West Point Class of 2026 March Back from New Cadet Basic Training, Unveils Motto on

West Point Class of 2026 Marches Back from New Cadet Basic Training Unveils Motto on #CaMMVetsMEDIA
Video by Ken Kraetzer for #CaMMvetsMedia covering Cadets, Midshipmen, Military and Veterans since 2008.

[@wendyobryant8150]

So proud my step son is part of this!! Going to do great things son!! We are all very proud of you! ❤️

[@jpturner171]

Congratulations to your step son! I am a USNA graduate (‘79). While we have a “healthy" rivalry, we ALL serve and sacrifice to defend this great country we love! 🇺🇸 I retired in 2011, but continue to serve. PS: Make sure you attend THE GREATEST game of the year…Army/Navy👍🏽🇺🇸 Tell him to hang tough…it’s an Honor and Privilege to walk the path of so many GREAT AMERICANS!🇺🇸 Semper Fi and God bless your family! PSS: GO NAVY…Beat Army!😁

[@bennykim6573]

Congratulations! My son is Firstie and my daughter is Plebe at USNA. Go Navy Go Army!

[@jpturner171]

@@bennykim6573 congratulations! You must be so proud! My daughter is USNA ‘09. Semper Fi to BOTH! 🇺🇸🇺🇸 GO Navy… Beat Army! 😉

[@janetfinerfrock2522]

Thank you ALL for your sacrifice and service to this great Nation!!! Blessings from West Virginia! 🌹🇺🇸

[@sin7wu]

even being out of the Army, every time I hear the Army Song, it brings me back amazing memories. The Alumni groups are awesome.

[@bermudabourne3688]

Incredibly proud of my grandson! Having just been at West Point for A-Day I know exactly where this is!! Company I rocks!!

[@patches6309]

Praying for your grandson.

[@patches6309]

Bless every single one of these beautiful young men & women. These are Americas best & this retired disabled Combat Veteran salutes each & every one of you. Wishing you all the luck & protection in the world.

[@floatingaround22]

It makes me think of the Mini-series North And South.

[@IA100KPDT]

Please remind them not to go around getting drunk and raping local when they are overseas.

[@tomawen5916]

Our Army's future officers. Great video and you can see the grit and determination in all the cadet's faces. Go Army!

[@iispringii2039]

I'm applying to West Point this year and seeing both the Graduates and c/o 2026 cadets in the march as one big family really warms my heart. I hope to get in! Thank you for posting!

[@caliscribe2120]

Good luck and I hope your dream comes true!!

[@muttsma]

Good luck to you - and thank you!

[@PALEJEDI]

just go reg army out of high school after boot and ait apply to ocs

[@scottanson7524]

Great the past is there marching in with the new class ! Thanks for your service 🇺🇸 all Go Army !

[@PALEJEDI]

THEY need to bring DI'S for FORT JACKSON AND FORT BENNING up here to show them how to drill they were not in step at all

[@therrienmichael08]

They must all be 71 - 72 year olds class of 76.

[@phildyrtt6433]

Inspiring and how greatly my 🇺🇸😎💕 Faith is refreshed. Respect from a vet and our three century serving USA military family.

[@DaleBrose]

My my my....look at all those future 2Lts. Enough to drive platoon sergeants crazy for days on end.

[@reginaweiner3817]

Let's pray for them.

[@DaleBrose]

@@reginaweiner3817 Haha..for which ones? The new butter bars or the poor old weary platoon sergeants that have to adopt them and take them under their wings? It worked in the orderly room for a few years and it was always fun to watch the 1SGT meet a newly assigned 2LT. I can only speak from the perspective of an infantry unit, but by the time you get to platoon sgt, you're back and your knees already hurt, so adding a pain in the ass is not all that welcome.

[@reginaweiner3817]

@@DaleBrose Yes.

[@coldclaws2479]

So do you want them to start as captains? What’s the alternative?

[@DaleBrose]

@@coldclaws2479 There is no alternative. But rank has very little to do with it. Rank is vital for chain of command but leadership can only come from experience leading. I would say that assuming command of a platoon is probably the hardest or most challenging stage of a young officers career and their reputation as a leader is established early. I'd met more than a few young lieutenants the had to learn that leadership is not determined by the rank a soldier wears. But friction between a platoon leader and the platoon Sgt does not create a good environment for the rest of the platoon.

[@saw1898]

I love it. Thanks to all of them. May god bless and keep them.

[@battlegroundmaster1875]

it's amazing that the alumni supports new cadets mentally. the power of America!!

[@manuellucero2260]

Gotta love them alumni, the physical body is a real heart beat of one’s health 🇺🇸🌹

[@mattperry4853]

I was a medic working, they all dropped like flies 10 minutes after they finished the ruck

[@ronniereams5334]

Anyone know why some were wearing either CONARC patches or FORSCOM patces in lieu of West Point patches?

[@lissaleggs4136]

Tuba (Sousaphone) players are a special breed.. Is like love at first sight when they first lay eyes on a tuba

[@BuhayBuhaysaAmerika]

TY so much for capturing this

[@Pnw_Railfan_Aviation]

wow I never seen such a large march this is freaking awesome wish I was there lol

[@douglassreitter6600]

Owen Roy so proud of you! Love Gma.

[@niranjan-81]

That was Awesome ! Beautiful ! Respect !

[@petesmith9472]

There’s something instinctively wrong when the great majority of appointments to the academy are made by U.S. senators and representatives. It says if you’re not connected or not a demonstrable party supporter your chances of entry are limited. Is there NO institution in the USA that is free from politics?

[@dorothygale5896]

"Minorities" also take the first seats regardless of qualifications.

[@joeplavin]

@@dorothygale5896 really?

[@petesmith9472]

@@dorothygale5896 no they don’t . What’s your reference for such a statement

[@268391]

@@dorothygale5896 lmao you see that most those faces where white kids right? Try again.

[@floydvaughn9666]

None that matter.

[@ferdrew1809]

Most EXCELLENT ! 💯💪💥🦾🇺🇸🙏

[@WBDE]

Just getting an appointment to the USMA is a huge accomplishment. Even though they are just beginning, each of these cadets and their families should feel justifiably proud of where they are. After they graduate, a diploma from USMA is a golden ticket for future employment opportunites.

[@samiam1254]

The Golden Ticket is actually their effort, not the Diploma in employment opportunities....i was a graduate of the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Program. I am very proud that I worked hard, from Private to Sergeant to Lieutenant, while going to college on Active Duty.....it was all in the EFFORT put forth.

[@danielafigueroa528]

How they lead will define their career. Some west point grads are unbelievably cocky in the field and have no respect from their soldiers.

[@samiam1254]

@@danielafigueroa528 You can read about Leadership in a book, but you can't learn Leadership from a book. The smart ones will seek guidance from Non-comms and Staff Non-comms.....

[@danielafigueroa528]

@@samiam1254 the good ones, not the smart ones

[@jhonyermo]

@@danielafigueroa528 BULL CRAP

[@jim6070]

God bless you every one.

[@wen-fanglee7247]

Thank you 🙏

[@Elizabeth-zl5fm]

Go, Emmett! You did it!!! We are all so proud of you. Tia Betty

[@Sauerland39]

first march : In the hall of montezuma ! It's a really nice march ! Greetings from northern germany

[@CryptoX-kr3wu]

West Pointers used to be like an elite club in the Army. Not so much nowadays. You can get just as far with ROTC and OCS.

[@starguy2718]

Many generals did not go to the Point.

[@mattconley541]

I was ROTC. At MP OBC three Ring Knockers were in a Hummer and they missed the refueling point and ran out. Instead of calling to the TOC and requesting the the tanker come to them, one hiked back to the bivouac site and took the Jerry Can from the SGL’s generator. He thought it back and they emptied it into the Hummer. My Team (Three ROTC Lt’s) came driving down the MSR and found them… they claimed it died and it wouldn’t start…. The generator was gas.

[@lewistasso8866]

@@comradelawrencepage2522 I think that more of a fault in the US Army in general. Remember that horrible commercial?

[@mackmacksam534]

Woke USMA. Go SROTC OCS

[@ronthibault1853]

All the way warriors ! Charlie Co. still looking tight & fresh - "Airborne" class of 26 - Looking good 👍😎🍺

[@Vigilante-k4q]

Which country

[@steveconkey7362]

So great. Thanks for all their service!

[@vulsipide510]

how many were there?

[@renatzkigab2616]

These are the brave men of the Land of the Brave.

[@robertshields2066]

Wonder how many will make it to 2026?

[@rickbarnes1298]

The U.S. Military Academy Band leads the way as cadets in the Class of 2026 return to West Point after completing Cadet Basic Training. And now their academic year begins. H O O A H !!! THIS was some of what I was doing when I was playing trumpet and electric bass guitar as an enlisted SP5 in the West Point Band, 1973-74. 😃 ❤ 🎶 🎺 🇺🇸

[@lewistasso8866]

"For Country We Commit." I wish all in power would have the same attitude toward all services and law-abiding, upstanding, citizens...and for the same exact pay these future 2nd LTs are going to get!

[@Arthur5260]

Those rucks do look heavy. Great job!

[@PALEJEDI]

nothing compared to what we carried in the 1980's in our rucks

[@marianotalavera1560]

West Point... Respect 🤝

[@jimlongley9531]

Couldn't they at least get in step? My grandfather was First Captain in 1902 and we went to many evolutions through my childhood, including return from basic, and this was one of the sloppiest I have ever seen. Dog tired after marching as far as they did, the companies always gave it the extra effort when passing in review.

[@ronc110]

I noticed the same thing, but for the entire group of cadets. Hopefully someone will get them cleaned up before too long.

[@reginaweiner3817]

This is a woman talking: I know about diversity and all that, but when you have companies marching with members ranging from 5'0" to 6'6" or more with varying centers of gravity, the look is not going to be military. If you want it to look smart, have them march in units separated biologically. Women can look military, even in formation. Check some of the YT vids from the Soviet era. They did it with handbags and high heels.

[@jimlongley9531]

@@reginaweiner3817 Sorry, I spent a lot of time marching when I was in, and have been to numerous West Point, Annapolis, and USMC parades where the diversity of height and center of gravity made absolutely no difference at all. That's part of what Basic Training is about.

[@natecarter9202]

@@reginaweiner3817 one standard for all ma’am.

[@reginaweiner3817]

@@natecarter9202 Sure.

[@jadilsonalvesdasilva7192]

Grande Exército Americano muito bom excelente parabéns pelo vídeo 👏👏👏👏

[@kennethpritchett9299]

Jèezus! Get in step! Respectfully, MSG, USA (Ret)

[@lylestavast7652]

this is the end of 12 miles...

[@PALEJEDI]

they need real DI'S training them kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnnWZ4uHm8x_ppo

[@freddiefreihofer7716]

@@lylestavast7652 Shouldn't make a difference. Left on the downbeat, i.e. the thump of the bass drum. Don't even need the drum.

[@HMKMARIE]

Yay All 🎉 DASIA C we Love you 😘

[@leonardblakley611]

A number of comments below show what the posters do not know about the USMA basic training...the Beast. Nephew went to the point. This march in culminates a eek or so of field training the last part of which is marching up a mountain and back down a ski slope. The corp then passes thru Highland Falls before entering the WP grounds and they say you can smell them coming from a mile away. the nephew landed in the hospital with a case of poison Ivy so bad his eyes were weeping. And fyi, he did three tours in Iraq, from second year of the war. the cadets are not doing a formal march and they are exhausted They will learn to march smartly later... and THAT is a quite impressive sight.

[@mattperry4853]

They call it Beast, but they had an onstage fucking talent show in the middle of it. And they all have a disrespectful ass attitude to people who are trying to mentor and train them.

[@leonardblakley611]

@@mattperry4853 Language Matt, language What is your source of that information? If true, it may be indicative of the new "woke" culture throughout the military... but I will say the nephew and some of his buddies from the Point do enjoy entertaining themselves on occasion...bunch of clowns. It's the other side of serious personalities, hard working and disciplined, but quite the opposite of disrespectful.

[@jasonm949]

100% BS.

[@mattperry4853]

@@leonardblakley611 my source of information is that I was a medic with the 101st that was the task force working there this summer. I spent all 5 days in my Fla at beast and saw nothing difficult about what they were doing. They had a musical talent show on day 3, and a giant combatives tournament the last day. I will give credit for the ruck, 12 miles is hard on all of us, especially on those forsaken West Point hills. And no, they were all disrespectful, 80% of them are pampered children who got everything they wanted as a child and didn’t like being yelled at and having to follow a schedule with little to no free time. They want to be in the army, they need to learn to check their attitude.

[@leonardblakley611]

@@mattperry4853 I''ll yield to your experience this summer.. which is unfortunate.. and a vast change from when my nephew was there (Grad'd right after 9-11..we were there for GW Bush's grad address and my kids have cadet caps). The guys we met were impressive and highly respectful. In four years, I've never heard so many "sirs".. and still do. What you indicate may be the "wokeness" factor through our wider society and problems we have heard at the Point lately. What kind of leadership is going to result? Not the kind we need in the future Army.

[@johnnyanderson4141]

So, Is it four years of training?

[@dianeblanton8435]

Proud of these young men and women . Army 💪 !

[@adam4382]

West Point Rocks! You are the backbone of the country.

[@jamessephar9458]

🤣🤣🤣

[@fayvoshell466]

We are so very proud of you, Adrian!

[@jojob285]

way to go! C-2026! Go Army Beat Navy!

[@markusrose970]

What does 2026 means ?

[@KGKraetzerMedia]

Graduation year. Two months Done, 45 months left to go.

[@boxerpop82]

Utmost respect from greece

[@NOWOKEXYZ]

Nice to see Commitment for the COUNTRY and not the "Equity and Gender" crap!

[@jamie_d___]

God bless America

[@rossbryan6102]

IN MY RESERVES TIME I ONLY HAD ONE CHANCE TO MARCH IN A FANCY FULL DRESS PARADE, MY GRADUATION FROM BASIC IN FORT LOUSY WOODS MO, MAY 1964! WHILE I DID GRADUATE, MUCH TO THE DISTRESS OF THE DRILL SERGEANT, I DID NOT MARCH IN THE GRADUATION PARADE, DUE TO MY KLUTZINESS!! INSTEAD I WAS ORDERED TO BE THE “ BARRACKS GUARD”! NO SKIN OFF MY BACK, I GOT TO SPEND AN EASY 3 HOURS, RELAXING!!

[@mikestarcher2189]

What'd they do? Go for a week?

[@lylestavast7652]

6 weeks training before they enter regular academy life...

[@clacicle]

“For Country We Commit” I think that certain politicians need to be reminded of this motto and and who they should be loyal to.

[@leeoien3645]

6:00 ...Cadet training company number one?? I think he meant training company I (or even better India)... Like he didn't just announce companies A through H. :)

[@jpturner171]

Good luck cadets! GO NAVY…beat army! Semper Fi 🇺🇸👍🏽 USNA ‘79

[@lewistasso8866]

Hahahaha! Message from the neighboring state of New Jersey: GO ARMY!! BEAT NAVY!! ; )

[@jpturner171]

@@lewistasso8866 🇺🇸👍🏽

[@roberthultz9023]

Is that a German cadet at 5:33 ?

[@jameseubanks7424]

Four vids currently about WP brought to you by the West Point Protective Association.

[@milldolly]

Go Colin

[@puma679]

I love them!

[@lylestavast7652]

one of those rituals and traditions most of us in the US don't even know exist. IMPRESSIVE !

[@thunderboltflash]

They are exhausted Memories!

[@samrajsingh6522]

Very asynchronous of them. Chengez Kan likes it...

[@robhartley9676]

...I remember doing this all those years ago....

[@TrongNguyen-dv1ir]

Rất tuyệt vời giỏi lắm biết yêu thương biết giúp đỡ người trong lúc khó khăn biết cứu người khi gặp chuyện không may một lệnh khen ngợi toàn bộ toàn đất nước đức vua chúa cha chúa chủ tổ toàn năng toàn ngôi toàn vũ trụ

[@jack26ts6]

Is it a marching？

[@sandman93449dm]

That's a bunch of badasses right there..

[@glennspellman5929]

This is the easy part wait till you got to hit the books.🥳

[@PALEJEDI]

that's the problem too much book learning not enough of common sense ( listening to your NCO)

[@glennspellman5929]

@@PALEJEDI I bet were an enlisted man.

[@paulready8897]

Company B was not marching in step very well at all lol. The alumni and 50 year alumni marched better than the cadets. The flag bearer for the alumni looked very cute. Awesome to see.

[@mister-v-3086]

Company H was the only one I saw that seemed to have its STUFF together.

[@NineInchTyrone]

Why applause ? Salute !

[@PALEJEDI]

got to give the snowflakes at a boy, instead of a snappy salute

[@NineInchTyrone]

Best wishes

[@gogurtz1738]

Pass in review, eyes right. 4th squad don’t turn their head, only 1st, 2nd, and 3rd squad does. So why am I seeing a lot of them looking?

[@mister-v-3086]

Drill and Ceremonies takes Practice. They'll look Much Better in six months!

[@gogurtz1738]

@@mister-v-3086 you’re right!

[@PALEJEDI]

@@mister-v-3086 any DI from Fort Benning or Fort Jackson could have them marching better than this in 3 days

[@gittar]

A lot of bobbing heads, but then. they're new cadets... how much marching have they done. Congrats to all.

[@rtaggs8178]

I live in a military town. The only ones that get the appointments here are well off kids of former officers who have the right connections if you get my drift.

[@arthurbrumagem3844]

You haven’t looked at the make up of the class have you. . Very diverse for PC reasons as much as anything

[@ElzbietaUllrich]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@billace90]

Omg…why are so many out of step?? It hurts the retina! Don’t they teach them D&C anymore?

[@NineInchTyrone]

If only they had worthy leaders …

[@stevenbyrd6825]

I wasn't impressed with any of the cadets. I was highly impressed by the alumni platoon, they looked sharp and in shape compared to the cadets marching .

[@roberthultz9023]

I'm not dogging anyone [ I've never been there] but I saw more than one cadet seemingly struggling with the load.

[@Shankinator-zx4tp]

These guys are freshmen, so hopefully they'll get better by the time they graduate.

[@KGKraetzerMedia]

Most of the alumni joined at points along the route and had decades of experience. Cadets were in high school two months before.

[@KGKraetzerMedia]

@@roberthultz9023 yes for some it was a walk in the park others it was a struggle. My observation is everyone gets into West Point for a reason. Some may be extraordinary in STEM or have ability to be fluent in Russian or Chinese.

[@Dr_Alan_Grant]

@@KGKraetzerMedia Being that they are the class of 2026, I’d imagine they are all pretty fresh to the military lifestyle too.

[@Cander509]

Did they get lost on the way back to garrison and have to be rescued an an NCO?

[@Laakona]

But, the Band is all active duty enlisted assigned to USMA.

[@Jwnorton]

"Get yer booger-hook off that trigger, Cadet!" Oh man.... multiple times... ;)

[@nicksthoughts24]

Alot of bouncing going on while these cadets march. I hope they get it together.

[@freddiefreihofer7716]

Left foot down on the downbeat or thump of the bass drum. Not that difficult. LEFT right LEFT right LEFT ...

[@jmhjmhjmh]

For the love of God, when you get to your units please listen to your NCOs. Graduating from any military academy doesn’t make you an instant SME or good leader - please accept that.

[@garygunn8740]

I trained some of these cadets with task Force

[@jianliangchen998]

👍👍👍

[@edwarddabal3587]

As a former marine I can say there was a time when this was something to be proud of...unfortunately the academy and pretty much the military has been infected with cultural-marxism...

[@1421davidm]

I feel sorry for the ordinary soldier who will be commanded by these snowflakes. "Don't say hurty words to me or I shall report you".

[@rtaggs8178]

No truer words said.

[@arthurbrumagem3844]

Those who accept the Marxism and anti American views will be successful,the others not so much.

[@rtaggs8178]

s@@arthurbrumagem3844 The Marxism is already here with the Biden administration and the Democrats. The "Woke" crap is in the military deep. Loss of freedom if you don't get the JAB and that ends your career. This is not the military I served in. Your the one accepting Marxism, look at the court system, media, ATF. FBI. They are all in lockstep with the Socialist/Marxist Democrats.

[@arthurbrumagem3844]

@@rtaggs8178 why are you assuming I’m accepting Marxism. The army isn’t the same one I spent 23 yrs in either. Standards were lowered in jump school for females way after I went thru. Wish I would have kept my jump school training manual after I retired which actually stated that standards were lower.

[@tlk0216]

banner should say we serve to serve the politicians and military industrial complex

[@freedomloverusa3030]

The sword and shield of the Party.

[@-israel5259]

美国军人身体素质真好，每个士兵无论男女负重都超强。

[@apollo4619]

PSA for the boomers in the comments: This is the end of these kid’s first 12 miler remember they were high schoolers only 1-3 months beforehand still got a lot to learn they ain’t gonna be like the old guard at DNC right off the rip.

[@jameshuynh3264]

Hi.nice

[@Boringdaddi]

A group of Not Yet graduated students cannot call themselves a class of some future date… it doesn’t work that way. Only once you pass, do you get to call yourself class of xyz. Its like applying to a job and declaring yourself an employee even before you’ve been hired… this stuff drives me nuts

[@howard3921]

Yes they can

[@MichaelSSmith-hs5pw]

A lot of “butter bars” got fragged in Vietnam while I was over there, just saying’.

[@NineInchTyrone]

A lot ?

[@MichaelSSmith-hs5pw]

@@NineInchTyrone yep, 3 butter bars (2nd LTs) in my company alone got fragged the year I spent over there, some Sergeants too. Don’t let anybody tell you it didn’t happen ‘cause it did! Ask any true ‘Nam veteran. 🎖💜♠️🪖🇺🇸

[@saw1898]

Thanks for your service sir.

[@MichaelSSmith-hs5pw]

@@saw1898 🙏🙂👍

[@guillaumerolet4939]

Ils subissent !

[@tomlubas1512]

Company I(india) civilian. Parade not procession

[@fraserpaterson2936]

Marching in step isnt their strong point ? Large parade though...

[@MichaelSSmith-hs5pw]

Take a look closely at their pass & review, most of them are out of step! And these yahoos are our future military leaders?? God help us! 👎

[@michaelstramm2366]

There you go, these guys could'nt even march in god dammned unison, holding their god dammned weapons as if its f..... Christmass eve, and i did,not hear one clear loud resonating order to salute as they pass Review. Any god dammned NCO , by the Corps or the Army would shit two bricks and slap them on their dumb heads by a lame Performance like the one shown here. This is the Future of the commanding Corps of the armed Branches???? Really..???? God Lord ,we're in the shitter.

[@jhonyermo]

Look good, even if a few are at route step

[@549BR]

Hope they're better fighting then they are at marching.

[@arthurrogers2289]

Enlisted don't get reception why cadets