{"id":4342,"date":"2015-08-11T13:02:11","date_gmt":"2015-08-11T13:02:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bucksurdu.com\/blog\/?p=4342"},"modified":"2015-08-11T13:02:11","modified_gmt":"2015-08-11T13:02:11","slug":"class-of-2019-march-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bucksurdu.com\/blog\/?p=4342","title":{"rendered":"Class of 2019 March Back"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Tom<\/a>
Tom in formation with G Co. waiting for the final two-mile march from the ski slope to West Point proper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sunday and Monday, I participated as an “Old Grad” in the Beast Barracks march back. \u00a0Cadet basic training, or Beast Barracks, ends at Camp Buckner on the West Point reservation and culminates with a 12.2 mile ruck sack road march over steep and rocky hills to the West Point main campus. \u00a0This has been going on since time immemorial; although, Beast when i was a cadet ended at Lake Frederick, nearby, rather than Camp Buckner. \u00a0What is relatively new is that the Academy encourages a bunch of Old Grads to participate each year to strengthen the new cadet’s connection to the “Long Gray Line.”<\/p>\n

\"We<\/a>
We all received a briefing from the Commandant and many of the cadets leaders on West Point summer training<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For the “Old Grads,” the march back began with a briefing by the Commandant of Cadets and the senior summer cadet leadership about all of cadet summer training. \u00a0I will admit that when I heard about Cadet Field Training (the summer between Plebe and Yearling years) being shortened, I thought that was a mistake. \u00a0During the briefing, however, the told us that in fact those missing three weeks have been replaced with a different three week Cadet Leader Development Training, which is a three-week, Ranger school-like tactical leadership course between Cow and Firstie summers. \u00a0I think it was a good trade, and cadet summer military training is strong.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The old grads setting up their cots in Barth Hall the night before the march back<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We Old Grads slept in Barth Hall at Camp Buckner on cots. \u00a0Lights out was 2200, and wake up was 0300.<\/p>\n

\"Unveiling<\/a>
Unveiling the motto for the West Point class of 2019<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The night before the march back, the new cadets got to relax a bit with a talent show and the unveiling of their class motto. \u00a0The talent show included a new cadet playing the bagpipes while another new cadet engaged in River Dance style dancing, a new cadet doing tricks on his yo-yo, several singers and musicians, and even a Best Barracks rap act. \u00a0During the summer, the new cadets in the class of 2018 had nominated and voted on their class motto. \u00a0At the end of the show, the final result was unveiled, and while it doesn’t rhyme, it is quite good: “So Freedom Will Reign.”<\/p>\n

\"Tommy<\/a>
Tommy and his two Beast roommates<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The march back begin Monday at 0230 for the new cadets and at 0300 for the old grads. \u00a0We linked up at the parade ground at Camp Buckner with the companies to which we had been assigned. \u00a0My son was in G Company, so I was able to march with his platoon. \u00a0That was doubly good, because not only did I get to march with him, but since his company was determined to be the best at Beast Barracks, his platoon was first in the order of march. \u00a0We reached the half way rest stop before the last company stepped off from the starting point.<\/p>\n

\"Tommy<\/a>
Tommy marching alongside widow delCastillo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A relatively new tradition is to honor a recently fallen West Point graduate by naming the new cadet regiment as Task Force ___. \u00a0The class of 2019 was Task Force del Castillo, named after a recent graduate killed in Afghanistan. \u00a0Widow del Castillo marched with our platoon — several months pregnant — and Tommy had a chance to talk to her.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The chaplain brought all the new cadets ice pops<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The ski slope marked the final rest point before the march onto post where the rest of the corps and a strong of spectators awaited our arrival. \u00a0The chaplain’s office provided ice pops to the cadets and new cadets.<\/p>\n

\"Two<\/a>
Two old guys and a young guy: from right to left Vinny O'Neil, Tommy, and me<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Except for a little more illumination during the first — and hardest — three miles of the march, we couldn’t have asked for nicer weather. \u00a0It was 63 degrees with moderate humidity. \u00a0Despite arthritis and a recent knee surgery, my knees held up fine for the march.<\/p>\n

\"Tom<\/a>
Tom in formation with G Co. waiting for the final two-mile march from the ski slope to West Point proper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Tom<\/a>
Tom in formation with G Co. waiting for the final two-mile march from the ski slope to West Point proper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Marching<\/a>
Marching from the ski slope to West Point<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This was an excellent event. \u00a0I am very glad I was able to participate in this with Tom. \u00a0We had a chance to talk a little on the march and a little more during the rest at the ski slope to wait for all the companies to arrive before the final two miles to West Point. \u00a0He is doing well and seems it really good spirits.<\/p>\n

IMG_1631<\/a><\/p>\n

See this little movie of Tom’s company marching onto West Point.<\/p>\n

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