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

1. THE COMM MINUS CADETS - Mapping WHAT’S MISSING

   Yes, its entirely possible that you are already following BG BUZZARD ON FACEBOOK or ON INSTAGRAM. But if for some reason you are not, go do it. The art of observation is a gift. Slowing down to take notice takes patience. It’s important. Thank you, Sir, for capturing the beauty of West Point these past several strange weeks. It is appreciated by this old grad. You know, it’s almost as if he’s constructing a modern day map of West Point!

2. 1831 CADET-DRAWN MAP

   Speaking of maps, yes, maps. Last week USMA Library posted a photo of THIS CADET-DRAWN MAP from 1831, this prompted us to ask a simple question…”What's it gonna take to teach cadets drawing & drafting, again? Please?” You do know there used to be a Department of Drawing which dated all the way back to 1803, right? You knew that.

3. 2020 CADET-DRAWN MAP

   So then, this weekend we were excited to see THIS POST FROM USMA2022’s INSTAGRAM. Wouldn’t you know it, with his COVID-19 spare time, YEARLING PAUL MURRAY has been getting back into map-making. Maybe this singular act can spawn a revolution to the USMA curriculum and get the Department of Drawing reinstated by Congress.
   

4. WEST POINT’S DEPARTMENT OF DRAWING

   So, you wanna dig deeper into this connection of maps and West Point. Start here: check out this FABULOUS PHOTO COLLECTION FROM USMA LIBRARIES DIGITAL COLLECTION of West Point’s Department of Drawing in action circa the early 1900’s.
   

5. West Point POINTS WEST

   If you’re still with me…your next step would be to pick up what I’m currently reading. I am making my way through a book recommended by the folks at the West Point Museum. WEST POINT POINTS WEST, which celebrates the confluence of military mission and artistic pursuit. One chapter in particular details the early history of West Point’s Department of Drawing and how map-making was a cornerstone of officership as well as engineering.

6. THE STORIES MAPS TELL

   Maps and pop-culture can be influential and inspiring. Many are the fictional worlds that rely on maps. Check out this video that takes a DEEP-DIVE INTO THE MAPS of Middle Earth, Narnia and Weteros. Then take a look at how people are dealing with sheltering in place with PERSONAL MAPS IN THE TIME OF COVID Then try one yourself, take a look at an 8-STEP PLAN TO CREATE YOUR OWN MAP and then, finally, round-out your mapping experience with these 16, REFLECTIVE AND POETIC TAKES on maps - they’re sure to change your mind on what a map IS and what a map CAN BE.

7. 1944 CADET-DRAWN MAP

   You know, I haven’t always been drawn to maps. Ha. Anyway, it was a 1944 cadet-drawn West Point Map that I happened across serendipitously. That particular map WAS A TREASURE MAP…to a wild and crazy love story. So, I had to write a blog post about it.

8. OUR MOST POPULAR BLOG POST To-DATE

   Speaking of blog posts (what a transition). Last Friday, on our blog (we like to call it a JOURNAL) we shared our newest cadet mess hall-inspired recipe the infamous CHICKEN CRISPITOS and it stirred-up quite a bit of web traffic for us. Did it go viral…yeah, it kinda did. At least within the USMA community. Have you checked out all the COMMENTS OVER ON FACEBOOK or liked our INSTAGRAM POSTS HONORING this riot-inducing mess hall champion.

9. THIS WEEK’S MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS

   WHAT A CHIN Not only does this portrait remind us of better days spent together but it also unequivocally received the most number of LIKES on Instagram - it’s hard to argue with the squared jaw of the FIRST CAPTAIN, Daine VanDeWall

   MAILROOM HISTORY We are learning a ton about the history of West Point mail over ON OUR RECENT FACEBOOK POST ABOUT CADET PO BOXES.

   PARADE LORE One of my favorite things about West Point it the lore (you know, those traditions and knowledge held by a particular group, typically passed from person to person by word of mouth). We SHARED THIS PIECE OF LORE ON INSTAGRAM the other day and received several accounts of it paying off.

10. OLD GRADS

    They’re great, right. Tell us about YOUR FAVORITE OLD GRAD HERE.

Know a cadet or grad making art? LET US KNOW

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