50 Year Affiliation Program Information from WPAOG
The purpose of this document is to provide a detailed overview of the 50 Year Affiliation Program. This overview contains a brief discussion of the background and purpose of this program, as well as a comprehensive summary of all of the major events comprising this program. The Director of Class Support, with the cooperation of many agencies at USMA and much of the staff at the WPAOG, runs this program; please direct any questions about this program to the office of Class Support. Before moving on to a discussion of the background, purpose, and specific components of this program, thanks are in order to all 50 Year Affiliation Classes for their generous support of this program. Not only does each one of these Classes make a significant financial contribution to its affiliated cadet Class, it devotes a great deal of its time and energy to preparing for and attending the many individual events of this program.
One of the most important elements of the Directorate of Class Support is the 50 Year Affiliation Program. This program began in the mid-1990’s with a few joint events between graduating Classes and Classes fifty years their senior, and it has evolved into a robust series of events beginning on R-Day and culminating on Graduation Day. These events enable the cadet Class and the graduated Class to interact with one another at least one time during each of the four years the cadet Class spends at the Academy, and each of these Affiliation events occurs in conjunction with an event of special significance to the cadet Class. Thus, a program that began as a series of loosely coordinated—but certainly significant—interactions between cadet and graduated Classes has matured to become an indispensable element in not only the development of cadets but also the strengthening of the Long Gray Line as cadets “Grip Hands” with those who preceded them a half-century earlier. Simply put, the purpose of the 50 Year Affiliation Program is to strengthen the ties between the graduates of yesterday and today as both groups work together to strengthen the Long Gray Line as it serves our nation.
Following is a chronological listing—beginning at R-Day and ending at Graduation—of all of the major events of the Affiliation Program. This listing contains the “who, what, when, where, and why” of each of these events.
R-Day Reception and Swearing-in Ceremony: This event, the initial element of the Affiliation program, occurs on R-Day. Currently, the reception takes place in the Benny Havens Lounge at Eisenhower Hall. This event begins at approximately 0630 and ends in mid-afternoon, and it involves roughly two dozen members—graduates and spouses—of the Affiliation Class. The purpose of this event is to provide the family and friends of the incoming New Cadets a place to relax, enjoy refreshments, and interact with members of the Affiliation Class in order to gain their perspective on what awaits the New Cadets. In 2007, the first year this event was held at Eisenhower Hall, well over five hundred people enjoyed this reception. At the conclusion of this event, members of the Affiliation Class move to Trophy Point to witness the swearing-in ceremony that formally initiates the new Class into the Academy. Cost to Class: app. $6,000.00
Acceptance Day Parade: After having many of its graduates join the cadet Class for its Marchback from its summer training encampment—an event closely connected with but not directly part of the Affiliation Program—to begin Reorganization Week, the Affiliation Class provides one of its members to join a member from each of the other three Affiliation Classes to comprise the Reviewing Party for the Acceptance Day Parade. The focus of this event is to welcome the Plebe Class into the Corps of Cadets, and the Affiliation Class Reviewing Party serves to reinforce the connection between this brand-new Class and those that preceded it. Cost to Class: zero
Class Crest Unveiling Ceremony: One or two members of the Affiliation Class—and their spouses—join the Plebe Class in the Mess Hall for the official unveiling of the Plebe Class Crest. This event occurs during the spring and is in conjunction with the Plebe Sponsor Appreciation Dinner. The Affiliation Class members sit at one of the Head Tables, normally with the Plebe Class President, and are recognized by the Class President during his/her remarks to the Class during dinner. Cost to Class: zero
Yearling Flag Ceremony: For the past several years, this event has occurred at the change-of-detail ceremony during Cadet Field Training at Camp Buckner. With the significant changes to the Academy Training Schedule that have been instituted beginning this summer (2008), the timing of this event is yet to be determined. However, the event itself will almost certainly retain the tradition of the Affiliation Class presenting the new Yearling Class with its set of Class Colors at some point during summer training. This set of Colors consists of a beautiful Class Flag mounted on a brass-tipped staff, and the presentation of the colors is preceded by remarks by a distinguished member of the Affiliation Class to the Yearlings. At the conclusion of this event, the contingent of the Affiliation Class in attendance—normally approximately a half-dozen strong, plus spouses—joins the Yearling Class for lunch and fellowship. Cost to Class: app. $4000.00
Cow Affirmation Ceremony: During this momentous occasion, the Affiliation Class presents the Cow Class with a noteworthy memento: a joint Class Coin symbolizing the commitment of the Cow Class to the Profession of Arms and the support provided by the Affiliation Class to these newest members of this profession. This event occurs the evening prior to the first day of classes for the Cow Class, and it involves an especially noteworthy member of the Affiliation Class speaking to the Cow Class in Robinson Auditorium, followed by the administration of the Affirmation Oath by the Commandant and the presentation of the Affirmation Coins by Company Tactical Officers. Usually, approximately six or eight members of the Affiliation Class and their spouses witness this event. Cost to Class: app. $7500.00
Ring Weekend: Firstie Year involves many significant events for the First Class, and the Affiliation Class has an official role in three of these events: Ring Weekend, Branch Notification Night, and Graduation. During Ring Weekend, two or three members of the Affiliation Class, with spouses, participate with the First Class in the Ring Presentation Ceremony, the Ring Donors’ Reception, the Commandant’s Reception, the Ring Banquet, and the Ring Hop. During the Ring Presentation Ceremony, the Affiliation Class representatives sit on-stage with the Academy leadership, and they sit at one of the Head Tables during the Ring Banquet. They are formally recognized at both events, and their presence at these events strengthens their Class’ connection with the cadet Class. Cost to Class (for Ring Donors’ Reception): app. $1500.00
Branch Notification Night: One of the most significant choices cadets make involves their selection of their Branch. First Class Cadets learn the results of their Branch selection during an evening ceremony at Eisenhower Hall during November, and the Affiliation Class is once again present with its cadet Class at a key point in that Class’ time at West Point as a distinguished member of the Affiliation Class speaks to the First Class cadets about the significance of their Branch assignments. Once the Affiliation speaker and Commandant have made their remarks to the Firsties, the First Captain tells them to “Open Envelopes,” at which time the cadets rip open the envelopes containing the official notification of their respective Branches. This notification takes the form of a set of Branch insignia—“First Brass”—provided courtesy of the Affiliation Class. Cost to Class: app. $3000
Graduation—2LT Bar Presentation: As a fitting way to culminate the Affiliation Program, four particularly distinguished members of the Affiliation Class present members of the about-to-be graduated Class with their first set of 2LT bars, on the backs of which are engraved the last two digits of the graduation years of the cadet and Affiliation Class. This engraving symbolizes the ever-lasting connection between these two Classes—whether they be ’45-’95, ’58-’08, or any of the other cadet and Affiliation Classes— forged over the four years of the Affiliation relationship. Since the presentation of these 2LT bars occurs on the graduation stage as the cadets are leaving the dais after receiving their diplomas, this event is all the more memorable. Prior to the beginning of the graduation exercise, the 2LT bar presenters are seated in a prominent position immediately next to the cadets, and the Adjutant recognizes the presenters and their Class, and the 50 Year Affiliation Program in its entirety, in his opening remarks. This recognition symbolizes the importance attached to this program by cadets, the Academy, and the Long Gray Line. Cost to Class: app. $9000
The 50 Year Affiliation Program is a wonderful way to connect two Classes and to strengthen the relationship among those who have graduated, those who are at West Point, and even those who are yet to arrive at USMA. The WPAOG is honored to be the steward of this program, and we look forward to continuing, and improving, it during the years ahead.
Total cost to Class (over 4 years): app. $31,000.00