Army cadet appears to be texting during West Point graduation march

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Tuesday, May 24, 2016
West Point Texter
West Point graduation video goes viral after cadet appears to be texting

WEST POINT, NY (KTRK) -- The U.S. Military Academy at West Point held its graduation this weekend, and a video posted on its Facebook page is attracting a lot of attention for all the wrong reasons.

The video shows hundreds of cadets marching in step to Michie Stadium for the 218th United States Military Academy Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony. However, at the 50-second mark, a female cadet is holding her cell phone and appears to be texting. She doesn't even look up from the device when she walks past the camera.

Its unclear what the cadet is doing on her phone, but the video is receiving a lot of criticism from veterans.

"Cadets on phones while marching, some cadets marching in platform heels, others sneakers, some with socks, others not. Great discipline. Is this the best and brightest future leadership of our military?," wrote Mark Browne.

"As a veteran, I want to know why are the cadets allowed to use cell phones while in formation? I am embarrassed for them and the new military standards. Obviously the uniform does not mean much to them," wrote Shirley Smith.

"There was more discipline in formation from my High School ROTC unit. God help us if this will our military leaders," wrote Rafael Benavides.

More than 14-hundred people have commented on the video and it's been shared nearly 6,000 times.