Cadets and Old Grads Gather for Annual Skeet & Trap Alumni and Family Shoot
This past October, the West Point Skeet & Trap Team welcomed 75 team alumni and their families, along with friends and families of current team members and cadets, to its annual Alumni and Family Shoot. Under clear skies and ideal shooting conditions, participants gathered at Range 10 for a day of friendly competition, camaraderie, and reconnection.
The event provided an opportunity for graduates to reconnect with former teammates, meet current Skeet & Trap cadets, and enjoy time together at Scancarello Lodge. For cadets, it offered valuable opportunities to engage with graduates who share their experiences and understand the traditions and demands of competing for West Point.
What began as an alumni reunion in 2018 to celebrate the team’s 80th anniversary has grown into an annual gathering that brings together generations of the Skeet & Trap community. Following an enthusiastic response from graduates, the reunion was initially held every two years. A few years later, the event coincided with West Point’s Family Weekend, prompting cadets to invite their families to join. The expanded gathering was such a success with cadets, graduates, and families that it became an annual tradition.
Over the years, the event has welcomed graduates who competed with the team in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, as well as the 2000s and 2010s. Bringing together past and present team members, along with their families, provides a unique opportunity to celebrate the team’s rich history and enduring tradition of excellence.
“The Skeet & Trap alumni event has become an annual highlight I look forward to every fall. I have been able to reconnect with teammates from my time at the Academy and, most importantly, meet the cadets who are carrying the team’s legacy forward,” said James Manni ’18. “This event means a lot to team alumni and is a true representation of the Long Gray Line in action. The opportunities for mentorship for the cadets and reunions for the Old Grads will ensure this event will be popular for years to come.”
Founded in 1938, the West Point Skeet & Trap Team is America’s oldest continuously operating collegiate shotgun team. Originally established to train cadets in aerial gunnery in preparation for World War II, the team has continued to evolve alongside the changing demands of military service. Today, it contributes to the Army’s emerging aerial threat research and counter-drone training efforts, helping prepare future officers for the challenges of the 21st-century battlefield.
That evolution reflects the team’s continued significance as an essential part of the Academy’s cadet military development program and one of several voluntary marksmanship activities at USMA. Cadets sharpen their shooting skills, develop a lasting appreciation for the shooting sports, and cultivate the discipline, focus, and sportsmanship expected of future Army officers. The team also provides opportunities to strengthen leadership abilities, build camaraderie, and serve as role models for their peers and the larger community.
“The West Point Skeet & Trap Team has been one of the best parts of my cadet experience,” says CDT Connor Campion ’28. “Having the chance to shoot alongside Old Grads and learn from them is always a highlight. The team has given me unforgettable opportunities like this one, a competitive outlet that pushes me to keep improving, and connections I wouldn’t find anywhere else.”
In the years ahead, the Skeet & Trap facility will be undergoing much-needed, targeted upgrades, with the goal of establishing Range 10 as the premier collegiate skeet and trap training and competition facility in the nation. These enhancements will improve cadets’ marksmanship skills, expand the capacity to host national-level competitions, engage the local shooting community, and attract prospective cadets to West Point.
The sum of these efforts exemplifies the impact of the Margin of Excellence and the active network of the Long Gray Line, which helps sustain the program. Through continued involvement and commitment, graduates help provide resources for facility improvements, training, and opportunities that enrich the cadet experience beyond what federal funding alone can provide. Together, these investments preserve the Academy’s traditions, while advancing programs and preparing future Army officers.
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