US Military Academy cadet goes missing from West Point campus

Military Academy cadet goes missing from West Point campus along with an M4 assault rifle as officials launch ‘extensive’ search

  • Unnamed cadet is in graduating class of 2021 at the New York military school  
  • Officials say he may have his M4 rifle with him but doesn’t have access to bullets 
  • Search has included the deployment of helicopters, drones and dog units  

A cadet at the US West Point Military Academy has been reported missing and officials believe he could still be carrying his M4 assault rifle.

The unnamed cadet went missing on Friday evening at around 5.30pm after failing to turn up for a scheduled road march. His friends began an immediate search, West Point officials said. 

They said that they then conducted an ‘extensive’ search for the missing cadet, including the deployment of helicopters, drones and K-9 units. 

The Military Police began their search at 1am on Sunday morning before calling on the New York State Police and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. 

West Point cadets march in a Pass-in-Review ceremony at the United States Military Academy, Saturday, Sept 21, 2019. The missing cadet (not pictured) failed to show up for a scheduled road march on Friday evening before the school launched an ‘extensive search’ which involved the deployment of helicopters, dog units and drones

The Coast Guard began to search the shoreline at 6.30am.

The cadet isn’t believed to have access to ammunition or magazines and officials said there has been no indication of him posing a risk to the public. 

The school, which houses over 4,000 cadets, said they think he could pose a risk to himself. 

‘I want to thank the local and state law enforcement agencies and emergency services for their tireless support,’ Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams, 60th superintendent of the US Military Academy, said in a statement. 

The military college (pictured), which houses over 4,000 cadets, is one of the most prestigious military training academies in the world. They said there is no reason to think the cadet could be a danger to the public

The military college (pictured), which houses over 4,000 cadets, is one of the most prestigious military training academies in the world. They said there is no reason to think the cadet could be a danger to the public

‘We will continue to search with all means possible, on and off West Point. Safely locating the Cadet remains our focus and number one priority.’ 

The school said that they are ‘operating under normal conditions,’ but have stepped up their protection status.   

‘We have increased Military Police patrols at sporting events and across the Academy as a precautionary measure and to assist in safely locating the missing Cadet,’ they said. 

The West Point Military Academy is considered one of the best and most prestigious officer-training military academies in the world.  

According to their website, the school’s mission is to ‘educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the Nation as an officer in the United States Army.’ 

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