This civilian enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S.  Department of Defense in the greater West Point community.  The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts and supplements,  does not constitute endorsement by DoD or the U.S. Military Academy of the firms, products or services advertised.  The Pointer View is an unofficial publication authorized by Army Regulation 360-1.  Editorial content is prepared, edited and provided by the Public Affairs Office of USMA.  The Pointer View is printed and distributed by the Poughkeepsie Journal, a private firm in no way connected with the DoD, under exclusive contract with USMA.  The views and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of  USMA or the U.S. Army.

Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use,  or  patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron.  A confirmed violation or rejection of this policy of equal opportunity by an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source.

The Pointer View is published weekly by the USMA Public Affairs Office,  Bldg. 600, West Point, N.Y. 10996, Comm. (845) 938-3883
DSN 688-3883.

Lt. Gen. William J. Lennox, Jr.,  Superintendent

Ltc. Kent Cassella, 
Director, Public Affairs 

Irene D. Brown, 
Chief, Command Information

Jim Fox, Acting Editor, 938-8365  
jim.fox@usma.edu

Eric Bartelt, Assistant Editor

Spc. Benjamin Gruver, Staff Writer

Kathleen Eastwood,  Staff Writer

Former Superintendent dies
Retired Gen. Donald Vivian Bennett, 47th Superintendent of West Point, died Nov. 28 in Asheville, N.C. He was 90.

President approves raise
President Bush has formally approved a 3.1 percent average pay raise for white-collar federal employees next year. 

my Pay Smart LESs
Most federal employees are now receiving e-mail notices when their leave and earning statements are ready to be viewed thanks to the new SmartLES.

Soldiers get traumatic injury insurance protection
The Department of Defense has enacted a traumatic injury protection insurance under the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance or SGLI program.

Standard Federal ID to replace Common Access Cards
The Army is developing a new, standardized identification card for all federal employees.

Homeschooling alive and well at West Point
Making the choice to keep education inside the home rather than in a school building was made for a variety of reasons by at least 40 West Point families, but ultimately all have the same rationale -- giving their children a quality learning experience.

Keller earns national award for blood donation
Keller Army Community Hospital received an award Oct. 18 for outstanding achievement in blood donations for 2005. Mary Mandia, KACH blood drive coordinator, accepted the award from the American Association of Blood Banks during a ceremony in Seattle.

Army looks to build off four-win season
Army took it on the chin Saturday losing to archrival Navy 42-23 and finished the 2005 season at 4-7.

Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. A confirmed violation or rejection of this policy of equal opportunity by an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source.

This civilian enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Army, or USMA. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts and supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense or the United States Military Academy of the firms, products or services advertised. The Pointer View is an unofficial publication authorized by AR360-1. Editorial content is prepared, edited and provided by the Public Affairs Office of USMA. The pointer View is printed by the Poughkeepsie Journal, a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Army, under exclusive contract with USMA. The views and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the USMA or the Army.