{"id":39524,"date":"2020-04-30T20:57:06","date_gmt":"2020-04-30T20:57:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/04\/30\/army-defends-decision-to-have-west-point-graduation\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:03:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:03:25","slug":"army-defends-decision-to-have-west-point-graduation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2020\/04\/30\/army-defends-decision-to-have-west-point-graduation\/","title":{"rendered":"Army defends decision to have West Point graduation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The Army\u2019s top leaders on Thursday defended their decision to bring 1,000 cadets back to the Military Academy at West Point for graduation, where President Donald Trump is slated to speak<\/a>, saying that despite the coronovirus risk students would have had to return anyway to prepare for their next duty assignment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The announcement has been criticized as a political move to get Trump on stage at the academy, where he hasn\u2019t yet given a graduation address. But Army officials said the students must return for final medical checks, equipment and training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t telecommute to combat,\u201d Gen. James McConville, the chief of staff of the Army, told Pentagon reporters when asked about the decision, which forces cadets spread out across the U.S. to travel, risking exposure on public transportation, and then land in New York, a coronavirus hot spot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cadets have been home since spring break in March, with their return to school delayed because of the outbreak. Only the seniors will return, and the graduation is set for June 13. <\/p>\n\n\n\t