WPAOG Alumni News

In an ongoing effort to strengthen its bond with the men and women of the U.S. Army, the Army football team will hold its annual Black/Gold Game at Fort Benning's Doughboy Stadium on March 9. The event begins at 2 p.m. "It's something we're anxious to do," Army Head Coach Rich Ellerson said. "It makes too much sense. As spring football games have become a little bit more of a media event, it's a chance for us to showcase the program and articulate that connection with the U.S. Army. Maj. Gen. (Bob) Brown (the Fort Benning commanding general) shares that vision as well. It will be a great experience for us and hopefully for the folks at Fort Benning. It's a first-time thing. We had to get an exception from the NCAA, but it makes sense given the institutional relationships. We'll see where it leads us." Read more

The success of a mission, deployment or career often depends on relations with local nationals, coalition partners and subordinates. If they become disengaged, operations can go crashing down. Perhaps no Army organization values the power of persuasion like the West Point Negotiation Project, a group that is changing the way cadets and soldiers communicate -- often by teaching techniques that fly in the face of traditional Army bravado. "Oftentimes [soldiers] approach things from typical, traditional, positional bargaining, where we argue over our positions, stick out our chests a little bit [and] get frustrated with the other person if they don’t want to give in," said Maj. Zach Mundell '99, co-director of the project. "Much better" results, he said, come from an approach foreign to many soldiers: Taking a step back to understand someone else's side and agreeing on a course of action that fits both parties' constraints. Read more Watch video of cadets using these skills in their Cadet Leader Development Training

2011 was a record year in many ways. Thank you to all who donated!

ESPN Anchor Sage Steele spoke yesterday at the Indiana University East's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration to share her personal experience in her talk titled "How diversity and challenges make us stronger and with our own foundational standards, we can make a difference and succeed." Steele had sports in her blood even before becoming a journalist. She is the daughter of Gary Steele '70, the first African American to play football at West Point, and the sister of Chad Steele, the media relations director for the Ravens. It was from a West Point Cadet prayer that Sage Steele learned one of the best lessons that she passes on to fans. The prayer says, "Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half-truth when the whole can be won." "That part that I mentioned from the West Point Cadet prayer about choosing the harder right than the easier wrong, I think that's something that we can apply to anything -- even something as silly as breaking up with someone," she said. "It's something that I was raised with and memorized as a child. I make my kids do it. My dad was right and it's true." Read more

CBS Sports Network will air an encore presentation of the critically acclaimed Showtime documentary-style special A Game Of Honor on Sunday, Jan. 8 at 10 p.m. A Game of Honor chronicles the season-long journey of the Army Black Knights and Navy Midshipmen preparing to play in a rivalry unmatched by any other in sports -- the Army-Navy football game. Academy Award-nominated actor Gary Sinise narrates the special, which provides unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to both academies and their respective football teams for six months leading up to and during the 112th Army-Navy game.A Game Of Honor captures the personal stories of this unique group of men who are rivals on the football field and brothers in arms on the battlefield. As the young men at Army and Navy endure a much different athletic experience than other Division I football players, A Game of Honor showcases the dedication, discipline, and determination demanded of the cadets and midshipmen. The documentary-style special reveals their unique journey from summer training to the demands of an elite classroom education to the weekly preparations for the football field, all while training to serve their country in a time of war. This rigorous passage culminated with the annual Army-Navy game, which this year was played at FedEx Field in Washington, D.C.CBS Sports Network is available across the country through local cable, video, and teleco providers and via satellite on DirecTV Channel 613 and Dish Network Channel 152. For more information, including a full programming schedule and how to get CBS Sports Network, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.

The West Point Band will be featured during an hour-long special on Fox News Channel this weekend. The special will air on 23 December at 10 p.m. 24 December at 1 a.m., 5 a.m., and 10 p.m. 25 December at 1 a.m., 4 a.m., and 1 p.m. *All times are in eastern time. Also, be sure to watch the Quintette 7 music video for "Here Comes Santa Claus" 

Tonight, at 10 p.m. Eastern, Showtime will air the two-hour docu-drama about this year's Army-Navy game! Camera crews followed both cadets and midshipmen from summer training to the big game. This year's score didn't bring home an Army win, but this documentary proves that -- no matter what -- it's a game of honor. The documentary is sure to bring back memories for graduates, and will give others in the West Point community a unique insight into what goes on at West Point. Check your local listsings, and Go Army! Click here to watch webisodes! BONUS: "The March to West Point" webisode features numerous West Point graduates who participated in the March Back this year!

"The reason we play football at these academies is because of the journey. It's a valued experience for our graduates. They take those lessons out into the field and they make them work for our country, completely different than anyplace else in the world and some of the things we had to overcome, some of the things we had to deal with, we did and you can see it on Saturdays, though you don't necessarily see it on the scoreboard. "But we watched these guys compete all year, they didn't let the scoreboard talk them out of it. We fought, we stayed together, and we're better. You'll see two better football teams play next Saturday than you've seen all year, and that's something to look forward to," Ellerson said.HISTORIC RIVALRYAlthough this is the 112th time the two service academies will meet, Navy has won the last nine meetings, the longest winning streak by either team in series history. Currently, Navy leads the all-time series with a record of 55 wins, 49 losses, and seven ties.But Army has something to charge in on their horses about, too.The Black Knights enter the season's final game with a chance to win their first rushing title since 1998. Army is averaging 350.91 yards per game. If they can maintain that average, it would be the best rushing average by any team since Nebraska led the nation with 392.6 yards per game during the 1997 season. Army has led the country in rushing seven times: 1944, 1945, 1954, 1984, 1993, 1996 and 1998. Read more about the team leaders and the upcoming game

In 2010, six people gathered at the West Point Cemetery to place 117 wreaths as part of the Wreaths Across America program. On Dec. 3, 2011, more than 100 people from across New York and Pennsylvania gathered to place about 1,750 wreaths. West Point's Track and Field team was among the group of volunteers. Click here for photos! Dr. Todd Crowder, a co-coodinator for the event, said the goal is to one day fill the entire cemetery. There is another ceremonial Wreaths Across America event on Dec. 6 at 1530 in the West Point Cemetery. All are encouraged to attend.

It's time! Army-Navy week is just around the corner and there is LOTS going on! Check out the itinerary below for all your chances to root on the Army team(s) AND to get into the holiday spirit!