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A Visit to The U.S. Military Academy at West Point

It was just last Monday, the 2nd of July, when my brother Baxter and his wife Cesy took me for a tour the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. This was my second visit to the Academy. My first visit was sometime in 1976 which was about 31 years ago when I was still a graduate student at the Ohio State University. At that time I was invited by a friend who took his family on a tour of West Point. We even stayed overnight at the Thayer Hotel which sets on a hilltop overlooking the majestic Hudson River on the grounds at West Point.

The United States Military Academy, also known as West Point, or simply USMA, is a United States Army post and service academy. West Point was first a military post under the command of Benedict Arnold. Established in 1802, it is the oldest military academy in the United States. Its students are referred to as cadets.

It is located at West Point, New York, on a scenic overlook of the Hudson River, about 50 miles (80 km) north of New York City. Consequently, it is often referred to as "Hudson High". Occupying over 16,000 acres (65 km²), it is one of the largest school campuses in the world. Its unique combination of facilities includes a ski slope and artillery range, in addition to the academic buildings and sports facilities found on a typical university campus. The post itself was first occupied in 1778, and it is thus the oldest continuously occupied military post in the United States. There are about three million people who come to visit West Point annually.

Collectively, graduates of West Point are known as "The Long Gray Line" because of the color of cadet uniforms and the unbroken line of West Point graduates. West Point trains more United States Army officers than any other institution, and a high proportion of distinguished American generals have been West Point graduates. Currently, over 900 graduates are commissioned as U.S. Army lieutenants every year, representing 25% of new lieutenants commissioned.

The mission of the US Military Academy is: "To educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the Nation as an officer in the United States Army."

To be considered for admission to West Point, a candidate must be: At least 17 but not yet 23 years old on July 1st of the year of admission; Unmarried, and have no legal obligation to support children. Candidates must be qualified academically, medically, and physically and ust receive a nomination from an approved source, such as a member of Congress.

Cadet Basic Training begins on Reception Day (R-Day). For the Class of 2011, their reception day was held on July 2, 2007 and this was the day we visited West Point. This is the day the new cadets report to the Academy. After a short greeting of welcome, they were given just enough time to say good-bye to their respective families and were then marched off to begin their lives as a new cadets at West Point.

About 1,310 cadet candidates, including more than 310 minority candidates, 10 international cadets and 20 combat veterans who served in Afghanistan, Iraq or both, were expected to report to West Point for the Class of 2011 Reception Day. The incoming class was selected from a pool of more than 10,800 applicants. There are 225 women, who comprise 17 percent of the class. Minority enrollment includes 81 African-Americans 104 Asian-Americans, 124 Hispanic-Americans and 10 Native Americans. This represents the largest number and percentage of women and Hispanic-Americans in an incoming class.

Within a few hours of their arrival, the new cadets report to the "Cadet in the Red Sash" for in-processing instructions. And within the day, the cadet chain of command completed the processing of some 1,310 new cadets, wherein they receive vaccinations, gear, and clothing. They begin to learn to stand, march, and behave as cadets. The day concludes with a full review and they also recite the cadet oath. During the day, the family members of cadets have been provided an opportunity to see the grounds of West Point, and hear the Superintendent speak. At the end of the day, they were given a chance to view their new cadet in a "Pass In Review". In this one day, the new cadets have begun to make the transition from civilians to Army soldiers.

In addition to a core curriculum, balanced in the arts and sciences, and a required five-course engineering sequence, cadets may select from 31 fields of study and 19 optional majors. Classes are small, usually fewer than 18, and the faculty-to-student ratio is 1:8. Candidates are also admitted from foreign countries each year at the expense of their respective nations. Over 100 extracurricular activities are available, including religious, hobby, and sports clubs. Upon graduation, cadets are awarded Bachelor of Science degrees and a commission in the U.S. Army as second lieutenants. Foreign cadets are commissioned into the armies of their home countries. American cadets upon graduation serve on active duty for a minimum of five years. West Point graduates have served our country in a variety of capacities over the last 200 years, as military leaders, engineers, explorers on land and in space, and as leaders in business and government.

Eligibility for particular specialties (infantry, artillery, armor, aviation, engineers, etc.) is typically determined by academic performance and personal preference. Since 1959, cadets have been able to "cross-commission," or request a commission in the Air Force, Navy or Marine Corps, provided they meet that service's eligibility requirements. In previous years, a small number of graduates would do this, typically in a one-for-one "trade" with similarly inclined cadets or midshipmen at the other service academies. These days, an even smaller number, if any, are granted permission to cross commission.

The United States Corps of Cadets comprises over 4,000 men and women. About 1,200 New Cadets enter the Academy on Reception Day each year (usually on July 1st). They are organized into 32 cadet companies, which are grouped into battalions (four companies each), regiments (two battalions each), and the Corps (four regiments). Unlike virtually all other bachelor-degree granting institutions in the U.S. (but like the other military academies), the Academy does not refer to its students as freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors; they are instead officially called "fourth class," "third class," "second class," and "first class." Colloquially, freshmen are "plebes"; sophomores, "yearlings" or "yuks"; juniors, "cows"; seniors, "firsties." Most cadets consider plebe year to be the most difficult because of the transition from civilian to cadet. However, the third class year is generally considered to be the hardest academically.

Cadets run the Corps through their Chain of Command. First Class cadets fulfill roles as First Captain (or Corps commander), Regimental Commanders, Battalion Commanders, Company Commanders, and Platoon Leaders. Other First Class cadets serve in various staff capacities at the Brigade, Regiment, Battalion, Company, and Platoon levels. Second Class cadets serve as cadet noncommissioned officers, principally as Squad Leaders supervising the lower two classes of cadets. Third Class cadets serve as Team Leaders, each providing personal oversight of one or two Fourth Class cadets. The Corps of Cadets has the following organization (The number of cadets is approximate): A Brigade (4000 cadets) which consist of 4 Regiments (1000 Cadets) and each regiment has 2 Battalions (500 cadets). A Battalion in turn has 4 Companies (120 cadets) and each company consists of 4 Platoons (30 cadets) which in turn has 4 Squads (7 cadets).

Since its founding two centuries ago, the Military Academy has accomplished its mission by developing cadets in four critical areas: intellectual, physical, military, and moral-ethical - a four-year process called the "West Point Experience." Specific developmental goals are addressed through several fully coordinated and integrated programs. A challenging Academic Program that consists of a core of 31 courses provides a balanced education in the arts and sciences. This core curriculum establishes the foundation for elective courses that permit cadets to explore in greater depth a field of study or an optional major. All cadets receive a Bachelor of Science degree, which is designed specifically to meet the intellectual requirements of a commissioned officer in today's Army.

Six engineering programs and one computer science program at the United States Military Academy are accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology. Engineering programs were first accredited at USMA in 1985. Currently, USMA has seven accredited programs including computer science, civil, mechanical, electrical, environmental, systems, and engineering management.

The Physical Program at West Point includes both physical education classes and competitive athletics. Every cadet participates in an intercollegiate, club or intramural level sport each semester. This rigorous physical program contributes to the mental and physical fitness that is required for service as an officer in the Army. Cadets learn basic military skills, including leadership, through a demanding Military Program which begins on their first day at West Point. Most military training takes place during the summer, with new cadets undergoing Cadet Basic Training - or Beast Barracks - the first year, followed by Cadet Field Training at nearby Camp Buckner the second year.

Cadets spend their third and fourth summers serving in active Army units around the world; attending advanced training courses such as airborne, air assault or northern warfare; or training the first and second year cadets as members of the leadership cadre. Military training is combined with military science instruction to provide a solid military foundation for officership.

West Point first accepted women as Cadets in 1976, when Congress authorized the admission of women to all of the service academies. Women comprise about 15 to 17 percent of entering plebes and they pursue the same academic and professional training as do their male classmates, except that the physical aptitude standards for women are less than they are for men. There are about 225 women who are joining the Class of 2011. The first class with female cadets graduated in 1980. In 1989, Kristen Baker became the first female First Captain at West Point. An effigy of her is in the West Point Museum in a display room honoring her. As of May 2006, three females have been appointed as the First Captain: Grace H. Chung in 2004 and Stephanie Hightower in 2006. In 1995, Rebecca Marier became the academy's first female valedictorian.

The following six graduates of West Point who became heads of state are:

• Jefferson Davis, Class of 1828. President of the Confederate States of America (1861-1865)
• Ulysses S. Grant, Class of 1843. 18th President of the United States (1869-1877)
• Dwight Eisenhower, Class of 1915. 34th President of the United States (1953-1961)
• Anastasio Somoza Debayle, Class of 1946. President of Nicaragua (1967–72, 1974-79)
• Fidel V. Ramos, Class of 1950. President of the Philippines (1992-1998)
• José María Figueres, Class of 1979. President of Costa Rica (1994-1998)

Among the notable individuals who attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, but did not graduate, was Edgar Allan Poe who excelled in language. He was expelled for neglecting duties at West Point before graduating. He would have been in the class of 1834. John Archibald Campbell, U.S. Supreme Court Justice, left West Point to care for family's affairs after father's death. Leonidas Polk Confederate Major General, dropped out of West Point to join the priesthood.

Washington Monument	Thayer Monument	Kosciuszko Monument
Eisenhower Monument	Patton Monument	MacArthur Monument

There are a number of points of interest at West Point. Outside the secured area of the academy, there are two public buildings: the visitors center and the West Point Museum. The visitor's center offers historical and informational videos, parking, restrooms, a gift shop, maps, pamphlets, a full-scale cadet barracks, and a movie theater; arrangements for guided tours also can be made. The guided tours, which are the only way the public can go on the grounds, are operated by a licensed contractor, West Point Tours, Inc., and leave the visitor's center several times a day. The tours stop and allow tourists to tour the Cadet Chapel (if not in use at the time), the parade grounds and Trophy Point. For the rest of the tour, the tourists remain on the bus as the guide narrates the tour of the rest of the campus.

The Cadet Chapel is a Gothic-style building which houses original regimental battle flags going back to the Civil War; and the largest working church organ in the world is there. At Trophy Point, there are links from the Great Chain that stretched across the Hudson at West Point during the Revolutionary War. The 500-yard chain floated on log rafts and was designed to act as a barrier to enemy ships. At the West Point Cemetery there are more than 5,000 men and women buried. Among them is Gen. George Armstrong (December 5, 1839 – June 25, 1876) who was a United States Army cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Custer graduated from West Point, last of a class of 34 cadets, in 1861, just after the start of the Civil War. He led the Michigan Brigade whom he called the "Wolverines" during the Civil War. He was defeated and killed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn against a coalition of Native American tribes led by the Sioux chiefs Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.

The Visitors Center, Gift Shop and Museum, which are located at Pershing Center, are excellent ways of learning the history of West Point and enjoying videos that are shown every half-hour at the Visitors Center on cadet life and the history of West Point. The Visitors Center also offers parking, rest rooms, a gift shop, maps, and informs the public about the academy. And just across the street are a number of other business establishments, gift shops, and restaurants which cater to visitors of West Point. The West Point Museum is directly adjacent to the visitor's center, in the renovated Olmsted Hall at the Center on the grounds of the former Ladycliff College. The building is named after the museum's primary donor, Major General George H. Olmsted, Class of 1922.

The Museum is the National Museum of the United States Army, having been founded by funds provided by Congress prior to the Mexican War. It was originally opened to the public in 1854. The museum's collections represent all major categories of military study from arms, cannon and artillery to uniforms, military art and objects reflecting West Point's history. It is considered to be the oldest and largest public collection of military history in the Western Hemisphere. Its collection represents nearly all aspects of military history and encompasses the history of West Point and the U.S. Military Academy, the evolution of warfare and the development of the American Armed Forces. It contains some of the most interesting national military treasures and one of the finest collections of military small arms.