cadet Keith Tulley, the Vice Chair for Honor Education, has spent countless hours working on the curriculum used by the VET, specifically for Honor classes. CDT Tulley feels the biggest asset the VET provides is the chance for a special dynamic to develop between the cadets and the officers. The cadets can relate to each other as they teach the classes, while the officers are present to answer the more philosophical questions, offer real world experiences, and relate the information to life outside of the Academy. Another benefit of the VET is their participation in the lesson rehearsals as experienced instructors and briefers. This usually improves the quality of the cadet instruction to fellow cadets.
     CPT Steve Patin, of the Department of Military Instruction, is a VET member for Company C-3. CPT Patin feels the benefits of the VET are the real army experiences members share with cadets. Cadets often "perk up" to listen to how integrity or respect is translated to the role of the platoon leader or commander. Steve is also impressed by the ability of "cadets to talk more openly about their questions concerning the honor system" and the fine line between political correctness and the golden rule. He believes such candid talk will enable cadets to be better prepared to deal with tough ethical decisions in the future.
     The biggest benefit that I can see from the VET is that it reinforces the fact that the honor system, as well as other value programs, are cadet owned and run. The work that VET members do is usually invisible to the cadets during a respect or honor class; most of the work has already been done to ensure that the instructor is well prepared and coached. During the class, cadet instructors are using instructional techniques that get their objectives across in a very effective manner, leaving the VET officers to overwatch and field the occasional tough question or Army analogy. To see this is to acknowledge that cadets and officers can work together to teach the hardest of principles: integrity, respect for others, duty, loyalty, and personal courage.

Jackie (Kalata) Whiteside '93
I welcome your comments at Rangersct@aol.com

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                       NEW PARACHUTE

According to the Jan. 1 edition of "Army Times", soldiers in the 10th Special Forces Group are jumping with a new parachute, the SF-10A, designed to withstand the harsh, high-altitude conditions of Ft. Carson, CO.   It is the same parachute used by smoke jumpers of the U.S. Forest Service.   Fifteen specially designed rectangular "holes" in the perimeter of the canopy reduce the opening shock of the parachute, slows the jumpers decent from the standard 14-feet-per-second to about 12.5 feet per second, and also makes it much more maneuverable than the standard MC1-1C.  Apparently it is being looked at as a possible replacement throughout the force.

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Company Command.com
Check out this new website, the "brainchild" of three West Point Grads
http://www.usma.edu/PublicAffairs/PV/WebSite.htm

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Eisenhower Hall Theater Season Events
CARMEN - 2/4                                                      CELLO - 2/11
CHICAGO - 2/23-24                                   The CHEIFTAINS - 3/11
BBC SCOTTISH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA -  3/17
MAUREEN McGOVERN & JOHN PIZZARELLI - 4/8
    JEKYLL & HYDE - 4/28      The COLORADO QUARTET - 4/22
  MARK TWAIN TONIGHT! - 5/8
     For further information: http://www.eisenhowerhall.com

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ARMY BASE GUEST HOUSES
The direct numbers for the 5-Star Inn (several buildings located on West Point grounds)
(845) 938-6816 or (845) 446-1028/1034
It's website is:  http://www.usma.edu/dcfa/ACTIVITY/5STAR/5STAR.HTM
I believe your cadet must make reservations, but call and find out.  Often rooms are simple suites, with kitchen facilities, and quite inexpensive.  Can't beat it for convenience and cost! 
The 800 number available for all Army installation guest houses (Fort Knox, Benning, etc.) is: 1-800-GOARMY1    (Save this number!) 
This includes a very nice hotel for military personnel on the Disneyland, Orlando
grounds for about $60.00/night!
    All phones at USMA can be found in the on-line phone book at:
http://www.usma.edu/guide_page/agencies_phone.htm#  
Just remember the area 914 code has changed to 845.

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                                2000 Oregon/SW Washington Club Officers

         Richard & Susan Adams