West Point Department of Geography & Earth Sciences

08/01/2025

A final update from our Geology Field Course!

After weeks of studying tectonic uplift, mountain formation, and hydrology across Colorado, cadets capped the experience by surfing the dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park, the tallest dunes in North America! Formed by the interaction of wind, water, and sand from the nearby San Juan Mountains, these dunes sit atop an ancient lakebed, with underlying aquifers that contribute to seasonal streams like Medano Creek.

This course sharpened their scientific thinking, terrain analysis skills, and appreciation for the physical forces that shape both landscapes and battlespaces.

07/30/2025

From the windswept beaches of Normandy to the haunting silence of Auschwitz, our cadets walked the ground of history’s greatest sacrifices and darkest lessons.

Through ceremonies, seminars, and guided reflection, this AIAD sharpened their understanding of leadership, moral responsibility, and the human cost of conflict.

Rooted in West Point’s goal to educate and inspire future leaders of character, this experience challenged cadets to confront the complexities of war—and the weight of command.

07/29/2025

🏅Recognizing outstanding service!

Last week we recognized some longtime service and said farewell to some outstanding instructors.

🌤🌩GEO said farewell to our amazing Air Force weather officer Captain Madison! Capt Madison has been a cornerstone of the Geography program the past two years and will be sorely missed by cadets and faculty as she returns to the operational force!

🛠🌎MAJ Brett Krueger's service in GENE and invaluable work standing up West Point Civil and Environmental Engineering was recognized as he continues to teach in the new department.

🔬We also recognized Mr. Anand Shetty for 30 years of service to the Department as an environmental engineer, keeping our labs running smoothly for countless labs and classes!

07/29/2025

07/25/2025

We’re on azimuth for another successful CBT!

More pictures from Land Navigation training for the !!

Our instructors are dedicated to the training of our future leaders. Special shoutout to the Soldiers of the for their tireless support!

Are you interested in joining the GEO Team? Contact us for more info on assignment opportunities!

07/22/2025

🪨🔬More updates from our Geology Field Course!

Cadets trekked up to St. Mary’s Glacier, a permanent snowfield nestled above 10,000 ft in the Rockies—leftover from the last Ice Age! ❄️ They studied alpine geomorphology firsthand, learning how glacial erosion shaped Colorado’s high country.
🌊 Then it was helmets on for whitewater rafting, where they examined fluvial processes (and got a little soaked) on some of the West’s most dynamic rivers.
⛰️ From ancient moraines to roaring rapids, the cadets explored the forces that sculpt mountain landscapes—and had an unforgettable adventure doing it!

07/15/2025

🗺Meanwhile at Land Nav!⏱

While our Cadets are out doing amazing summer training, courses, and research, our faculty are hard at work supporting the Class of 2029! Our instructors once again are teaming up with BTD and our task force from the 101st Airborne to run land navigation courses for Cadet Basic Training. From the first classes on using a compass to route planning and more, our faculty are ensuring the Class of 2029 are ready to shoot, move, communicate and navigate!

Dean of the Academic Board-West Point
West Point Admissions

07/11/2025

🪨🔬Our Geology Field Course continues! 🏞⛰

Cadets explored some of Colorado’s most iconic geologic landmarks. At Garden of the Gods, our group mapped tilted sandstone layers of the Fountain Formation and investigated fault lines that shaped the landscape.

Pikes Peak offered insight into Colorado’s Precambrian granites and the erosional remnants of ancient mountain-building events.

Between field mapping and lab analysis, cadets compared geologic processes to those on the East Coast—learning how tectonics sculpt very different stories across the continent.

07/09/2025

🎉 Big congrats to MAJ Adams on his recent promotion last week! A standout instructor, he brings unmatched energy to the classroom—constantly innovating, inspiring, and shaping the next generation of leaders. His commitment to cadets goes beyond teaching—it’s mentorship in action. 👏📚🎖️

07/03/2025

🪨🔬This is one field course that really "rocks!" (had to get that out of the way early)

Week one of our geology field course AIAD kicked off in the labs and classrooms of West Point. Cadets built foundational skills in mineral identification, rock classification, and interpreting stratigraphic columns. Using tools like Brunton compasses and hand lenses, they practiced measuring “strike and dip” to map rock layer orientations—key skills for interpreting Earth’s geologic history. Our team later visited some local sites in the Hudson Valley to test their skills before moving on to Colorado!



Stay tuned for more updates next week!

07/02/2025