Two West Point cadets accompanied by West Point Judge Advocate Corps Department of Law Professor Major John Dehn participated in the Hamilton College Washington D.C. program's class on Feb. 28. Government professor Frank Anechiarico, who is leading the Washington, D.C. program this semester, was lecturing on Armed Servants: Agency, Oversight, and Civil-Military Relations, a book that addresses the relationship between the military and civilians in the United States. Anecharico felt that the best way to bring the material to life was to discuss it with the military's future leaders.
Hamilton's students were able to ask the students and professor questions regarding the Iraq War, West Point and their perspectives on civilian-military relations. Part of the class focused on the role of the military when going into conflict. The West Point visitors "expressed their arguments and were willing to explore the gray areas. As people who are very likely to be in harms way very soon it was an extraordinary experience to get that perspective," Anechiarico said. "They were all outstanding representatives of their institution and the Army."
After the class ended the cadets and the Hamilton students were given a tour of the United States Capitol by Julianne Jaquith '08 who is interning for Senator Joseph Biden. Finally, to better enable the Hamilton and West Point students to get to know each other, Anechiarico brought everyone to a nearby restaurant for dinner. The other cadets were Sarah Knutson of the Airborne Branch and Scott McConnell of the Armored Division, both seniors at West Point.
- By Eric Kuhn '09
