In this episode, we dive into the transformative efforts of the Center for Enhanced Performance (CEP) at West Point with our distinguished guests, Colonel Darcy Schnack and Dr. Kat Longshore. Exploring the CEP’s mission, we focus on enhancing cadet performance through their key programs: performance psychology, academic excellence, and athletic academic support coordination. Discover how the CEP’s critical student success course integrates essential academic skills, like time management and organization, with mental skills such as goal setting and stress management to help cadets excel both at the Academy and in their future military careers.

Colonel Darcy Schnack, a distinguished graduate of USMAPS (1992) and the U.S. Military Academy (1996), brings a wealth of experience to her role as Director of the Center for Enhanced Performance. With advanced degrees in Sociology from Boston College and extensive service as an Army logistician, including two tours in Iraq, she has also taught Military Leadership at USMA. Currently, she is also the Head Officer Representative for the Army Volleyball team and enjoys family life with her husband, Troy (USMA ‘96), and their three children.

Dr. Kat Longshore joined the CEP in May 2020 as a Performance Enhancement Specialist and Lecturer, where she helps cadets and athletes reach peak performance. With over a decade of experience in mental performance coaching, Dr. Longshore has worked with National Teams, professional athletes, and collegiate programs. She also served as a visiting assistant professor at Lafayette College, teaching courses in sport psychology and related subjects.

In addition, we also delve into the extensive support CEP offers to cadets and faculty. Dr. Longshore highlights unique initiatives such as the mental training lab, which features innovative tools like virtual reality and tennis ball machines, and the popular egg chairs designed for deliberate recovery. We also explore the inviting atmosphere of the library’s mental skills lab, encouraging cadets to utilize these valuable resources. Tune in for an engaging and insightful conversation that sheds light on the CEP’s impactful approach to enhancing performance across all aspects of West Point life.

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“Overall, understanding that your well-being is a skill and something that you can affect, you know, what that is, I can take charge of. I can take charge of my own well-being. And I think we are a great entry into accessing wellness resources, that taking care of yourself and your own mental health and wellness is a really important thing to own. And so I think where CEP is going is helping to contribute to that effort in addition to development in the military, you know, academic and physical pillars.”

-Colonel Darcy Schnack

(01:07) Overview of the Center for Enhanced Performance

(02:39) The Academic Excellence Program

(04:55) Performance Psychology and Mental Skills

(15:54) Integration with Military Training

(23:17) Accessing CEP Resources

(29:33) The Future of CEP at West Point

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Connect with Dr. Kat Longshore

Connect with COL Darcy Schnack

Learn more about the Center for Enhanced Performance

Join us in this insightful episode with special host, COL Mike Kloepper, Class of 1997, as we welcome GEN(R) Stanley McChrystal, Class of 1976 and guest speaker for the Class of 2026 Affirmation Ceremony, who shares his transformative journey from a struggling cadet to a successful Army career.This conversation opens with the profound impact of mentorship, particularly through the influence of MAJ Dave Borato, a pivotal figure in the McChrystal’s development.

GEN(R) McChrystal is a visionary leader known for his unique perspective on organizational dynamics. As a retired four-star general and former commander of US and International Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan, he now leads the McChrystal Group. This firm helps Fortune 500 companies balance hierarchical and decentralized team structures through network analysis and machine learning. As a best-selling author, McChrystal provides a battle-tested system for navigating risk in today’s fast-paced world, offering transformative advice to leaders and organizations alike.

The two delve into themes of commitment and leadership, exploring the significance of West Point's affirmation ceremony and the varied perspectives cadets have regarding their future military service. McChrystal offers personal anecdotes from his time in the 82nd Airborne Division, highlighting the critical role of early experiences and seasoned NCOs in shaping young officers. The discussion emphasizes the importance of organizational culture, integrity, and accountability, and how leaders can balance empathy with maintaining high standards.

The episode concludes with strategic leadership insights, focusing on the distinctions between empathy and sympathy, and the importance of effective communication. Drawing from his extensive military and civilian leadership experience, McChrsytal shares valuable lessons on resilience, adaptability, and teamwork. Don’t miss the special episode with GEN(R) Stan McChrystal and COL Mike Kloepper.

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Key Quote:

“Sometimes the best thing you can do for people is pressure test them, pressure test them as individuals, pressure test them as groups, you know, make better steel, through heat. And so I would say that the opportunity to do that shouldn't be Missed. And I know that sounds like an old grad saying we just got to make life harder for everybody.and I don't want to sound like that, but I do want to say that those things that I think did me the most good were not things I necessarily in the moment enjoyed.”

• General Stan McChrystal

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(00:25) Reflecting on Cadet Experiences

(03:16) Challenges and Turning Points

(06:25) Affirmation and Commitment

(11:38) Early Career Lessons

(17:20) Leadership and Culture

(22:17) Empathetic Leadership and Accountability

(25:52) Strategic Leadership Insights

(33:22) Closing Thoughts and Future Outlook

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Learn more about General Stan McChrystal

Connect with Colonel Mike Kloepper

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Lee Anderson, Class of 1961, as we explore his remarkable journey from his childhood in Minneapolis to his influential career and philanthropic efforts. Anderson shares intimate details of his upbringing with his father's transformation from an orphaned Swedish immigrant to a successful plumber and his mother's time in an orphanage. Discover how his father and half brother led him to West Point, setting the stage for a life of leadership and service. Anderson reflects on his formative years at West Point, significant mentors and athletic achievements in basketball, and his deep appreciation for his classmates, which instilled in him resilience and teamwork.

Lee Anderson is the most philanthropic graduate in West Point history. As a cadet, he played basketball. He began his term of service in the Air Force and assigned to Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, Arizona. He served three years on active duty. Returning home to Minnesota, he became a salesman at APi Inc., a small insulation contracting division of Reuben L. Anderson-Cherne, now known as APi Group Inc. Through his tireless effort and vision, Anderson transformed APi from a small business with 13 employees into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise employing nearly 9,000 people. As a member of the Thomas Jefferson Society, Anderson and his wife Penny made a record-breaking $6-million gift to build the West Point Army rugby stadium, the Anderson Rugby Complex.

In this episode, we explore Anderson's transition from military to business success, where he transformed a family plumbing business into a major player in fire protection and construction. Learn about his innovative employee leadership strategies, including the implementation of an ESOP program, and the significant financial benefits created for his workforce. Anderson's commitment to philanthropy, inspired by his father, spans various causes, from veterans' affairs to wildlife conservation. His reflections on the profound influence of West Point and his ongoing dedication to giving back offers a heartfelt tribute to the enduring values instilled at the Academy, solidifying his legacy as a model of leadership and generosity.

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Key Quote:

“West Point is the greatest institution that I'm aware of that we have in this country. You think of the outstanding individuals in this country and a large number of them were West Point graduates. And I'm very, very proud.”

- Lee Anderson

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(00:29) Lee’s Path to West Point

(05:12) School Days and Influences

(10:51) Athletics and Extracurriculars

(17:55) Memorable Experiences and Mentors

(23:20) Experiences at Luke Air Force Base

(26:29) Building the Business Empire

(36:15) Philanthropy and Giving Back

(44:13) Reflections on Success and West Point

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Connect with Lee

Connect with Mike