August, 2003; Page 8
REQUEST FOR CADET ESCORTS
Our club has been asked by Bob Weiss (USMA Class of 1971) of the Krewe of Venus to provide escorts for their annual Debutante Ball, which will be held on Friday evening, November 28 (day after Thanksgiving) in Tampa. The evening will be formal (dress gray uniform) and will include dinner and dancing (no charge for our cadets). The debutantes will range in age from 18-24 years. They hope that we will be able to provide approximately 15 young men (sorry ladies!).
I know that Thanksgiving week may seem a long way off right now, but we need to get them a tentative headcount very soon so that they will know if they need to ask anyone else. They really want to only have West Point cadets as escorts this year but if we can't provide enough, they will be forced to ask for volunteers from the other academies. So please let us know ASAP if your cadet is interested and available. We realize that plans can change but we were hoping we could at least find out now how many cadets are interested in supporting this event. Thank you to all those that have already committed to this event and to those that will.
Technology Changes Over Time
In keeping with advances in academia across the country, the Academy has always tried to be in the forefront. The following shows the progress in technology starting with the 1940's:
1940's - Cadets used slide rules. (Wonder how many today know what they are?)
1950's - Still only slide rules.
1960's - Still only slide rules. "If all the electricity should fail in the U.S. we could still compute stuff up to two significant figures."
1970's - Calculators introduced. In July 1973, the Academy issued cadets their first calculators.
1980's - Still calculators. The TI-55 and HP15C or other models.
1990's - Computers introduced. Class of 1990 was the first year group to be issued computers in 1987 - a Zenith 286 with two floppy disk drives and no hard drive. In the fall of 1997, the plebe class was issued a Pentium II with 253 MHz.
PHYSICAL FITNESS TESTS AT USMA
The Department of Physical Education Testing Office administers physical fitness tests to the Corps of Cadets, which are designed to support the mission of the United States Military Academy and the Department of Physical Education by:
a. Periodically evaluating cadet's physical fitness level throughout the academic year.
b. Motivating each cadet toward attaining and maintaining the high state of physical fitness required of an officer in the United States Army through increased emphasis on assessment and individual responsibility as the cadet progresses from the Fourth Class to the First Class year.
Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). The APFT is the United States Military Academy's primary physical fitness test. The APFT is a three event, cumulative score test, which includes push-ups (2 minute time limit, designed to measure upper body strength/endurance), sit-ups (2 minute time limit, designed to measure abdominal strength/endurance), and a 2-mile run (designed to measure cardio-respiratory endurance). Cadets must score a minimum of 60 points on each APFT event and a minimum cumulative score of 180 points to pass the APFT. The Testing Office administers the APFT to all cadets once a semester.
Indoor Obstacle Course Test (IOCT). The IOCT consists of 10 obstacles and a run administered in Hayes Gym.
The IOCT will be administered to all Upper class cadets during Intersession in the Academic Year. Fourth Class cadets will take the IOCT during their Military Movement class.
From the Department of Physical education web page at: http://www.usma.edu/dpe/testing/ dpe% 5Ftesting%5Foffice%5Fmain.htm.
These tests always seem to be scheduled for right after the cadet’s holiday breaks. Who says the military doesn’t have a sense of humor.