From the Editor's Desk | #18
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
BEHIND ENEMY LINES - SPRING 2019
BASEBALL & TRACK This past year we were able to get out to support the Army Team in Annapolis several times now that we’re just a 45-minute drive to the Naval Academy. With almost monthly Army-Navy match-ups in our neck of the woods we were able to capture a sampling from each season in 2018-2019. Most recently w e were able to catch the first of three baseball games this past weekend. We caught part of ARMY BASEBALL’S FRIDAY WIN OVER NAVY, while VOL III CONTRIBUTOR and USMA ‘86’s Rick French captured the ARMY-NAVY MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MATCH-UP on April 6th, 2019. On Sunday ARMY BASEBALL CAPTURED THE PATRIOT LEAGUE TITLE SO WE DREW A PICTURE OF IT.
FOR EVERY HEART IN GRAY
10 YEARS AGO almost to the day, I was at West Point photographing graduation. I was in the early stages of my creative career. I had left the Army just 1 year prior and embarked on a path less traveled by West Point grads. As a full-time photographer I had successfully landed several paid freelance gigs in that first year, including a few recurring gigs with ESPN radio. Early stages of a creative career can be very trying, quite uncertain and it’s not always clear how to make a living and life. So, I was shooting anything and everything I could, not always with monetary compensation, but working my butt off. One such effort brought me BACK TO WEST POINT FOR USMA 2009’S GRADUATION - this was my first trip back as an Old Grad, a mere 6 years after graduating myself. Here’s some of the photos.
AOG TURNS A SPRY 150 YEARS OLD are you in on the fun of the VIRTUAL TOAST ON FACEBOOK. Congratulations to AOG as they celebrate 150 years of keeping the Long Gray Line connected. From all of us Old Grads, thank you for all you do.
PATRIOT LEAGUE HARDWARE - SPRING 2019 well, it looks like Trophy Point is being reimagined after the SUCCESSFUL SPRING FROM THE PRIDE & DREAM.
2019 DISTINGUISHED GRADS who are Mr. Army Strong, Supe Daddy, The Pacific Rim Gentleman, A Champion for Marginalized and Generational George? Check out our new blog post about this year’s Association of Graduates 2019 DISTINGUISHED GRADS.
IN CASE WE MISSED IT the USMA Library was named Library of the Year by Library of Congress. Say Whaaaaaat. YEAH THAT HAPPENED, THATS A BIG DEAL.
IN OUR SHOP
WHAT’S INSIDE VOL III are you curious about what is inside CADET VOL III? We’re glad you asked: Get a first-hand perspective on the resurgence of America's independent darling - Army Football from the guys at @ASFORFOOTBALL. Learn about the origins of USMA's first indie magazine from the mind behind @SONS_OF_SLUM_AND_GRAVY. See USMA '95 grad @KATEKBURGESS’s 12-year photo essay on The Old Guard. A beautiful behind-the-scenes reflection on the inspiration & making of @CHANCYMEDIA’s masterful Army-Navy spirit video - Sing Second. A book excerpt from the debut novel Beyond the Point @CLAIRECGIBSON. Remembering USMA 2019's Tom Surdyke. Mess Hall inspired Recipes from @CAROLINEAPESTEL. And much more.
RADIO GA GA
THE GAMUT I have unearthed my NEW FAVORITE RADIO STATION. Other than WKDT of course.
FOR YOUR EYEBALLS
BASEBALL CARDS & COMICS as a kid I made almost daily trips to a local comic book and baseball card shop aptly named Baseball Cards & Comics. Last week A WEST POINT INSPIRED GRAPHIC NOVEL LAUNCHED ON KICKSTARTER and now this week, Army Football released some sweet NEW RECRUITING GRAPHICS INSPIRED BY OLD TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS. Childhood Chris, meet adult Chris. Awesome.
THE MATRIX
AGE IS BUT A NUMBER so, the class of 1959 celebrated its 60th Reunion this Spring. How do you think a few members of USMA 1959 decided to commemorate this momentous occasion? How about by TRAVELING TO WEST POINT FROM MIAMI BY BICYCLE.
THE DESIGN OF THINGS
WEST POINT…THE BAND ever wonder how the West Point Band came to be. Well they celebrated their bi-centennial just 2 short years ago. And during that time, they put a wickedly-cool timeline together that is still ON THE WEST POINT BAND’S WEBSITE. Its totally worth it. Go give it a look.
WEST POINT 100: CREATORS
HAILEY POUND you’ve see her PHOTO IN THE NEWS, its everywhere. But she is also doing GREAT WORK CAPTURING PORTRAITS OF FIRSTIES in her final days as a Firstie, herself.
PODCAST FROM THIS WEEK
DISGRUNTLED GRADS as AOG celebrates their annual Distinguished Grads, its always nice to remember that OLD GRADS HAVE BEEN HARUMPFING CADETS since, well…SINCE DINOSAURS RAN THINGS. Thanks to those two posts from our friends at @SONS_OF_SLUM_AND_GRAVY and an old episode of The Pessimists Archive, we got our fair share of perspective on nostalgia narratives and yearning for the, maybe false idea of freedom of less technology supplied by the GOOD OLD DAYS.
THIS WEEK ON INSTAGRAM
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK Last October we (USMA class of 2003) hiked the Trail of the Fallen to the memorial at the summit of Timp-Torne mountain. WE POSTED ABOUT IT ON INSTAGRAM AND YOU SHOULD CHECK IT OUT
FACEBOOK HERE
TWITTER HERE
PINTEREST HERE
eNEWSLETTER HERE
WEBSITE HERE
2019 DISTINGUISHED GRADS
ILLUSTRATIONS BY @ryno.witter USMA ‘21
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