Posted on Aug 8, 2016

2016 "March Back" Parade USMA Class of 2020

Ken Kraetzer

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Monday morning Aug. 8th, the West Point Class of 2020 completed their six week cadet basic training with a 12 mile "March Back" from Camp Buckner to the main cadet area. The 1300 member class was joined for the event by many USMA graduates including members of the 50 year anniversary class of 1970 who will serve as class mentors to the Class of 2020. About 15 members of the Class are from allied countries including Bahrain, Eqypt, Pakistan, Turkey, Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea. Our best wishes to all of these cadets who have completed their first challenge at West Point with many ahead in their 47 months at the Academy.

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United States Military Academy (USMA West Point) Westpoint

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Basic Training 569050f0

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Training Soldiers

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LTC Stephen F.

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Thanks for sharing Ken Kraetzer. Forty years ago I marched back from Beast Barracks as part of the USMA class of 1980.
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell CW5 (Join to see) SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SFC William Farrell SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) SSgt Robert Marx TSgt Joe C. SGT (Join to see) SGT Robert Hawks SGT Robert George SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Forrest Stewart SP5 Mark Kuzinski SrA Christopher Wright SPC (Join to see)

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Ken Kraetzer

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Col, bet Beast Barracks has not changed much. Very impressive to see the new cadets marching in helmets, carrying their rifles and packs, transformed from civilians in six weeks. Reminded me of the point that only those at the other service academies understand what the cadets go through. Thank you for your service. Ken

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LTC Stephen F.

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Ken Kraetzer - The only thing that has changes mostly likely is the uniforms we wore. We wore OD green with black combat boots in 1976 Ken Kraetzer

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SSgt Robert Marx

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Those cadets in the military academies earn their slots with a lot of sweat! At least my basic training at PI was only 13 weeks of grueling labor.

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CPT Aaron Kletzing

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Good luck to all of them, it's a long 4 years! :)

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SFC William Farrell

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Ken Kraetzer I have gone to several retirement events at West Point after pulling MP duty up there many, many years ago. What I found really impressive was to sit down with the Corps of Cadets, all 3000 of them for lunch. I was really quite impressed with that. West Point is a beautiful campus and while I have not been to the other service academies with the exception of the Coast Guard, I bet it is the most beautiful by far! GO ARMY, BEAT Navy! LTC Stephen F. LtGen Keith Stalder

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2LT (Join to see)

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You must have been at the Coach K lunch where he told the corps how hot his daughter and wife are for his big speech :) and Beat 'em. Great place.

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2016 "March Back" Parade USMA Class of 2020

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