Simone Askew is first black woman to lead West Point cadets
WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) - Simone Askew is making history as the first black woman to lead the Long Grey Line at the U.S. Military Academy.
But first, she's joining a long, grimy line of cadets ending basic training with a traditional 12-mile (19-kilometer) march Monday.
The 20-year-old international history major from Fairfax, Virginia, assumes duties this week as first captain of the 4,400-member Corps of Cadets. That's the highest position in the cadet chain of command at West Point.
In this Aug. 3, 2017, image provided by the U.S. Army, West Point Cadet Simone Askew poses for a photo. Askew is making history as the first black woman to lead the Long Grey Line at the U.S. Military Academy. She will be responsible for the overall performance of the roughly 4,400 cadets at West Point. (Austin Lachance/U.S. Army via AP)
Pat Locke, one of two black women in the first class of women to graduate from West Point in 1980, says Askew is a terrific role model.
Pam Askew adds that her daughter is a natural leader.
Brig. Gen. Steve Gilland says Askew exemplifies the academy's values of duty, honor and country.