Meet Army Pitcher and "Cow" Caroline Smith
Meet Army Pitcher and "Cow" Caroline Smith
With today being the 14th anniversary of one of the darkest days in our nation’s history, we want to highlight Army cadet and pitcher Caroline Smith. Smith is in her third season with the Black Knights and was recruited by West Point her junior year of hi
With today being the 14th anniversary of one of the darkest days in our nation’s history, we want to highlight Army cadet and pitcher Caroline Smith. Smith is in her third season with the Black Knights and was recruited by West Point her junior year of high school.
Growing up in Chino Hills, California, Smith was exposed to softball early, beginning travel ball at the age of 9. Having played on quality travel ball teams — like Fab 50 club program Corona Angels — during her travel ball career, the hard-throwing righty garnered plenty of recruiting attention by Ivy League and ACC schools, including Dartmouth and Boston College.
While playing at a Surf City Tournament in Huntington Beach during her junior year of high school, Army Softball coaches approached Smith about her interest in playing for West Point.
Caroline Smith was recruited by several schools on
the East Coast but decided on West Point after visiting
the campus
As Smith explains in a Cadet Spotlight interview with Army Softball, military service wasn’t even on her radar until she began being recruited for softball. “I didn’t really know about this place [West Point] until I was being recruited for softball. At first I was kind of hesitant about it. I’d never really been interested in anything Army-related, but once I looked into it more and I actually realized what this place actually was, I couldn’t turn down this possibility.”
Caroline’s dad Bryan Smith explained that once she visited West Point, she was hooked. “She was amazed by West Point and all its tradition, history, and academics. She had always admired and respected her family members who served, and she's always wanted to do something that — in her words — was ‘extraordinary.’ She was excited at the opportunity to do something very special and to serve her country.”
Before even stepping foot on the Black Knight’s softball field, Smith had to endure cadet basic training (CBT) — basically bootcamp — the summer before her first year, known simply as Beast. If the name isn’t enough of an explanation, most cadets regard Beast as the most difficult experience of their entire time at the academy.
As a freshman, or more accurately as a first class cadet or plebe, Smith was named All Patriot League and Patriot League All Tournament team, as well as NCAA All Northeast team. As a second class cadet, also known as a yearling or yuk, Smith was again named All Patriot League and Patriot League All Tournament team. Her second year she was also nominated for the prestigious West Point Female Athlete of the Year.
Several of the Army Softball players dressed in their fatigues
While she loves the game of softball and has seen success on the field, Smith’s focus has begun to shift from softball to the military.
“She ultimately always wanted to play Division 1 softball and loves the game,” Smith’s dad explains, "but playing softball is really the bonus — for her and all the cadets. At this point, military is the primary focus and softball is the secondary focus.”
Smith herself emphasized her love for the game and the comrade of her teammates in an interview with Army Softball. “I know I couldn’t really survive this place without softball. It’s great to have the girls here...because we have the same struggles, so I think playing softball here is great.”
As a third year cadet this year, or more endearingly referred to as a cow, Smith has entered what is known as her leadership year, a very important year for all cadets at the Academy.
Prior to beginning the year, all cows must decide whether or not to take their oath and commit to the Army. Commitment then results in a five-year active duty service, during which cadets have the opportunity to go to graduate school. This summer Smith made her commitment while also participating in two important third year requirements.
Smith (2nd from right) and three other cadets and U.S.
Ambassador to Honduras James Nealonwith during the
Joint Task Force Bravo for Cadet Troop Leadership Training
Over the summer, Smith traveled to Honduras for a Cadet Troop Leadership Training with Joint Task Force-Bravo. This three-week experience was basically an internship in which Smith and three other cadets were able to oversee operations on base, including the opportunity to fly in Black Hawk helicopters. In addition to the Cadet Troop Leadership Training this summer, Smith also served a squad leader to 11 first year cadets to assimilate them to the Academy and oversee their field training.
With her junior season quickly approaching, Smith is looking to continue the success she’s seen her first two seasons while helping her Black Knights knock off reigning Patriot League champs, the Lehigh Mountain Hawks.
Beyond her third season of softball, Smith is looking forward to her fourth and final year as a firstie. In the middle of her fourth year, the human geography major will be assigned to one of five branches in which she’ll serve her five year commitment.
As both Smith and her dad have shared, she is hoping for Military Intelligence (MI), a broad branch that could land her anywhere from the Pentagon to Italy.
“She has always wanted to travel and see different parts of the world,” Bryan Smith revealed. “So she would be ecstatic to branch in MI and be stationed in Germany, Italy, or England.”
No matter where Caroline ends up, it is clear to her dad that the lessons she’s learned through playing and training for softball — structure, work ethic, time management — will continue to prepare her for any challenge the military presents her.
We thank Caroline, her teammates, and all members of the armed services past and present for their sacrifice to our country.
Growing up in Chino Hills, California, Smith was exposed to softball early, beginning travel ball at the age of 9. Having played on quality travel ball teams — like Fab 50 club program Corona Angels — during her travel ball career, the hard-throwing righty garnered plenty of recruiting attention by Ivy League and ACC schools, including Dartmouth and Boston College.
While playing at a Surf City Tournament in Huntington Beach during her junior year of high school, Army Softball coaches approached Smith about her interest in playing for West Point.
Caroline Smith was recruited by several schools on
the East Coast but decided on West Point after visiting
the campus
As Smith explains in a Cadet Spotlight interview with Army Softball, military service wasn’t even on her radar until she began being recruited for softball. “I didn’t really know about this place [West Point] until I was being recruited for softball. At first I was kind of hesitant about it. I’d never really been interested in anything Army-related, but once I looked into it more and I actually realized what this place actually was, I couldn’t turn down this possibility.”
Caroline’s dad Bryan Smith explained that once she visited West Point, she was hooked. “She was amazed by West Point and all its tradition, history, and academics. She had always admired and respected her family members who served, and she's always wanted to do something that — in her words — was ‘extraordinary.’ She was excited at the opportunity to do something very special and to serve her country.”
Before even stepping foot on the Black Knight’s softball field, Smith had to endure cadet basic training (CBT) — basically bootcamp — the summer before her first year, known simply as Beast. If the name isn’t enough of an explanation, most cadets regard Beast as the most difficult experience of their entire time at the academy.
As a freshman, or more accurately as a first class cadet or plebe, Smith was named All Patriot League and Patriot League All Tournament team, as well as NCAA All Northeast team. As a second class cadet, also known as a yearling or yuk, Smith was again named All Patriot League and Patriot League All Tournament team. Her second year she was also nominated for the prestigious West Point Female Athlete of the Year.
Several of the Army Softball players dressed in their fatigues
While she loves the game of softball and has seen success on the field, Smith’s focus has begun to shift from softball to the military.
“She ultimately always wanted to play Division 1 softball and loves the game,” Smith’s dad explains, "but playing softball is really the bonus — for her and all the cadets. At this point, military is the primary focus and softball is the secondary focus.”
Smith herself emphasized her love for the game and the comrade of her teammates in an interview with Army Softball. “I know I couldn’t really survive this place without softball. It’s great to have the girls here...because we have the same struggles, so I think playing softball here is great.”
As a third year cadet this year, or more endearingly referred to as a cow, Smith has entered what is known as her leadership year, a very important year for all cadets at the Academy.
Prior to beginning the year, all cows must decide whether or not to take their oath and commit to the Army. Commitment then results in a five-year active duty service, during which cadets have the opportunity to go to graduate school. This summer Smith made her commitment while also participating in two important third year requirements.
Smith (2nd from right) and three other cadets and U.S.
Ambassador to Honduras James Nealonwith during the
Joint Task Force Bravo for Cadet Troop Leadership Training
Over the summer, Smith traveled to Honduras for a Cadet Troop Leadership Training with Joint Task Force-Bravo. This three-week experience was basically an internship in which Smith and three other cadets were able to oversee operations on base, including the opportunity to fly in Black Hawk helicopters. In addition to the Cadet Troop Leadership Training this summer, Smith also served a squad leader to 11 first year cadets to assimilate them to the Academy and oversee their field training.
With her junior season quickly approaching, Smith is looking to continue the success she’s seen her first two seasons while helping her Black Knights knock off reigning Patriot League champs, the Lehigh Mountain Hawks.
Beyond her third season of softball, Smith is looking forward to her fourth and final year as a firstie. In the middle of her fourth year, the human geography major will be assigned to one of five branches in which she’ll serve her five year commitment.
As both Smith and her dad have shared, she is hoping for Military Intelligence (MI), a broad branch that could land her anywhere from the Pentagon to Italy.
“She has always wanted to travel and see different parts of the world,” Bryan Smith revealed. “So she would be ecstatic to branch in MI and be stationed in Germany, Italy, or England.”
No matter where Caroline ends up, it is clear to her dad that the lessons she’s learned through playing and training for softball — structure, work ethic, time management — will continue to prepare her for any challenge the military presents her.
We thank Caroline, her teammates, and all members of the armed services past and present for their sacrifice to our country.
