As the U.S. Military Academy at West Point enters its 125th matchup against the U.S. Naval Academy on Saturday, the Army Black Knights will muster the fighting spirit of the 101st Airborne Division’s “Screaming Eagles.”
Symbols emblazoned on the Nike black-and-white jersey, pants, socks, gloves, helmet and cleats honor the legendary 101st Airborne Division’s storied history. Specifically, this year’s theme focuses on the division’s role in the Battle of the Bulge and the Defense of Bastogne during World War II, according to the West Point uniform website.
The battle, which marks its 80th anniversary just two days after this year’s Army-Navy game, is considered the turning point for U.S. forces in Europe during World War II.
For example, the uniform’s black-and-white freckling “reflects the canopy of fog and snow giving way to the shadows beneath of the snow-covered pine forests in the Ardennes,” according to the website.
Designers placed the word “Bastogne” under the right shoulder pad, with the 101st Airborne Division “Screaming Eagle” and the “Airborne” tab located under the left shoulder pad.
On the right, upper chest is the “Invasion Star” used by aircraft and vehicles for battlefield identification, according to the site. Meanwhile, on the front of the helmet above the face mask, is the “Parachutist Badge.”
The helmet is emblazoned with different markings used by 101st soldiers during combat in Europe. The markings are based on playing card suits used to identify units after they landed on the continent.
Card suit and corresponding unit include:
- Club – 327th Glider Infantry Regiment
- Diamond – 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment
- Heart – 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment
- Spade – 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Source: U.S. Military Academy at West Point
West Point first honored the 82nd Airborne Division when it began its partnership with Nike for Army-Navy game-themed custom uniforms in 2016.
In 2023, the school chose to honor the 3rd Infantry Division, highlighting the unit’s service in the invasion at the start of the Iraq War.
Units honored with past West Point football uniforms include:
- 2016: 82nd Airborne Division
- 2017: 10th Mountain Division
- 2018: 1st Infantry Division
- 2019: 1st Cavalry Division
- 2020: 25th Infantry Division
- 2021: U.S. Army Special Forces Command
- 2022: 1st Armored Division
- 2023: 3rd Infantry Division
- 2024: 101st Airborne Division
Source: U.S. Military Academy at West Point
The Navy Midshipmen will also be donning special-edition, custom jerseys for Saturday’s game, with their “Jolly Rogers” theme honoring the Navy Strike Fighter Squadron 103, one of the most lethal squadron’s in Navy history, according to the Navy’s uniform release.
The Navy’s helmet sports a skull and crossbones, with the phrase “Fear the Bones” emblazoned on the back. The numbers and nameplate are based on lettering from the squadron’s aircraft.
Saturday’s game will take place at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, with kickoff at 3 p.m. ET, broadcast on CBS.
Todd South has written about crime, courts, government and the military for multiple publications since 2004 and was named a 2014 Pulitzer finalist for a co-written project on witness intimidation. Todd is a Marine veteran of the Iraq War.
