Rumors of the Death of USMA are Greatly Exaggerated.

I spent the last three days at the rockbound highland home known as the United States Military Academy at West Point .

USMA used to pride itself on its affectionate tagline of "over 200 years of progress unaffected by change."

The Academy has been in the crossfire lately over various social issues, including its curriculum and its changes in line with the United States Department of Defense policy on Confederate Generals. Some alumni and nongraduates question its direction and even its necessity. Certainly, these issues can and should be debated. But it is time to see the forest through the trees.

I saw real change at West Point this trip. I bristled at some of the change because after all, I am a crusty "old grad." I asked some plebes about their experience, and many described it as "fine", and one even said it was "fun."

"Fun?" Was I at the United States Air Force Academy ? Plebe year was miserable for me. I saw no "pinging" or hazing. I saw nobody get stopped to sing the National anthem. I saw no cadet salute 600 times on the way to class with "Beat United States Naval Academy , Sir" or "Good Morning, Ma'am." I didn't get the sense plebes were remotely scared of leaving their rooms or that they woke up the first morning of Beast to "Welcome to the Jungle" blasting through the loudspeakers at 4am.

But it is what I did see that leave me incredibly bullish on West Point.

They now have innovation labs working directly with defense companies to solve real world problems with a focus on autonomy and AI. They have an interest in placing cadets for a month in small defense tech startups. The faculty has shifted towards the future of defense and is apt to avoid using the last war's strategy to fight the next one.

25% of the Corps of Cadets are women vs. the < 10% in 1996. Diversity of thought and opinion leads to victory. We must avoid groupthink.

My classmate, the Dean, Shane Reeves , is revolutionizing the education system. The academic load is more rigorous now and requires a "both sides of the brain" approach. Departments are realigning to match the future needs of this country. USMA has gone decades without this much needed overhaul.

Character Development is evolving. This is a new Generation and leadership styles that worked for Gen Xers like me do not translate to Gen Z. USMA gets this fact. West Point is absolutely focused on new approaches to discipline to maximize its success rate in creating the leaders of tomorrow.

As "brevity is the soul of wit," I will conclude by saying I have never been more confident in the direction of West Point. The Academy is at the tip of the spear in creating the leaders of tomorrow who will serve on the fields of battle, as elected officials, in corporate boardrooms and beyond.

And at least they still walk "The Area".