From the Editor's Desk | #15
CONNECT + INSPIRE
CADET is a bi-annual magazine about West Point culture.
Highly independent, quite unofficial, aggressively dedicated.
Based in DC @chrisWpestel @carolinepestel
Things from the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief
ANOTHER MONTH of 2019 in the books
BUT THATS BEYOND THE POINT we closed out the eventful month of April last night. We took part in Claire Gibson’s book talk/Q&A here in DC at Politics and Prose. It was an impactful evening bringing together grads and community members to celebrate the work of Claire. Our managing editor, my wife, Caroline MC’d and moderate the Q&A. She genuinely urged the audience to pick up a copy for a Mother’s Day gift. If you have not yet picked up a copy. Do it now. They really do make a perfect Mother’s Day gift for moms of cadets and moms of grads alike - the book helps to bridge the gap between the experience and the homefront. I think just about every person at last night’s book event walked away with a signed copy for their mom. Need more convincing: @TheCrazyCol approves.
FOR EVERY HEART IN GRAY
CADET FILM FORUM IN TRIBECA last weekend the West Point film forum attended two screenings at the Tribeca film festival 2019 in NYC. Friday night cadets viewed “This is Spinal Tap”. Micheal McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer, along with Director Rob Reiner fielded audience questions. Elvis Costello guest appeared. Saturday, director Francis Ford Coppola took a few minutes to meet with cadets to talk about “Apocalypse Now Final Cut” before the premier of this 40th anniversary release of the film.
AOG’S MASSIVE “ON THIS DAY” PROJECT Have you noticed the Association of Graduates epic undertaking…the “On This Day” project? The “150th Timeline” is the work of Jennifer Voigtschild Minus (1993). Over the past year, Minus has combed through West Point and WPAOG history to collect 365 facts, one for each day of the year. She currently serves as an Advisor-at-Large on the WPAOG Advisory Council, her West Point Class Secretary and Reunion Chairman.
SPOUSES CLUB COOK BOOK CALL FOR PHOTOS want your photos featured in the upcoming West Point Spouses Club cookbook? If you answered, yes…you’re in luck. The West Point Spouses' Club Gift Shop Cookbook is looking for your photos that celebrated the songs and traditions of West Point.
PATRIOT LEAGUE HONORS congratulations to women’s tennis and men’s golf for bringing home Patriot League Championships. Women’s LAX plebe Caroline Raymond (owner of VOL I, II & III of CADET, btw) was recognized as Patriot League Rookie of the Year and was named along with teammates Jackie Bratton, Samantha Stewart, Maddie Burns, Manuela Cortes ALL PATRIOT LEAGUE. The Women’s LAX team also secured its first-ever Patriot League Tournament win with a 12-9 victory over Lehigh.
NATIONAL CHAMPS the women’s team handball squad brought home another national championship in 2019 with a 19-14 victory over the University of North Carolina. I am almost certain that I saw somewhere that the men’s team also secured a national championship but can’t locate what I thought I saw. Can anyone verify this?
PROJECTS DAY as a Art, Philosophy, & Literature major I am completely and utterly biased to the projects of the Department of English and Philosophy. If you are around post on Thursday…go check them out.
RLTW congratulations to the members of Class 5-19 who earned their Ranger Tab over the weekend. Here’s a look at VOL II contributor Alex Werden USMA ‘18 via VOL II & VOL III contributor Austin Lachance USMA ‘17. Also here’s a tribute from the Sandhurst Team to former team member 2LT Taylor England (USMA Class of 2018). She is the second female to go straight through Ranger School and the second female from the team to earn her tab.
CADET VOL III - INDEPENDENTS
ROUND TWO HITS MAILBOXES THIS FRIDAY the second wave of VOL III subscriptions will hit their respective owners mailboxes early next week. Our second print run of VOL III is going quick. But there is still time for you to secure your copy. If you are curious exactly who are the people subscribing to CADET we’re here to help shed some light on that:
As of today, VOL III has been sent to over 75 cities. From McKinney, TX and Fort Rucker, AL to Las Vegas, NV and Festus, MO and Dublin, OH and even somewhere in Utah. There are even a few copies of CADET in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. At least 1 Old Grad from 38 different classes spanning from 1955-2022 has subscribed to CADET so far. We even shipped a copy of VOL III to Lake Forest, IL to a prospective member of the class of 2024. Current cadets, parents, even USMA staff and faculty are in on the subscribing trend.
RADIO GA GA
WKDT GOES STREAMING "The Long Gray Line of cadets here at West Point has had a radio voice for years. On carrier current back in the day, low-powered FM and now online, WKDT Radio has long been the West Point cadet soundtrack." Live Coast to Coast.
FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON AT ALL here’s Glen Campbell’s Rhinestone Cowboy
FOR YOUR EYEBALLS
ENDGAME Wow. What a cinematic experience. What a way to put a bow on the serialization of 23 movies. So much to take it I had to see it twice within 8 hours. Interconnectedness. Payoffs. Fan Moments. The Future of the MCU. It had it all. (SPOILERS) But I am on board with this videos take on a few changes to the final moments of the climatic sequence.
THE DESIGN OF LIFE
CAPTAIN AMERICA’S TRUE SUPERPOWER since were on the subject of super heroes and hence superpowers, lets keep going…did you know that Captain America is an artist and drew his own Captain America comics in his comics?
THE DESIGN OF THINGS
DOGFISH HEAD POSTERS these posters and the concept of seasonal-ness is really getting to me. I think there’s a tie-in to the 47-month West Point process here…hmmm????
WEST POINT 100: CREATORS
THE LIST last year we started gathering information on the creators within the Long Gray Line. This effort has not disappointed. Almost every day we are turned on to yet another grad making something awesome in this world. Check out who we’ve wrangled up so far. And if you know of a grad creating something awesome, let us know about them right here. The list is being updated this week as we’ve reached 3/4 of the 100. We certainly can’t wait for this list to breach 100.
PODCAST FROM THIS WEEK
99% INVISIBLE play mountain is a thing. And I appreciate this artists commitment to his vision, despite never actually seeing it.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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SPOILER FOR AVENGERS ENDGAME BELOW - PROCEED WITH CAUTIONARY INTRIGUE
Captain Marvel: Hi Peter Parker.
Peter Parker: I don’t know how you’re gonna get through all that
Scarlet Witch: Don’t worry
Okoye: She’s got help
Things from the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief
Grant Hall Oil Painting + Old School Pins + 1-Year of Beautiful Things + West Pointers in the Arts FB Group + A List of Iconic Army Football Moments + What I’m Reading