First ADA officer selected as brigade tactical officer for Corps of Cadets

By Mike Strasser, West Point Public AffairsMarch 9, 2011

First ADA officer leads West Point's Brigade Tactical Department
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

WEST POINT, N.Y. (March 9, 2011) -- Down the hall from the commandant's office on the fourth floor of Washington Hall, Col. Joseph DeAntona occupies a somewhat empty space.

After only a few weeks since he was selected as the Corps of Cadets' new brigade tactical officer, his walls are still largely bare, but the conference table contains dozens of command coins under glass-a collection of mementos from his 27 years of service which began with a three-year tour of duty in the 559th Artillery Group, Vicenza, Italy.

When Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm commenced in retaliation of Iraq's occupation of Kuwait, DeAntona was at the tip of the spear as the 11th Air Defense Artillery introduced the new Patriot Missile System to the enemy. Deployments in support of Operation Desert Fox in 1998, then Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom would follow.

Graduating from West Point in 1984, DeAntona had hoped for an opportunity to return to his alma mater sometime in his career. That opportunity came in 1994 when he served a short stint as a Behavioral Sciences & Leadership instructor, teaching introductory psychology and the capstone course (PL485) for the fourth year cadets.

"I wanted to come back; I really did," DeAntona said. "I felt, and subsequently validated my thoughts, that 'the grass has got to be greener on the other side.' My instructors and my TACs when I was a cadet were true role models. And I always thought that the life they were living and the opportunities they had were something I hoped to be able to have myself. I really enjoyed my opportunity there. I guess in the big scheme of things I always hoped I would be able to come back one more time."

The job description states the BTO is directly responsible for the day-to-day command and discipline of the Corps of Cadets and oversight of the tactical officers and noncommissioned officers that make up TAC teams.

DeAntona sums it up simply as being "the day-to-day, 50-meter target kind of guy." While cadet development is paramount, DeAntona also wants to set sights on the NCOs, officers and civilians within the BTD.

"The one thing I am very cognizant of is the responsibility I have to provide a learning environment and good order and discipline for the tactical department," DeAntona said. "I have 64 captains, majors and sergeants first class who I'm responsible for developing as well, because like many people here, they're here for a short period of time and then they're going back into the operational Army. So they don't stop developing because they're TAC officers or NCOs, and that responsibility is on me to do."

His first order of business has been to refamiliarize himself with the academy; refusing to rely on what may be considered outdated knowledge from his time as a cadet or instructor, and even as a West Point parent.

"I don't want to be influenced and I don't want to be involved with making a decision based on information that is 16 years old," DeAntona said. "I want it to be based on information that's current and available today."

This includes meeting with senior leaders-starting with the superintendent, commandant and dean-department heads (from the academic departments, Department of Physical Education and Department of Military Instruction to the Directorate of Cadet Activities and director of the Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic) as well as athletic coaches. Meeting cadets is also a priority, like congratulating future ADA officers at Branch Night or spending some time with 1st Regiment during its Super Saturday at Camp Buckner. The Corps of Cadets, he said, will be his corps of 4,000-plus instructors as he learns from them as he leads. Leading the Corps of Cadets, with a dedicated staff of TAC officers and NCOs, is not an unfamiliar assignment, which he likens to his brigade command.

"I had a similar experience as a brigade commander, where I was the legal commander for about 5,000 Soldiers of various ranks. And I absolutely loved that experience," DeAntona said. "There is uniqueness about this population because they are all future officers, but it allows me to use some of the experiences and lessons I learned as a brigade commander. Every one of these young Americans at the end of their 47-month journey is going to be entrusted with 30-40 Soldiers which make up a platoon and be responsible for their health and welfare and their good order and discipline."

It's not without irony, that as he continues this orientation, the larger sum of his charges will soon be departing for spring leave; but not before he gets plenty of face time during Plebe-Parent Weekend. Just as Post Night and Branch Night are transformative moments for firsties, this weekend is one of those watershed events in the plebe year of a cadet class.

"Plebe-Parent Weekend is very important for the development and the identity of the Class of 2014," DeAntona said. "In general, this event really does help to define a class. The main reason is because it is the first focused opportunity for parents, friends and Family members to join the cadets in being the centerpiece of the academy."

It's a heartwarming experience, DeAntona said, because the plebes have almost an entire year under their belts now and, more so than ever before, they've taken ownership of their identities within the Corps of Cadets.

"The plebes now have been here for nine months. They are the Corps," DeAntona said. "During those previous exchanges with their parents, like at Acceptance Day, they were still trying to become part of the Corps, and now they are part of it, and the sense of ownership that permeates this class when they bring their parents in is very heartwarming."

For senior leaders, that gives them about 48 hours to create a positive and inclusive experience for the visiting parties. It'll be nothing short of a full-court press, DeAntona said.

"How can we assemble all of the things their sons and daughters do and allow them to walk in that world for a short while'" DeAntona asked. "When they leave on Sunday, we want them to have a much better appreciation for the experience their cadets are having here at West Point. It is a very synchronized effort across the military, academic and athletic dimensions to give parents a good feel of what cadets experience."

DeAntona will gauge the success of this mission if he can elicit the very emotion his own father expressed when attending Plebe-Parent Weekend in 1981. Times were tough with gas shortages forcing lines at the pumps and people feeling the effects of a slumping economy. The American hostages were released from Iran, but the public was still unsure about the Reagan White House, DeAntona said.

And then his, dad, a public school teacher with no affiliation at all to the military, said to him: "You know what, son' For the first time in a long time, I feel good about being a taxpayer. When I come to this place, it makes me feel good about being a taxpayer."

"And so when these parent leave this Sunday, I want them to feel good about two things," DeAntona said. "Like my dad, I want them to feel good as taxpayers, because this West Point experience is the result of a generous taxpaying nation. But I also want them to walk away feeling very comfortable and confident with the education and experience that their child is receiving here. That's all I want."

Getting to experience these pivotal moments with West Point cadets is a personal matter for DeAntona, who wants to see them all succeed-from Reception Day to graduation.

With the Class of 2011, it's about seeing the efforts of the former BTO, Col. Mark McKearn, through to the end.

"I want every member of the Class of 2011 to walk across that stage on May 21. It's personal for me," DeAntona said. "I am absolutely focused on keeping the firsties focused until that day in Michie Stadium when their names are read and they receive their diplomas."