WPAOG Podcast
Sep 6, 2021
WPAOG Podcast Episode 3 - Mike Buddie (Director of Athletics)
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In this AOG exclusive interview, Rich DeMarco, the Associate AD & Radio Play-by-Play Broadcaster for the Army Black Knights, interviews the USMA Director of Athletics, Mike Buddie to discuss West Point Athletics and more...
More episodes from WPAOG Podcast
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EP58 Remembering & Honoring the Vietnam War 50 Years Later, with COL (R) Berry Morton M.D. ‘66 and LTC (R) Alan Nason ‘66
This episode features an interview with COL (R) Berry Morton M.D., West Point class of 1966, and LTC (R) Alan Nason, also class of ‘66.
After graduating from the United States Military Academy, COL (R) Morton commissioned in the Corps of Engineers, completed Airborne and Ranger training, and had a succession of overseas assignments in Germany, Vietnam, and Cambodia. He earned his Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Purdue University and attended Medical School at Indiana University, graduating with his Doctorate of Medicine. He trained at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, becoming the Plastic Surgery Department Chairman and Residency Program Director. Currently, COL (R) Morton serves on several Boards, including the West Point Class of ’66 Board of Directors.
LTC (R) Nason also went to Airborne and Ranger School after graduating from West Point. In Vietnam, he served as the American Advisor to the 43rd Vietnamese Ranger Battalion in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. He received a Master of Science degree from Akron University and a Doctor of Education degree from Virginia Tech.
In this episode, COL (R) Morton and LTC (R) Nason talk about their highlights from attending West Point, their experiences serving in the Vietnam War, and how the West Point Class Ring Memorial Program contributes to the continued legacy of the Long Gray Line.
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Key Quotes
“I credit the academy with really preparing me to make life decisions in an effective way and to be an effective person and citizen. And, that's a pretty satisfying thing. So, you know, I could go on but I don't think I need to. I believe that's it. I think it's an incredible school. I will add one thing and that is, there is a propensity by people who had a difficult time in the thirties, forties, fifties, sixties and seventies, maybe eighties, to somehow feel that it's not adequately rigorous at this point. I would actually posit the other way. I think it's harder. I'm not sure, if I was finishing high school today, that I'd be able to get an appointment. And the cadets that I've met are very impressive. The faculty that I've met is very skilled and very knowledgeable, and the leadership is first class as well, and that's right across the board.” - COL (R) Berry Morton M.D.
“West Point becomes a crucible where you all, similar to the gold of the rings, you all kind of get melted down and rebuilt, in a sense. You come in with values and those values are strong. You come in with your brains operational and your brain gets enhanced, I'm sure, while you're there. But, you all still get, in a sense, melted down and rebuilt in a particular mold with your own personality showing through here and there. And you all share the same trials and tribulations. You went through plebe chemistry together, and you survived. You lived through it. It wasn't going to kill you, although you thought it would when you're doing it. And so, you come out with, I think, similar values. Some may be stronger to some folks than others, and certain values may have different weight to different people. But I think as a whole we came out, not remolded, but enhanced, maybe would be a better word. We came out enhanced for the opportunity and the experience that we all went through.” - LTC (R) Alan Nason
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Episode Timestamps
(02:29) The West Point Class Ring Memorial Program
(09:06) The idea of the Ring Melt
(18:52) The Vietnam Veterans Memorial
(20:11) Attending West Point in 1962
(23:23) Highlights from the academy
(26:33) Experiences in Vietnam
(35:44) How service shaped their lives
(38:14) Lessons learned from West Point
(47:10) The legacy of the Long Gray Line
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Links
Class of '66 Legacy video: bit.ly/USMA66Legacy
Class of ’24 Ring Melt video: bit.ly/WPRingMelt24
Learn more about the Class Ring Memorial Program here: bit.ly/WPAOG-Ring-Memorial-Program
LTC (R) Dave Siry's LinkedIn
West Point Association of Graduates
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Mar 22, 2023
EP57 Adopting a ‘Never-quit’ Mentality with MAJ Nargis Kabiri ‘10
This episode features an interview with MAJ Nargis Kabiri ‘10, Field Artillery/FA 58 at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
MAJ Kabiri is currently an Army Marketing Officer and a mother of three who immigrated to the United States from Afghanistan in 1986. She enlisted in the Army at age 17 and would later get recruited to play basketball for West Point. In 2010, she received her Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering and commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer, becoming a litmus test for the Army to lift the Combat Exclusion Policy in 2012. In addition to her military experience, she founded Zanbazan, a revolutionary nursing apparel startup, and co-founded Athena Angels, providing educational programming and mentorship opportunities for West Point women entrepreneurs..
In this episode, MAJ Kabiri talks about the trials and tribulations of growing up as an Afghan American in the United States, turning to sports as an outlet during her time at West Point, and how her journey as a commissioned Field Artillery Officer transpired into a path towards entrepreneurship.
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Key Quotes
“I was the litmus test for allowing women in combat arms in 2012. And you know how they chose me? Because I was physically fit. That's what it came down to. They didn't care that I had the technical and tactical expertise. What they did care about was that I could do, you know, 11 pull-ups and that I could run. All they cared about was I could ruck run. I could do everything with the guys because at the time, this was back in 2012, the number one argument was that women couldn't hack it out physically. And so that toughness, that grit, that never quit mentality, it was always there because you bet every single day, every single morning for PT, eyes were on me.” - MAJ Nargis Kabiri
“My dad told me three things, and I remember it to this day, even though he passed away many, many years ago. His three things were, work hard, get an education, and I even say that education piece goes back to being competent in your area. You don't have to go around getting PhDs or collecting master's degrees, just be smart in your area. It doesn't take a lot. Constantly read and work on self-improvement. And, the third thing he would say is, never give up. And how true, right? How true. Never give up. And I'm going to add the fourth one, and we kind of hit on it, but the fourth one falls in line with character. Be kind and be humble along your journey because you just never know who you're going to run into and who needs your kindness. Being humble and being grateful for those around you. I know I’m in so much gratitude for so many people that have impacted my life so far.” - MAJ Nargis Kabiri
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Episode Timestamps
(02:41) Attending West Point Military Academy
(04:55) Turning to sports as an outlet in life
(11:19) Growing up as Afghan American in a small town
(20:09) Choosing field artillery
(33:20) Nargis’ entrepreneurial journey
(49:52) Women in entrepreneurship at West Point
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Links
MAJ Nargis Kabiri’s LinkedIn
Laura McKenna’s LinkedIn
Zanbazan
Athena Angels
West Point Association of Graduates
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Mar 15, 2023
EP56 The Oath and Trust of Commissioned Officers with MX400 with LTC Tom Dull, MAJ(P) Ben Elliott, MAJ Marc Meybaum, and CPT Brian Martinez
This episode features a discussion between LTC Tom Dull, Executive Officer at the Character Integration Advisory Group at West Point, and MAJ(P) Ben Elliott, MAJ Marc Meybaum, and CPT Brian Martinez. They are three officers who have conducted research on the Army profession and are Instructors of MX400: Officership, a class on the oath of office for first class cadets, at West Point.
In this episode, they provide a deep understanding of the oath of commissioned officers by discussing its origin and history, relive stories of their own commissioning ceremonies, and discuss the importance of teaching the value of trust and honor to first class cadets at West Point.
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Key Quote
“We want, as officers and we want our officers, to be trustworthy. And that's why I kind of go back to that. You kind of think of everything that goes with that. And that phrase in there says, ‘I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I'm about to do’. Right? And so you can see this establishment of trust, you know, I’m giving my word to the American people, I'm giving my word to the American government that I will be well and faithful, that I will be trusted and categorically trustworthy. And so, I will do that in everything I do and therefore it's unique to what the Academy has. They want officers that live honorably, lead honorably, demonstrate excellence, right? They're trustworthy.” - LTC Tom Dull
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Episode Timestamps
(01:30) Reliving tales of their oath of office commissioning ceremonies
(10:45) Teaching and communicating to first class cadets
(23:53) Commitment with respect to unlimited liability
(29:08) Preparing for conversations in class
(31:26) The history of the oath of office
(39:58) Relevancy of the oath in present times
(44:03) Presiding over commissioning ceremonies
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Links
LTC Tom Dull’s LinkedIn
MAJ(P) Ben Elliott
MAJ Marc Meybaum
CPT Brian Martinez
West Point Association of Graduates
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