A West Point cadet was reported missing after he failed to report for a road march this weekend, and the academy set off a widespread search for him that began early Saturday morning and was still underway Sunday evening.
Also missing was an M4 rifle, and the cadet “may be a danger to himself,” the academy said in a release Sunday evening.
“The Cadet is not believed to have any magazines or ammunition,” the release stated. “There is no indication the Cadet poses a threat to the public, but he may be a danger to himself.”
The cadet was last seen about 5:30 p.m. Friday on the grounds of the academy, which is located on the shore of the Hudson River in New York state. Fellow cadets began searching for him when he missed the road march, which was part of a military skills competition this weekend.
When they couldn’t find him, military police took up a search of the installation at about 1 a.m. on Saturday morning and kept up the search through the day, according to the release.
The academy notified the New York State Police and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and at about 6:30 a.m. Sunday, the Coast Guard was notified and began searching the shoreline. By late Sunday morning, the New York State Police were searching by helicopter, the release said, and also used search dogs and drones.
The cadet, a member of the Class of 2021 who was not named, was considered unaccounted for as of Sunday evening.
“West Point is operating under normal conditions with an increased force protection status,” the release stated. “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.”
A check with local hospitals found he had not received medical treatment as of Sunday evening.
“I want to thank the local and state law enforcement agencies and emergency services for their tireless support,” Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams, the academy superintendent, said in the release. “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.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the West Point Military Police at 845-938-3333.
Kathleen Curthoys is editor of Army Times. She has been an editor at Military Times for 20 years, covering issues that affect service members. She previously worked as an editor and staff writer at newspapers in Columbus, Georgia; Huntsville, Alabama; Bloomington, Indiana; Monterey, California and in Germany.
