Absolutely American

1. Absolutely American By David Lipsky Duty. Honor. Country.

2. A Brief History of West Point All data from West Point website West Point's role in our nation's history dates back to the Revolutionary War, when both sides realized the strategic importance of the commanding plateau on the west bank of the Hudson River. General George Washington considered West Point to be the most important strategic position in America. Continental soldiers built forts, batteries and redoubts and extended a l50-ton iron chain across the Hudson to control river traffic. Fortress West Point was never captured by the British, despite Benedict Arnold's treason. West Point is the oldest continuously occupied military post in America.

3. Fun West Point Fact! • West Point Military Academy • 50,000 high school juniors fill out information request forms, 12,000 complete the application 6,000 make it to the physical, 4,000 are nominated by their senators or congressmen, 2,000 are pronounced qualified for admissions but only 1,200 get offered West Point places.

4. David Lipsky Spent 4 years at West point to follow cadets as they grow into future leaders of our armed forces These men and women each suffered the trails and tribulations of the academy until graduation day show here

5. Kegan’s Theory “Growth involves movement through five progressively more complex ways of knowing which Kegan referred to as stages of development in 1982, orders of consciousness in 1994, and forms of mind in 2000” (p.177) The Premise behind Kegan’s Theory focuses on the “growth or transformation of ways people construct meaning regarding their life experiences” (Evans, Forney, Guido, Patton & Renn, 2010, p. 176)

6. Kegan’s Theory: Orders Evans et. al. 2010 • Orders 0 and 1 take place during the first two years of life. Not until the age of about 2, do children realize that they have control of their reflexes. It is not until this time that children can be aware of their surrounds and begin to assess situations. • Order 2: Instrumental Mind • “In this order, individuals develop a sense of who they are and what they want.” (p.179) Children begin to think more logically and their feelings about certain things last longer. • Order 3: Socialized Mind • “As a result, thinking is more abstract, individuals are aware of their feelings and the internal processes associated with them, and they can make commitments to communities of people and ideas.” (p.179) During this order, people become more aware of how others act towards them and approval of others is key in helping move on to the next order. The acceptance of other component is essential in this order. Without it, the individual can not move on. They need to learn how to balance acceptance of others with out becoming dependant on them. It is when they discover this balance can they move on to the next order.

7. Kegan’s Theory: Orders Evans et. al. 2010 • Order 4: Self-Authoring Mind • “The ability to generalize across abstractions, which could also be labeled systems thinking.”(p. 179) During this order individuals begin to think for themselves and make their own decisions about life. They “establish their own sets of values and ideologies.” (p.179) The relationships that individuals have with other individuals are no longer their central focus but a part of their development. • Order 5: Self Transforming Mind • This order is very rarely reached before the age of 40, if it is even reached at all. In this stage, “relationships can be truly intimate in this order, with nurturance and affiliation as the key characteristics.” (p.180)

8. George Rash and Reid “Huck” Fin • Two men from the West Point class who showed leadership and determination… • George Rash- The comeback kid • Huck Fin- The bad apple turn good leader.

9. George Rash • Parents of two army sergeants, grew up in Centerville Georgia went to West Point because he heard the military was a good way to go. Guaranteed job, housing and medical. • Had problems with Military bearings: talks to much looks around to much. • Straight A’s in high school, 1400 on his SAT’s • Jewish • Fundamental Problem West Point operates on a kind of Fanatical male efficiency: • Military has SOP (standard Operating Procedure) most efficient (better mimic it exactly) • Unit Cohesion term for brotherhood • -wanted to leave, but parents told him they did not have a budget for him • Beast Leader- has adopted an easy going leadership style (he will not pretend to be something he is not) becomes more confident until he becomes defeated by the hill, “ If I cant perform the task as squad leader, what good am I” • Will be investigated for honor, lying about checking cadets feet • Reality is if Rash graduates he will be representing West Point does the board want it? He is Not found. • Weight control issue- two to six pound drop every 4 weeks or out • Before another APFT (Army Physical Fitness Test) if he fails he would have to pay back the money they tell him to call it a day with no penalties George makes his decision fail or get separated, he will not quit. • George is called into administration one last time before a fitness test and told pass or fail he was going to be recommended for separation. With full payback, he meets the standard and once again just makes it

10. Reid “Huck” Finn • Reid “Huck” Fin- Baton Rouge, Louisiana, First, he is a redneck, second came to play football it’s the wrong reason if he is still hating it, too many rules • Sleeping through class, not shaving, poor attitude • Was giving warning, make it to class, shave, positive attitude NO more football • Missed a mandatory lecture, and got maximum punishment, sixty days confinement only leaving for class meals and 90minutes in the yard for exercise • Ready to sign LOR , days 52 goes to platoon leader and wants the paper work to leave • “I love the man,( referring to Captain Vermeesch) for doing what he said. I needed it. If he hadn’t of brought the wood and unleashed fury on me, I would of been like, ‘wow, this guy’s not as hard as I thought, this place isn’t as hard I thought, it’s just like every other place.’ And if I leave the best place, then I’m settling for second best, and that’s just something I can’t ever do.” • Becomes Beast Squad leader, makes a deal with Captain Vermeesch, make or break his chances of staying. • Shaves every morning, with a touch up in the afternoon, for motivation he became the mascot of the squad. Wanted to stay out of trouble for more than just military, but to keep his position on the football team. • Made it to Command Sergeant Major, now we see him giving orders he himself would not follow a year ago. • Few weeks before graduation receive a contract from the New York Giants • Major Vermeesch hands Huck a book on graduation day. “What a transformation. Continue to make us proud” was written inside of it.

11. Theory and the characters • George • 0-1: Started when he arrived there at W.P. • 2: He decides ride it out and there’s a purpose for him to be at W.P. • 3: When given the leadership position he believes his men think less of him. • 4: Commanders want him out but he was unrelenting in his goal to finish W.P. • 5: They realize that they are the force behind a nation beyond themselves • Huck • 0-1: Started when he arrived at W.P. • 2: Rebellious attitude changed to cooperative nature. • 3: People thought the worst of him when reading feedback from fellow cadets. • 4: He owned up to his mistakes. Tried to live up to the W.P. standard and be the standard. • 5: They realize that they are the force behind a nation beyond themselves Evans et. al. 2010

12. Veterans Day • Remembering those who have fought and continue to fight, to keep our country free.