West Point Military Academy Cadet Training Exercises

July 17, 2006, West Point, New York
Contact: New York Foreign Press Center
Telephone: 212-317-8325; Email: nyfpc@state.gov

The New York Foreign Press Center escorted a group of 16 journalists from 11 countries and 14 media organizations to West Point Military Academy.  In a post cold era, West Point has adapted their military training for their 4,000 cadets to reflect the current times of fighting the war on terror.  To this end, they are now including several Middle East type scenarios into their regiment.

West Point unveiled this new training to the world through the NYFPC correspondents.  The first training exercise was called "Cordon and Search."  Cadets moved into a simulated Arabic speaking "town" cordoned off a suspected terrorist cell, and then conducted a search.  The cadets used interpreters while in the town to interact with the indigeous people and role players.  Journalists had the opportunity to interview the cadets and the role players taking part in this exercise - including the Iraqi who played the Sheik of the town and the interpreter the troops used for their negotiations. 

The final training simulation was "Live Fire Ambush". Cadets moved to an area where "enemy insurgents" were moving through.  Blank ammunition was used to engage these "insurgents" in an ambush of their convoy.  Journalists were in the middle of this gun fire betwwen insurgents and troops.