President to speak at West Point graduation

Status
Not open for further replies.
Okay, I originally thought that there was a rotation schedule that President, VP, DOD, Secretary of the Branch, rotated, but I googled and now can see how excited WP is right now.

It seems Bush 43 really ignored WP. If I am correct in his 8 yrs., he went to , CGA 3X(03/05/07),AFA 2x(04/08), USNA 1x(O1), WP 1X(O2) and USMMA (O6).
 
Okay, I originally thought that there was a rotation schedule that President, VP, DOD, Secretary of the Branch, rotated, but I googled and now can see how excited WP is right now.

It seems Bush 43 really ignored WP. If I am correct in his 8 yrs., he went to , CGA 3X(03/05/07),AFA 2x(04/08), USNA 1x(O1), WP 1X(O2) and USMMA (O6).

You are not correct.

GW Bush only spoke at CGA graduation twice, 2003 and 2007. (DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff spoke in 2005.)

GW Bush also spoke twice at USNA in 2001 & 2005.

GW Bush also spoke twice at West Point in 2002 and 2006.

He also spoke twice at USAFA, 2004 and 2008.

He ignored USMMA, only speaking there once in 2006.
 
Question: I have heard that the president can offer amnesty for rules violations. Is this just for the graduates or for the entire corps?
 
The entire corps. He normally does this each time he visits - even if it is not graduation. He does add a little caveat that it's at the discresion of the Superintendent. It won't get you out of a big thing but some cadets get out of hours for minor infractions.
 
: I have heard that the president can offer amnesty for rules violations. Is this just for the graduates or for the entire corps?

I think there is a deeper question there than the "OOPS" issue!

The Amnesty thing is a JOKE to break the ice. You screwed the pooch ...you won't get amnesty! You screwed the pooch and you won't be commissioned either!

That amnesty joke is common place for even PME at O4/O5/O6 graduation. They actually will make a joke about a incident that was the reason for amnesty.

As I said earlier the AMNESTY is for the graduating class... and if you are sitting there waiting to walk across the platform, than in honesty you too know AMNESTY is a JOKE!
 
*discretion* apologies for spelling incorrectly above.

Pima - were you there?
Were you there when Bush addressed the US Corps of Cadets?
When Obama addressed the US Corps of Cadets?

Amnesty is NOT for the graduating class - they don't need it. Yes he grants amnesty to the Cadets. Yes, Cadets have gotten amnesty and gotten out of minor infractions and out of marching hours. Yes, it's a joke but also Cadets have indeed gotten amnesty for certain infractions in the past.
Will it happen in the future? Who knows?
My post is correct. I am not going into more detail than this and am not going to argue about it. The Cadets will find out for themselves.
Parents need not concern themselves with this - it's between the US Corps of Cadets and their Commander in Chief.
 
Okay, to get everyone to "chill" a bit...

Any visiting head of state, high elected official, cabinet member, etc., may declare "AMNESTY" to the "Wing, Brigade, Corps" during an official visit.

Amnesty will be granted to ALL with the caveat that "serious offenses" will NOT be afforded this "grace."

So...you have demerits restricting you for the weekend because your room was lousy...YOU ARE OFF! You had a DUI last weekend and are on restrictions/punishments for 6 months...

You stay in jail!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
***Recipient of amnesty several times!***
(But I NEVER had a demerit...did me no good!)
 
*discretion* apologies for spelling incorrectly above.

Pima - were you there?
Were you there when Bush addressed the US Corps of Cadets?
When Obama addressed the US Corps of Cadets?

Amnesty is NOT for the graduating class - they don't need it. Yes he grants amnesty to the Cadets. Yes, Cadets have gotten amnesty and gotten out of minor infractions and out of marching hours. Yes, it's a joke but also Cadets have indeed gotten amnesty for certain infractions in the past.
Will it happen in the future? Who knows?
My post is correct. I am not going into more detail than this and am not going to argue about it. The Cadets will find out for themselves.
Parents need not concern themselves with this - it's between the US Corps of Cadets and their Commander in Chief.

Correct. :thumb:

Okay, to get everyone to "chill" a bit...

Any visiting head of state, high elected official, cabinet member, etc., may declare "AMNESTY" to the "Wing, Brigade, Corps" during an official visit.

Amnesty will be granted to ALL with the caveat that "serious offenses" will NOT be afforded this "grace."

So...you have demerits restricting you for the weekend because your room was lousy...YOU ARE OFF! You had a DUI last weekend and are on restrictions/punishments for 6 months...

You stay in jail!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
***Recipient of amnesty several times!***
(But I NEVER had a demerit...did me no good!)

I have always been told ONLY heads of state may grant amnesty here. :confused:
 
I have been there, and it is a joke. There is more than one "Corps of Cadets", so I assume you're referring to the West Point Corps of Cadets...as I'm sure the Coast Guard Corps of Cadets are also "U.S.".

It's a joke, not only for those sitting waiting to receive their diplomas and commissions (in that order), but also the underclassmen, all who are about to depart of leave or some kind of summer training. Those demerits for a messy room won't matter during the training. The big class ones, that can ruin a summer, remain.

It's a joke. That's coming from some who has "been there" and who is not a parent. It's also not something only the President does, but secretaries or VP on behalf of the President. I've seen that happen as well (as a member of the Corps of Cadets).
 
There is more than one "Corps of Cadets", so I assume you're referring to the West Point Corps of Cadets...as I'm sure the Coast Guard Corps of Cadets are also "U.S.".

LITS - There is only one United States Corps of Cadets. They live at West Point, NY.
The Cadets who live at the USCGA are comprised of a Regiment not a Corps.

The amnesty is not only for graduation visits but any visits. And yes, demerits can carry over - so it is real and does happen.

America's Finest - thanks! :thumb:
ramius - you betcha! Amazing isn't it?
 
I have been there, and it is a joke. There is more than one "Corps of Cadets", so I assume you're referring to the West Point Corps of Cadets...as I'm sure the Coast Guard Corps of Cadets are also "U.S.".

It's a joke, not only for those sitting waiting to receive their diplomas and commissions (in that order), but also the underclassmen, all who are about to depart of leave or some kind of summer training. Those demerits for a messy room won't matter during the training. The big class ones, that can ruin a summer, remain.

It's a joke. That's coming from some who has "been there" and who is not a parent. It's also not something only the President does, but secretaries or VP on behalf of the President. I've seen that happen as well (as a member of the Corps of Cadets).

Many people who originally would not have been able to leave for Christmas were able to leave since President Obama gave amnesty during his address to the Corps of Cadets...I fail to see how that is a joke. All standing hours of Regimental Level or lower were wiped clean (Brigade Level offenses such as alcohol incidents remained and those people stayed during Christmas walking tours). It is not a joke, at least not at USMA. I cannot speak for USCGA.

And USCC refers to the Brigade at USMA. It is imprinted all over the place and is listed as being under the office of the Commandant. "Corps of Cadets" is a general term that can be used for any school's program (including ROTC such as North Georgia's Corps of Cadets) but USMA is the one who has the title "United States Corps of Cadets".
 
In the old Jimmy Cagney movie, "West Point Story", the plot hinged on getting the French ambassador up to USMA to review a parade and grant amnesty so that a cadet character (who would otherwise be doing walking tours) could perform on stage.

Is there a general rotation for the president? Does anyone other than president, VP, SecDefense, speak at commencements?
 
Is there a general rotation for the president? Does anyone other than president, VP, SecDefense, speak at commencements?

I grew up in Annapolis and live there now. The commencement speaker at USNA is usually featured in the local paper, and I can remember other speakers like the Chairman of the JCS speaking at graduation. After Desert Storm, I believe that Norman Schwarzkopf spoke (even though he is a WPer and Army four star). So yes, there have been other speakers.
 
I was just waiting for someone to mention West Point Story! That is what immediately popped into my head too.

Over the years I have personally seen many a dignitary grant amnesty to the corps, and it is not a joke. It is very well received by the corps, as you would expect, with a great deal of cheering! As has been said above, hours for lesser offenses disappear, even for those at graduation that would carry over into the next academic year. As they say in the movie about amnesty, “It’s an old custom around here!” It does go way back.

The President will be graduation speaker once at each of the four service academies during their presidency. (Yes, I know that there are more than four academies, but this is the way it goes, according to the White House.) Other speakers may be the VP, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Army (or Sec of the appropriate service), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, etc.

By the way, if you’ve never seen West Point Story, you simply have to rent it. Tap dancing cadets, who sing, and dress in drag! Who could ask for more?
 
LITS - There is only one United States Corps of Cadets. They live at West Point, NY.
The Cadets who live at the USCGA are comprised of a Regiment not a Corps.
JAM

Hery JAM, please get over yourself, in the world of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy they are "The Corps". There is room to respect everyone.
 
Sandbar - No disrespect intended at all, I am at a loss as to how you made that conclusion.

USCGA is comprised of a Regiment of Cadets
From their own website:
http://www.cga.edu/display.aspx?id=385

The Cadet Regiment is made up as follows: 1 Regiment, 4 Battalions, and 8 companies of 3 departments, with varying numbers of divisions in those departments

This is off topic but FWIW -
USMA is a Corps of Cadets
USNA is a Brigade of Midshipmen
USAFA is a Wing of Cadets
USCGA is a Regiment of Cadets
USMMA is a Regiment of Midshipmen

Not worth getting hot and bothered over IMHO. LITS simply misunderstood my post on first read.
 
Sandbar - No disrespect intended at all, I am at a loss as to how you made that conclusion.

USCGA is comprised of a Regiment of Cadets
From their own website:
http://www.cga.edu/display.aspx?id=385

The Cadet Regiment is made up as follows: 1 Regiment, 4 Battalions, and 8 companies of 3 departments, with varying numbers of divisions in those departments

From the same web site:
http://www.cga.edu/display.aspx?id=466

The Coast Guard Academy Corps of Cadets is comprised of more than 900 men and women from the United States, Europe, Middle East and the Caribbean, each pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission in the U.S. Coast Guard or their host country's military service. Significantly, the Corps of Cadets is run by the cadets themselves.

Organization

The Corps of Cadets is organized into eight companies (Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf and Hotel) forming one regiment. Cadets run the Corps through their regimental chain of command.

:cool:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top