A video clip circulating on social media appears to be proof the U.S. military can’t stress weapons safety enough. But the former soldier who posted it says it’s all a joke — albeit one that triggered an Army criminal investigation.

The short clip, posted on TikTok and reshared by the Twitter account @RecruitingTruth, shows an Army specialist locking the slide of an M9 9mm pistol to the rear to ensure it’s clear and then placing it in front of another soldier, who is recording the video.

“Here you go, Sergeant; it’s clear,” the specialist says, turning his back and walking away.

The other soldier shows the camera a magazine apparently loaded with live ammunition, inserts the magazine into the pistol, then picks the weapon up and releases the slide forward to chamber a live round.

READ MORE…

The first woman to lead an Army component has assumed command of the Army Reserve and received her third star.

Newly minted Lt. Gen. Jody J. Daniels has been in the Army for more than three decades, previously serving as a division commander and the chief of staff for Army Forces Command. She also held leadership roles under U.S. Africa Command and the U.S. mission in Iraq.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville spoke Tuesday during her assumption of command ceremony at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

“It’s a special day because not only will Jody become the first woman to serve as the chief of the Army Reserve, but she’ll also be the first woman to lead an Army component,” McConville said during the live-streamed ceremony.

Daniels assumes command as the Army at large continues to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Restarting collective training, modernizing the reserve as the Army crafts its new multidomain operations doctrine and retaining talent were lines of effort she intends to pursue during her tenure.

“I want foster a mindset of teamwork, continuous learning and growth, with a particular focus on junior talent so they have a desire to continue to serve and to lead,” Daniels said. “This culture of teamwork will be essential to shaping our future.”

READ MORE…

It’s safe to say the past several months have brought unprecedented upheaval in our lives. Covid-19, varying stages of lockdown and social distancing orders have left many feeling isolated from friends and family. 

West-Point.Org was founded to facilitate communication between grads. Over the years its offerings have expanded beyond just email listservs and its audience now includes academy parents and the greater West Point community. Even after all these years, the key reason for WP-ORG’s existence remains COMMUNICATION.    

Now, more than ever, we need each other. Founders Day has been cancelled, society and club meetings have been called off, as have dinner parties, happy hour gatherings after work, and traditional summer travel. When so many other doors to community gatherings are slammed shut, WP-ORG is a constant open line of communication, strengthening the Long Gray Line. A backdoor, encouraging the West Point family to grip hands as we always have – to reach out, to touch base, to reconnect with each other.

In addition to Class listservs for grads and the various forums for parents, you may find one or both of this lists interesting to participate in:

wp-forum (graduate only list)
https://tools.west-point.org/users/join.mhtml?listname=wp-forum

political-soapbox (open to all members)
https://www.west-point.org/family/political-soapbox

Please be mindful that opinions can be expressed “forcefully” on both forums, so participation in these communities is not for the faint of heart.  You can be assured, however, that you will be challenged intellectually.

West-Point.Org also hosts websites for many West Point Classes, Societies and Parent Clubs. If you need a new website built for your Class, Society or Club, please feel free to contact us at <feedback@west-point.org>  We are here to help you!
Remain positive.  Send a note to say hello.  Be there for each other.  West-Point.Org has provided the platform; your donation keeps it running. 

Please contribute if you can: https://secure.west-point.org/donate/. 

Sincerely,
Megan Hostler
for WP-ORG Advisors

A soldier who officials say saved “countless lives” by driving his vehicle into a gunman who was shooting at people on a busy bridge near Fort Leavenworth, Kan., has been awarded the Soldier’s Medal for heroism.

Retired Master Sgt. David Royer was presented the medal last week for his actions on Centennial Bridge, which links Kansas and Missouri, in late May, when he saw a man get out of a vehicle and start shooting.

“I assessed the situation very quickly, looked around and just took the only action that I felt I could take,” Royer said. “I accelerated my truck as quickly as possible and struck the active shooter and pinned him underneath my truck.”

The Soldier’s Medal is awarded to a member of the armed forces who, while serving with the Army, distinguishes themselves by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. It is the Army’s highest and most prestigious peacetime award for valor.

READ MORE…