Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

West Pointers Eager to Hit War Running

A look into the heads of Army class of '09

By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 7, 2009 5:01 PM CDT

(Newser) – There's a group quietly hoping that the war in Iraq doesn't end just yet, and they're hardly insurgents. They're the class of 2009 at West Point, reports Newsweek, in a look at graduates of the military academy and their eagerness to serve their country. The storied institution has proven remarkably spry at adapting with the times, and continues to churn out the military's best and brightest.

"If you ask an officer here for career advice," says the 2009 class president, "they say the first thing you need to do is get out there and get deployed. Because pretty soon the war's going to be over, and you won't have that legitimacy, being an officer—like the only one in the Army—that hasn't served."
Cadet Leonidas Marin of Queens, N.Y., left, adjusts the collar of fellow cadet Stephen McCarthy of Staten Island, N.Y., before their graduation from West Point, Saturday, May 23, 2009.
Cadet Leonidas Marin of Queens, N.Y., left, adjusts the collar of fellow cadet Stephen McCarthy of Staten Island, N.Y., before their graduation from West Point, Saturday, May 23, 2009.   (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
Cadets sit during their graduation and commissioning ceremony at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, May 23, 2009.
Cadets sit during their graduation and commissioning ceremony at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, May 23, 2009.   (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
Cadet Joseph Malins of Albuquerque, N.M., relaxes before his graduation from West Point, Saturday, May 23, 2009.
Cadet Joseph Malins of Albuquerque, N.M., relaxes before his graduation from West Point, Saturday, May 23, 2009.   (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
Cadets at the United States Military Academy throw their hats in the air at the conclusion of their graduation and commissioning ceremony.
Cadets at the United States Military Academy throw their hats in the air at the conclusion of their graduation and commissioning ceremony.   (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Most of America seems to have forgotten we're still at war. I hope this reminds people that we're still here. After all, when Rome forgot her legions, her legions forgot her. - Col. Michael Meese, a West Point department head

Pretty soon the war's going to be over, and you won't have that legitimacy, being an officer—like the only one in the Army—that hasn't served. - Andrew (A.J.) Pulaski, the 2009 West Point class president

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 9 comments
brawne
Jun 9, 2009 5:16 AM CDT
Corona, you are so clueless, that it makes me weep. You can't commit treason without the Sedition Acts that we a free people had the good sense to abolish about a jillion years ago. And our good soldiers--what about Colin Powell who was fast tracked after he did his lovely service as G3 in the Americal Division? And don't even get me started on Patreous as the Battalion Commander of the 3/187. Grow up. You live in a free society where we get to speak, and you're even mentioning treason is an awful thing. Freedom is the right to say that two and two equals four. If that is granted, everything else follows. Orwell When we the people start turning on we the other people, we are all screwed. Please, disagree to your heart's content, but NEVER use the word treason.
brawne
Jun 9, 2009 4:47 AM CDT
Stop it. This is an all volunteer Army. They drafted men for Vietnam and they got spit on. I'm a patriot, too. But stop the constant whine about people who chose to be where they are. You're making Vietnam vets, who were sitting there minding their own business, before their birth date got them killed, NUTS.
brawne
Jun 9, 2009 4:37 AM CDT
Corona, before you malign the French, remember that without them we would not have won the Revolutionary War.

Gates tells graduating cadets to avoid 'groupthink'
Wall Street Journal Subscription

Remaining cadets to get noisy summer training
Poughkeepsie Journal

World • US

 
US military • US Army • Iraq war • Afghanistan war • West Point • cadets • military officers

 
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   World History Project   |   POPSUGAR Tech   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment   |   NewsOne