The U.S. Military Academy and many of the surrounding communities in the Hudson Valley region experienced a catastrophic weather event July 9 as heavy rains produced over eight inches of precipitation in many locations that caused flash flooding creating extensive damage to roadways, vehicles, homes and put an immediate pause on the daily lives of those living on West Point.
As the epicenter of storm left its destructive path through the academy, the cadet cadre preparing for the Cadet Candidate Basic Training (CCBT) Reception Day at the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School (USMAPS) tried to keep it business as usual even as the circumstances from the storm made the initial start of CCBT bleak.
While CCBT R-Day was delayed by a few hours on July 10, there were several cadet candidates and cadet cadre who were impeded from making the noon start time for Reception Day due to travel complications and restrictions.
“It still doesn’t feel real with it happening the day before R-Day,” said Class of 2024 Cadet Tyson Welch, CCBT cadet command sergeant major. “The USMAPS Commandant (Col. Richard Johnson) met with the cadet command team and explained that he was unsure of what R-Day would look like (July 10) as landslides, road implosions and flight cancellations were being reported constantly. We ended up planning for about 10 different R-Day scenarios as we weren’t sure on who would be able to show up among staff, taskees and cadet candidates.
“Cadet cadre accountability was hectic as we had the day off to rest before R-Day, so many cadet cadre were off post as well and some were not able to make it back the night of R-Day due to road closures,” Welch added. “It was a late night of accountability and checking in to make sure the cadet cadre were safe and staying on top of possible R-Day changes.”
At the start, Welch said that it was a big issue with missing a number of cadet cadre personnel as the number of stations and supervision of cadet candidates required more cadre than they had on hand.
“We had to flex many cadet cadre to multiple stations to make up for personnel, which required a high level of communication to ensure cadre showed up immediately to their next stations when requested,” Welch said. “There also was the flexibility of timing as R-Day was pushed back five hours, but the oath ceremony (was on time in the evening). This required completing R-Day in record time, requiring equipment issue, medical, oath and drill practice without time for error.”
As for the CCBT cadet commander, Class of 2024 Cadet Jeanaoh Jean-Baptiste, the rain is an element that all West Point cadets are familiar with and, for him, originally from Haiti and living in West Palm Beach, Florida, prior to West Point, it had “numbed me to thunderstorms and heavy rains.”
Nonetheless, the rain did cause a significant impact, and Jean-Baptiste recognized everyone who went through many hurdles to make the CCBT R-Day go off as seamless as possible.
“Rain or shine, we intended to give the cadet candidates and their families the proper Reception Day,” Jean-Baptiste said. “With amazing help from the senior officers and noncommissioned officers, our cadre were able to quickly adapt to and continue executing the mission.”
A sociology major who hopes to branch Infantry, Jean-Baptiste as the CCBT detail commander has a chance to “guide and mentor other cadets during the training, helping them to adapt and excel in the military environment.”
“I am also responsible for ensuring a positive and respectful command climate,” he added.
The job as CCBT detail commander has Jean-Baptiste overseeing the leadership of 71 cadet cadre and the training of 237 cadet candidates. But, for the Army West Point men’s rugby player, this job is all a part of his progression as a leader within the Corps of Cadets and future as an officer.
“Being chosen as the detail commander is a significant opportunity for personal and leadership growth,” Jean-Baptiste said. “I have matured a lot since my Prep School R-Day on July 15, 2019. Being selected for this position demonstrates recognition of my abilities and potential as a leader. As I grow, take in feedback and adapt during Cadet Candidate Basic Training, I will be able to gain the respect of my peers and superiors.”
The experience of leading a small battalion-sized element during the three weeks of CCBT is advantageous to Jean-Baptiste building the foundation of his leadership skills.
“Assuming leadership roles allows me to be put in situations that gives me the ability to assess my own leadership style,” Jean-Baptiste said. “This experience has also made me better at decision-making. Rather than making a decision for myself, I am able to speak on behalf of the battalion. Overall, this experience is allowing me to gain more self-confidence and adaptability, which are essential to being an effective leader.”
Jean-Baptiste does credit being a member of the Army West Point men’s rugby team as being crucial in his development in becoming a man and a leader.
“The rugby team holds each one of its players and coaches to the utmost standard,” Jean-Baptiste said. “Bringing that same energy to any organization allows the organization to reach new heights and continue to climb. Rugby has a huge emphasis on teamwork. As a leader, rugby teaches you how to leverage individual strengths, motivate your team and foster a sense of unity toward a common goal.
“Rugby also aids in decision-making,” he added. “Rugby is a fast-paced game that requires split-second decision-making. As a player and leader, you must assess situations and choose the best action. The experience enhances my critical-thinking ability and allows me to adapt to changing circumstances.”
As for the group of cadre he is leading, from the two-week Leadership Training Program (LTP) to day one of CCBT, Jean-Baptiste has many exemplary things to say about their efforts.
“The cadre have done an amazing job and buying into the vision of what we want CCBT to be,” Jean-Baptiste said. “The team is extremely motivated to make CCBT the best it can be for the cadet candidates. I realized, when it comes to working with new groups of people, over communicating is a necessity.”
Welch agreed with Jean-Baptiste’s assessment of the cadre as he has been impressed with the work of the cadet cadre during R-Day due to “many last minute and on the spot changes that made R-Day more hectic than usual.”
“The cadet cadre definitely rose to the occasion and showed that they are capable of adapting and executing on minimum guidance,” Welch said. “My most significant takeaway is that as Soldiers, our main priority is execution. We cannot sit around talking about what should have happened and who is to blame when the mission has yet to be concluded. There were many changes and miscommunication during the LTP that made some events difficult, but regardless, we had to execute with efficiency.”
Within Welch’s duties as the CCBT command sergeant major, he said he “is responsible for executing and maintaining established policies and standards pertaining to performance, training, appearance and professionalism of CCBT cadet candidates and cadre.”
“My job is never complete as cadet candidates require constant oversight of their training and assurance that it aligns with the expectations of USMAPS and USMA,” Welch said.
Welch was excited to be chosen the CCBT CSM because he was also a prep school cadet candidate four years ago and is happy to be back to “share my experiences to mold the next class of vanguards.”
The Summerville, South Carolina, native, also sees the CSM position helping him significantly in his progression as a leader within the Corps of Cadets and his future leading Soldiers.
“It forces me to refine my systems and processes for keeping accountability of an increasing number of people,” said Welch, who is a psychology major and hopes to branch in the Medical Service Corps. “Organization and tracking that worked for 100 people may not work for keeping up with 200 and so on – so it is a great learning experience.
“I have a hand in all operations and cadet candidate training, which requires increased delegation and communication to all for consistent check-ins,” he added. “I also have to be the one to ask the questions that others may not consider to ensure all plans have contingencies of the finest details.”
While the weather may have added a different element in this CCBT experience, the memories, even blurred, did come back strong from Welch and Jean-Baptiste’s own experiences from CCBT, R-Day and Cadet Basic Training.
Welch did feel like R-Day was a blur but remembers thinking about how did he end up at a New York school that he never thought of attending at one point.
“During R-Day, we were moving pretty fast between stations and with all of the cadet cadre giving strict directions and instructions, it’s hard to remember the fine details,” Welch said. “The amount of standing and reading knowledge were the hardest parts overall that I will always remember.”
Jean-Baptiste remembers distinctly the “60 seconds to say goodbye” speech and then the “emotions that were racing through my family and I from my USMAPS R-Day.”
“On R-Day this year, I was able to comfort the parents of the cadet candidates after I gave my speech,” Jean-Baptiste said. “I let them know their children are in great hands.”
To be in tune with guiding the cadet candidates, Welch gave much credit to USMAPS Brigade Tactical Officer, Maj. Alfred McDaniel, who he said is the “most approachable and easiest people to talk to.”
“It was a little nerve-wracking showing up on day one as one of the people in charge of the detail because everyone else is expecting you to know the answers and have a plan,” Welch said. “The battalion commander (Jean-Baptiste) and I would constantly go to (McDaniel) and pick his brain and pose plans in which we would have positive discussions regarding its pros, cons and alternatives. It never seemed like he was talking down to us or trying to control our every move, he let us lead and stood by us for any assistance we needed.”
And as McDaniel was there to be a guide for the cadets in their leadership endeavors, the cadets offered lastly advice to the cadet candidates as they began their year trek at USMAPS before they can one day begin their 47-month journey at the academy.
“Be a sponge and absorb as much knowledge as possible,” Welch said. “There are so many excellent leaders and mentors who are just waiting to give knowledge. Ask questions and learn, nobody will be upset about being asked questions as we all want the next class to learn from the previous class’s mistakes.”
Jean-Baptiste agreed with Welch that it is important to find mentors and added that nothing is more important than getting down and dirty and bringing old-school work ethic to whatever you do to succeed.
“Whatever goal or idea that you want to accomplish, there is someone who has done it,” Jean-Baptiste said. “Do your best in everything you do, never save it for ‘next time.’”
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