Grad March Back
Greetings Proud and Great!
As the lead for our 50 Year Affiliation for the Grad March Back along with Steve Anderson, I want to provide information to help one make a decision on whether to volunteer for the full 14 mile march or join the 2 mile march.
Date: The 2024 GradMarch Back will occur on Monday, 12 August 2024, with mandatory check-in and safety briefing on Sunday, 11 August 2024.
Schedule of Events (tentative):
- Sun, 11 Aug 2024 @ 0900 - 1200 hrs:Rolling registration, packet pick-up & safety briefing at Herbert Hall
- Sun, 11 Aug 2024 @ TBD hrs: Lunch under the tent outside Herbert Hall
- Mon, 12 Aug 2024 @ 0200 hrs: Bag-Check and Load buses at Buffalo Soldiers Field
- Mon, 12 Aug 2024 @ Daybreak: March back from Lake Frederick
- Mon, 12 Aug 2024 @ Arvin Gymnasium: Bag Pick-up and Showers
- Mon, 12 Aug 2024 @ TBD hrs: Class Cookout at Round Pond
Lodging: Is the responsibility of the participant, and it's probably not a bad idea to book lodging as soon as you may be comfortable doing so, particularly now that the date has been set. The most convenient is probably The Thayer Hotel, but it is also likely the priciest. As the affiliate class, we expect additional guidance from AOG wrt lodging and that will be made available via email as quickly as we learn of it.
Registration Cost: TBD but what we know is that it was $315 in 2023, which included registration fee, required Grad gray polo Shirt, March Back T shirt, and Sunday and Monday lunches. The Class cookout is a separate charge and not a part of the Grad March Back Registration Fee. These details are still being worked out and will be published as soon as the are confirmed. Note: Currently only50 classmates are permitted for the 14 mile march. Unlimited number of classmates can sign up for 2 mile march from Ski Slope to Supe’s Quarters 100,which is all downhill. Our Class Leadership is working with USMA to increase the cap to 78 marchers or to remove the cap entirely.
Participants as of 3/23/2024: As of 2/25/2024 we are no longer accepting 'applicants' for the 14 Mile Grad March Back. We are accepting 'applicants' for the 2 Mile Grad March back from the Ski Slope to the Supe' Quarters as there is no limit to how many old grads can participate in this March back. The list of registered participants is in numerical order based on the results of the lottery held 2/23/2024. Scroll to the bottom of this page or Click Here!
Grad March Back Training Guide was prepared for last years Grad March Back and contains a wealth of information. Read and digest. A new version will be released that is specific to Class of 2028 in the next few months.
The Selection Process aka The Lottery: The lottery was held on the 2/23/2024 at the Beer/Bourbon Zoom Call. Bill spun the wheel and golden eggs were handed out. The list below reflects the results.
Fitness: To complete the 14 mile hike, one should have a recent physical and be in good shape to maintain a 15-20 min per mile hiking pace. There are a couple rest stops enroute. If one is unable to keep up with his assigned platoon, he will be moved to a SAG vehicle and relocated to the Ski Slope. If you are not sure you can complete the entire hike, start your training now to toughen your feet from blisters and work towards improving endurance. There is plenty of time to put a plan in place. I will provide suggested training plans at a later date. Ultimately, I would like to approach AOG with a list of 100+ classmates who are motivated to be great examples to the Class of 2028. I really want to request 78 slots for the14 mile hike, get that number, and then have 78 classmates successfully finish the hike, well, because we are proud and great. On a real serious note, at the 2023 March Back, a younger grad from Class of ’82 suffered a massive heart attack on the first hill just after the start and died. We have had classmates in recent years take spills, resulting in a broken ankle and injured arm or shoulder. The hike starts in the dark and is mostly uphill for the first 3 miles or so. We must remain vigilant of our surroundings. Training needs to include hiking on trails at a park or Appalachian Trail like Tom Day did.
Bill's Training Tips: IronMan Bill Moeller has started to develop Training Tips to help inspire, motivate and help get us ready to endure the Grad March Back. Click here to see Bill's Training Tips!
Footwear: Sturdy hiking boots/shoes are recommended.
Timeline: See warning order below.
West Point AOG Info - Click Here
If you are still with me and interested, here is your warning order for additional planning. Call or contact me if you have questions at billmoeller78@gmail.com or(832)594-4980. Initially, reply to me only and not the entire class. At some point, we may set up a March Back What's App or email list to share success and questions as we train and get closer to crossing the LD.
Warning Order
Situation
USMA Class of ‘78 continues 50 year affiliation operations in support Class of2028 at the USMA March Back 2024. Classmates will travel to West Point to demonstrate to Class of ’28 what it means to be an operationally ready Old Grad who has given a lifetime of service to the Army and community. Fifty classmates will be registered and assigned to the 14 mile Grad March Back. All other classmates are encouraged to link up with the full Grad March Back hikers to march the final 2 miles from Victor Constant Ski Slope to Quarters 100.
Mission
Team Proud and Great conducts a road march at Lake Frederick, NY with Class of2028 new cadets on TBD XXXX hrs__ Aug 2024 to motivate and inspire a lifetimeof fitness and service in Class of 2028. Team executes link up withadditional classmates to complete the final 2 miles of the Grad March Back.
Execution
a. Commander’s Intent: Team Proud and Great conducts road march to link up with additional ’78 classmates at the Ski Slope, and marches on to successfully complete road march to Superintendent’s Quarters 100, demonstrating to the WestPoint cadets, faculty, Old Grads, and the West Point community that the Class of ‘78 is truly Proud and Great.
b. Earliest time of movement:
Sunday __ Aug 2024
0900 Check-in and Rule of Engagement/Safety briefs at Herbert Hall until Noon
1200 BBQ and greetings from West Point Senior Leaders at Herbert Hall
Monday __ Aug 2024
0200 Full March back participants meet at Buffalo Soldiers Field. We willhave a bag drop for post-march change of clothes & toiletries at BuffaloSoldier Field. Marchers load buses.
0230 Depart via bus for Lake Frederick
0300 Breakfast at Hanger at Lake Frederick
0330 USCC briefs by company in hanger; move to CBT company areas after brief
0330 – 0450 USCC briefs by company in hanger; move to CBT company areasafter brief for link up
0845 2-mile (ski slope) marchers assemble at Buffalo Soldiers Field
0900 Bus departs for ski lodge
1005 Group photo at ski lodge
1100 Pass and review past Quarters 100
1130 – 1230 Personal Hygiene Time – Arvin Gym
1230 Luncheon in Ike Hall (attire is casual or ‘as for March Back’)
1800 Class Cookout is a possibility, maybe at Round Pond.
Uniform: The Grad March Back uniform is Black shorts (provided bymarcher) and gray grad shirt which is part of the march back packet that youwill order at time of official sign up with AOG in June. The packageincludes gray grad polo shirt, Grad March Gack T-shirt, and Sunday and Mondayluncheons as addons. The package totaled $315 in 2023.
Marchers are also encouraged to have a Camelback hydration pack or water bottle. You may carry a backpack with other items such as rain jacket, sunscreen, snacks, etc.
Start your training now.
Proud and Great ’78!
Bill Moeller
(832)594-4980
Billmoeller78@gmail.com
Participant List as of 3/23/2024:
So what is next?
The top 50 names will be held until requested by the West Point Chief of Alumni Affairs who plans the Grad March Back. This list will be submitted in May. Now the top 50 can be focused and get after the training, if not already started, and to make travel reservations.
After this lottery, if work, or a wedding or injury stops you from participating, please let me know ASAP so I can contact #51 on the list to see if he is still interested. On or about June 1, these 50 will receive an email invite to register early and pay fees for shirts, ball cap, water bottle, gym bag, etc. Open registration will commence some days after.
As for the open registration, this will be for everyone else on the list. #51 thru #125 will have the equal opportunity for registration for the Grad March back. One should be online and ready to go when open registration starts. These slots are highly sought after and the 14 mile march will “sellout” in 3-4 hours as it has in past years from what I understand. If the 14 mile sells out, and you really want to do the 14mile hike, do sign up for the 2 mile hike. All marchers get the same gear. There will be a good chance that we will be able to move
For those planning to do the 2 mile march, I suggest signing up later in the afternoon of open registration. Any number of grads can register for the 2miler. After registration closes, I will get the updated roster of our class 14 mile marchers. I will be sure those names are removed from the wait list and transferred to the 14 mile list. The wait list will be reposted on our class website so all know where one stands.
Unfortunately, there will be drop outs throughout the summer. I will get updates and be able to move marchers from 2 miles to 14 miles. Steve Anderson and I will be coordinating this even on the Sunday of check in on August 11. We will do everything we can to get all healthy marchers intothe 14 miler. I do hope that many will come for the fellowship that this weekend will provide as we reminisce back 50 years ago.
Bill "Marathon Maniac" Moeller
billmoeller78@gmail.com