United States Military Academy

Motto	Duty • Honor • Country[1]
Type	Federal military academy
Established	16 March, 1802[2]
Superintendent	LTG Franklin Hagenbeck[3]
Undergraduates	4,000[4]
Location	West Point , New York , United States
Campus	15,974 acres (65 km2)[5]
Athletics	25 varsity teams, "Black Knights"
Colors	Black █, Gray █, Gold █
Affiliations	Patriot League
Website	www.westpoint.edu

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The United States Military Academy, also known as USMA, West Point, or Army, is a four-year coeducational service academy located at West Point, New York. Established in 1802, it is the oldest of the United States' five service academies.^[6] Students are officers-in-training and are referred to as cadets, while graduates are collectively referred to as the "The Long Gray Line",^[7][8] a phrase taken from the academy's traditional hymn "The Corps".^[9]

Tuition for cadets is fully-funded by the US Army in exchange for an active duty service obligation upon graduation. Approximately 1000 cadets graduate each spring and are commissioned as second lieutenants in the US Army.^[10] The Academy provides a wide-ranging educational experience with a curriculum that grades cadet's performance across a broad academic program, mandatory participation in competitive athletics, military leadership responsibility, and a climate of moral-ethical development.^[11][12] Cadets live by and within the cadet Honor Code, which states that "a cadet will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do."^[13]

The Academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, 50 miles (80 km) north of New York City. The entire central campus is a National Landmark and home to many historic sites, buildings, and monuments.^[14]

West Point was first occupied by the Continental Army on 27 January 1778,^[15] making it the longest continually occupied post in the United States.^[16] Between 1778–1780, Polish engineer and American military hero Tadeusz Kościuszko oversaw the construction of the garrison defenses.^[17] The Great Chain and high ground above the narrow "S" curve in the Hudson River enabled the Continental Army to prevent British ships from sailing up river and dividing the Colonies.^[18][19] It was as commander of the fortifications at West Point that Benedict Arnold committed his infamous act of treason when he attempted to sell the fort to the British.^[20][21] The main fort at West Point had originally been named after Arnold, but was changed to Fort Clinton after Arnold's betrayal.^[20]

Congress formally authorized the establishment of the United States Military Academy on 16 March 1802,^[2] though "cadets" began undergoing training in artillery and engineering studies at the garrison since 1794.^[22] The first official graduate of the academy was Joseph Gardner Swift, who would later return as Superintendent from 1812-1814.^[22] The early years of the academy were a tumuluous time, with few standards for admission or length of study. Cadets often ranged in age from 10 to 37 and attended between 6 months to 6 years.^[22] The impending War of 1812 caused Congress to authorize a more formal system of education at the academy, and increased the size of the Corps of Cadets to 250.^[22]

In 1817, Colonel Sylvanus Thayer became the Superintendent and established the curriculum still in use to this day. Thayer instilled strict discipline standards, set an standard course of academic study, and emphasized honorable conduct. Known as the "Father of the Military Academy", he is honored with a monument on campus for the profound impact he left upon the academy's history.^[23][24] Founded to be a school of engineering, for the first half of the 19th century, USMA graduates gained recognition for engineering the bulk of the nation's initial railway lines, bridges, harbors and roads.^[25][26] West Point was so succsessful in its engineering curriculum, it fluenced nearly all American engineering schools founded prior to the Civil War.^[26][27]

The War with Mexico, 1846-1848, brought the academy to national prominence as graduates proved themselves in battle for the first time. Future Civil War commanders Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee first distinguished themselves in battle in Mexico.^[28][29] In all, 452 of 523 West Point graduates who served in the war received battlefield promotions or awards for bravery.^[28][30] The school experienced a rapid modernization during the 1850s, often romanticized by the graduates who led both sides of the Civil War as the "end of the Old West Point era".^[31] New barracks brought better heat and gas lighting, while new ordinance and tactics training incorporated new rifle and musket technology and advancement such as the steam engine.^[31][32] With the outbreak of the Civil War, West Point graduates filled the general officer ranks of the rapidly expanding Union and Confederate armies.^[33] Two hundred ninety four graduates served as general officers for the Union, and 151 served as general officers for the Confederacy.^[31] An astounding 10% of all graduates (105) were killed in action during the war, and another 15% (151) were wounded in action.^[31] Nearly every general officer of note from either army during the Civil War was a graduate of West Point.^[31][33]

The Academy enjoyed unprecedented fame in the years immediately following the Civil War due to the role its graduates had played.^[34] However, the years immediately following the Civil War was a difficult time for the academy as it struggled to admit and reintegrate cadets from former confederate states.^[35] The first cadets from Southern states were re-admitted in 1868, and 1870 saw the admission of the first African-American cadet, James Webster Smith of South Carolina.^[35][36] Smith was dismissed for academic deficiency in 1874, so Henry O. Flipper of Georgia become the first African-American graduate in 1877, graduating 50th of a class of 77.^[35][37] Two of the most notable graduates during this period were George Washington Goethals from the Class of 1880, and John J. Pershing from the Class of 1886.^[35] Goethals would gain notoriety as the chief engineer of the Panama Canal,^[38] and Pershing would become famous for his exploits against the famed Pancho Villa in Mexico and later for leading American Forces during World War I.^[39]

The last decade of the 19th century saw the infancy of intercollegiate athletics at the Academy. The Army–Navy football rivalry began in 1890 with a victory by Navy at West Point, followed with Army's avenging that loss in Annapolis the following year.^[40] The period between 1900 and 1915 saw a construction boom as much of West Point's old infrastructure was torn down and rebuilt.^[41] Many of the Academy's most famous graduates graduated during the 15 year period between 1900 and 1915: Douglas MacArthur (1902), Joseph Stilwell (1904), Henry "Hap" Arnold (1907), George S. Patton (1909), Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Omar Bradley (both 1915). The Class of 1915 is known as the "Class the stars fell on" for the exceptionally high percentage of general officers that rose from that class (59 of 164).^[42][43] The outbreak of World War I caused a sharp increase in the demand for army officers, and the academy accelerated the graduation for all three of the upper classes, so that by the war's end in 1918, only the freshman cadets remained (those who had entered in the summer of 1918).^[41]

Douglas MacArthur became superintendent in 1919, instituting sweeping reforms to the academic process, including introducing a greater emphasis on history and humanities.^[44] He made major changes to the field training regimen and the Cadet Honor Committee was formed under his watch in 1922.^[45][46] MacArthur was a firm supporter of athletics at the academy, as he famously said "Upon the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that, upon other fields, on other days, will bear the fruits of victory.”^[47] The years during the Second World War brought a greater emphasis on field training. In 1943, summer training was formally moved the new area recently acquired southwest of main post, which would later become Camp Buckner.^[48] West Point played a prominent roll in WWII, with 4 out 5  of the war's five–star generals being graduates and nearly 500 graduates giving their lives during the war.^[49]

Immediately following the war in 1945, Maxwell Taylor (class of 1922) became superintendent. He expanded and modernized the academic program and abolished antiquated courses in fencing and horsemanship.^[50] The 1960s saw the size of the Corps expand from 2,200 to 4,400 cadets while the barracks and academic support structure grew proportionally.^[51]

West Point admitted its first 119 female cadets in 1976,^[52] after Congress authorized the admission of women to all of the federal service academies in 1975.^[53][52] Women currently comprise approximately 15 percent of entering new cadets.^[54] In 1989, Kristen Baker became the first female First Captain, the highest ranking senior cadet at the academy.^[55] Currently, three females have been appointed as the First Captain: Kristen Baker in 1989, Grace H. Chung in 2004, and Stephanie Hightower in 2006. In 1995, Rebecca Marier became the academy's first female valedictorian.^[56] The first female West Point alumnus to attain flag (general officer) rank was Rebecca Halstead, class of 1981. She was promoted to Brigadier General in 2005 and is currently serving as the Army's Chief of Ordnance. Vincent Brooks became the first African-American First Captain in 1980. In 1985, cadets were formally authorized to declare an academic major, as all previous graduates had been awarded a bachelor of science with no declared major. In 1990, there was a major revision of the "Fourth Class System", as the Cadet Leader Development System (CLDS) became the guidance for the development of all four classes.^[57][58] Despite its reputation for resisting change, West Point was an early adopter of the use of the internet, authorizing full access to all cadets free of charge in their barracks rooms in the mid '90s. Today, the Academy has received recognition for its advanced of use of the internet to conduct cadet academics and academy business.^[59]

Based on the significance both of the Revolutionary War fort ruins and of the military academy itself, the majority of the Academy area was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960.^[60][61] In 1841, Charles Dickens visited the academy and said "It could not stand on more appropriate ground, and any ground more beautiful can hardly be."^[62] One of the most visited and scenic sites on post, Trophy Point, overlooks the Hudson river to the north, and is home to many captured cannon from past wars as well as Battle Monument. Designed by Stanford White and dedicated in 1897,^[63] Battle Monument commemorates officers and soldiers of the Union Army who died in the Civil War. Though the military reservation is quite large, the academic area of the campus is entirely accessible to cadets or visitors by foot.

In 1902, the Boston architectural firm Cram, Goodhue, and Ferguson was awarded a major construction bid that set the predominately neogothic architectural style still seen today.^[64] Most of the buildings of the central cadet area in this style, as typified by the Cadet Chapel, completed in 1910.^[65] These buildings are nearly all constructed from granite that has a predominately gray and black hue. The barracks that were built in the 1960s were designed to mimic this style.^[64] Other buildings on post, especially the oldest private residences for the faculty are built in the Federal, Georgian, or English Tudor styles.^[66] A few buildings, such as Cullum Hall and the Old Cadet Chapel, are built in the Neoclassical style.^[67]

The Academy grounds are home to numerous monuments and statues. The central cadet hosts the largest number, which include Monuments to George Washington, Sylvanus Thayer, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur, Tadeusz Kosciuszko,and John Sedgwick. A monument to George S. Patton was dedicated in front of the cadet library in 1950,^[68] but in 2004 it was placed in storage to make room for the construction of Jefferson Hall and has yet to be relocated. There is also a statue commemorating brotherhood and friendship from the L'Ecole Polytechnique in the cadet central area just outside Nininger Hall. The remaining campus area is home to 27 other monuments and memorials.^[69]

The West Point Cemetery is the final resting place of many notable graduates and faculty, including George Armstrong Custer, William Westmoreland, Earl Blaik, Maggie Dixon, and sixteen Medal of Honor recipients.^[70][71] The cemetery is also the burial place of several recent graduates who have given their lives in the ongoing Global War on Terror. Many of the older grave sites have large and ornate grave markers, the largest belonging to Egbert Viele (class of 1847), chief engineer of Brooklyn's Prospect Park.^[70] The cemetery is also home to a monument to Revolutionary War heroine Margaret Corbin.^[72]

West Point is home to some historic athletic facilities such as Michie Stadium and Gillis Field House, while at the same time is home to some very modern facilities such as the Licthenburg Tennis Center, Anderson Rugby Complex, and the Lou Gross Gymnastics Facility.^[73] Michie Stadium recently underwent a significant upgrade in facilities for the football team, and the Academy installed a new artificial turf field in the summer of 2008.^[74]

The visitor's center is just outside the Thayer Gate in the village of Highland Falls and offers the opportunity to arrange for a guided tour. These tours, which are the only way the general public can access the Academy grounds, leave the visitor's center several times a day. The West Point Museum is directly adjacent to the visitor's center, in the renovated Olmsted Hall on the grounds of the former Ladycliff College. Originally opened to the public in 1854, the West Point Museum is the oldest and largest military museum in the country.^[75] During the summer months, the museum operates access to the Fort Putnam historic site on main post.^[76]

The commanding officer at USMA is the Superintendent. This position is roughly equivalent to the president of a civilian university, but due to the military status of the academy, the Superintendent holds more influence over the daily lives of the cadets than would a civilian university president. Since 1812, all Superintendents have themselves been West Point graduates, though this has never been an official prerequisite to hold that position. In recent years, the position of Superintendent has been held by a Lieutenant General. The current Superintendent is Lieutenant General Franklin L. Hagenbeck, Superintendent since June 9, 2006.^[77] The academy is a direct reporting unit, and as such, the Superintendent reports directly to the Army Chief of Staff (CSA).^[78][79]

There are two other general officer positions at the academy. Brigadier General Michael S. Linnington is the Commandant of Cadets,^[80] and Brigadier General Patrick Finnegan is the Dean of the Academic Board.^[81] There are 13 academic departments at USMA, each with an colonel as the department head. These 13 tenured colonels comprise the core of the Academic Board. These officers are titled "Professors USMA" or PUSMA.^[82] The academy is also overseen by the Board of Visitors (BOV). The BOV is a panel of Senators, Congressional Representatives, and presidential appointees who "shall inquire into the morale and discipline, curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods, and other matters relating to the academy that the board decides to consider". Currently the BOV is chaired by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and is composed of 4 Senators, 5 Congressmen, and 6 presidential appointees.^[83]

The admission process consists of two parts. Candidates must apply directly to USMA for admission, and they must obtain a nomination. The majority of candidates receive their nomination from their congressman.^[84] The nomination process is not political and applicants do not have to know their congressman to be nominated. The nomination process typically consists of writing essays, obtaining letters of recommendation, and a formal interview.^[85] West Point is selective in admitting applicants to the Academy. For the Class of 2012, the Academy had a 12.75% admission rate.^[86] Candidates must be between 17 and 23 years old, cannot be married, and have no legal obligation to support a child. Above average high school or previous college grades and strong performance on standardized testing is expected.^[87] The interquartile range on the SAT was 1100–1360 and 68% ranked in the top fifth of their high school class.^[88][86] To be eligible for appointment, candidates must also undergo a Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA)^[89] and a complete physical exam.^[89] About 15 candidates are admitted each year from foreign countries at the expense of the sending nation.^[90] Candidates may have previous college experience, but they may not transfer, meaning that regardless of previous college credit, they enter the Academy as a fourth class cadet and undergo the entire four year program.^[91] If a candidate is considered qualified but not selected, they may receive an offer to attend to the United States Military Academy Preparatory School. Upon graduation from USMAPS, these candidates are appointed to the Academy if they receive the recommendation of the USMAPS Commandant and meet medical admission requirements.^[92]

West Point is a medium sized, highly residential baccalaureate college.^[93] The full-time, four year undergraduate program emphasizes instruction in the arts, science, and professions and there is no graduate program.^[93] There are 31 academic majors and the most popular majors are in foreign languages, management information systems, history, economics, and mechanical engineering.^[94][88]

A cadet's class rank, which determines their army branch and assingment upon graduation, is calculated as a combination of academic performance (55%), military leadership performance (30%), and physical fitness and athletic performance (15%).^[11][95] West Point is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.^[96] The 2008 Forbes Magazine report on America's Best Colleges ranks West Point as the #6 college in the country and #1 among the public institutions.^[97] The 2008 "National Liberal Arts College" category in US News & World Report ranks West Point #14 overall,^[98] and #1 of the public institutions on the list.^[99]

The Academy's teaching style is known as the "Thayer method", which was imparted by Sylvanus Thayer during his tour as Superintendent.^[100] The Thayer method emphasizes small classes with daily homework, and strives to make students actively responsible for their own learning by completing homework assignments prior to class and bringing the work to class to discuss collaboratively.^{[101][102][103]}

The academic program consists of a structured core of 31 courses balanced between the arts and sciences.^[104] Although cadets choose their majors in the fall of their sophomore year, they take the same course of instruction until the beginning of their junior year.^[105] This core course of instruction consists mathematics, computer science, chemistry, physics, engineering, history, physical geography, philosophy, leadership and general psychology, English composition and literature, foreign language, political science, international relations, economics, and constitutional law.^[106][107] Some advanced cadets may "validate" out of the base level classes and take advanced or accelerated courses earlier as freshmen or sophomores. Regardless of major, all cadets graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree because of the engineering requirements.^[104]

Military training and discipline fall under purview of the Office of the Commandant. Entering freshmen, or fourth class cadets, are referred to as "New Cadets", and enter the academy on Reception Day or "R-day",^[108] which marks the start of cadet basic training (CBT), known colloquially as "Beast Barracks", or simply "Beast".^[109][110] Most cadets consider Beast to be their most difficult time at the academy because of the strenuous transition from civilian to military life. Their second summer, cadets undergo cadet field training (CFT) at nearby Camp Buckner, where they train more advanced field craft and military skills. During a cadet's third summer, they may serve as instructors for CBT or CFT. Rising Firstie (senior) cadets now also spend one month training at Camp Buckner, where they train for current tactical situations that they will soon face as new platoon leaders. Cadets also have the opportunity during their second, third and fourth summers to serve in active army units and military schools around the world.^[111]

Active duty officers in the rank of Captain or Major serve as company Tactical Officers (Tac).^[112] The role of the Tac is to mentor, train, and teach the cadets proper standards of good order and discipline and to be good role models for the cadets.^[113] There is one Tac for every cadet company. There is also one senior Non-Commissioned Officer to assist each Tac, known as TacNCOs.^[114]

The Department of Military Instruction (DMI) is responsible for all military arts and sciences education as well as planning and executing the cadet summer training.^[115] Within DMI there is a representative from each of the Army's branches. These "branch reps" serve as proponents for their respective branches and liaisons to cadets as the prepare for branch selection and graduation.^[116]

The Department of Physical Education (DPE) administers the physical program, which includes both physical education classes, physical fitness testing, and competitive athletics. The head of DPE holds the title of Master of the Sword (MOS), dating to the 1800s when DPE taught swordsmanship as part of the curriculum.^[117] The current Master of the Sword is Colonel Greg Daniels.^[118]

All cadets take a prescribed series of physical fitness courses. All cadets take Military Movement (Applied Gymnastics), Boxing (Men) or Self Defense (Women), Swimming, and beginning in 2009, Advanced Combatives. Cadets can also take elective physical activity classes such as scuba, rock climbing, aerobic fitness and many others.^[119]

As with all soldiers in the Army, cadets also must pass the Army Physical Fitness Test twice per year. Additionally, during their junior year, cadets must take the "infamous and dreaded" Indoor Obstacle Course Test (IOCT).^[120][121] DPE has administered the IOCT in Hayes gymnasium since 1944.^[122]

Since Douglas MacArthur's tenure as superintendent, every cadet has been required to participate in either an intercollegiate sport, a club sport, or an intramural (referred to as "Company Athletics") sport each semester.

Moral-ethical development occurs throughout entirety of the cadet experience by living under the honor code, and through the formal leadership programs available at the Academy. These include instruction in the values of the military profession through Professional Military Ethics Education (PME²), voluntary religious programs, interaction with staff and faculty role models, and a vigorous guest-speaker program. The foundation of the ethical code at West Point is found in the Academy's motto, "Duty, Honor, Country."^[1]

West Point's Cadet Honor Code reads simply that: "A cadet will not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do."^[123] Cadets accused of violating the Honor Code face an investigative and hearing process. If they are found guilty by a jury of their peers, they face severe consequences ranging from being "turned back" (repeating an academic year) to separation from the Academy.^[124]

Throughout the four years at the Academy, Cadets take PME² classes. These classes start during Cadet Basic Training and run the entire breadth of their time at the Academy. As the cadets mature in rank and experience, they transform from receivers of information to facilitators and teachers of PME² topics. The Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic, located in Ninenger hall in central area, is the coordinator for most PME² training in conjunction with the cadet TAC officers.^[125]

4,487 students attended the Academy in 2007-2008.^[88] The student body is 15.1% female.^[88] 92% of entering students re-matriculated for a second year, the four-year graduation rate was 80% and the six-year rate was 81%.^[88]

Because of the Academy's congressional nomination process, students come from all 50 states, representing "nearly every race, religion, and culture in the country."^[4][127] The Academy is also authorized up to 60 allied nation exchange cadets, who undergo the same four-year curriculum as fully-integrated members of the Corps of Cadets.^[128] Cadets attend the United States Military Academy free of charge, with all tuition and board paid for by the Army in return for a service commitment upon graduation.^[129] Cadets receive a small annual salary, and all meals in the dining halls are free to the cadets, while internet, phone, and television service is provided free of charge in the barracks rooms,^[130] leaving cadets with very few expenses.^[88]

All cadets reside on campus for their entire four years in one of the seven barracks buildings. Most cadets are housed with one roommate, but some rooms are designed for three cadets. Cadets are grouped into "companies", which have alpha-numeric codes to identify them. Each company lives grouped together in the same barracks area.^[131] The Academy has the cadets change companies after their freshmen or sophomore years. This process is known as scrambling, and the method of scrambling has changed several times in recent years.^[132] Due to the structured culture of the Corps of Cadets, there is little tradition of Greek fraternal societies at the academy. However, six cadets recently chartered a Phi Beta Sigma chapter in 2006.^[133] All 4,000 cadets dine together at breakfast and lunch in the Washington Hall during the weekdays.^[134] The cadet fitness center, Arvin Gymnasium, which was recently rebuilt in 2004, houses extensive physical fitness facilities and equipment for cadet use.^[135]

Each class of cadets elects a class president and several administrative positions.^[136] They also elect a ring and crest committee, which designs the class's crest, the emblem that signifies their class for eternity and is embossed upon their class rings. Each class crest is required contain the words "USMA" and their class motto.^[137] The class motto is proposed by the class during cadet basic training and voted on by the class prior to the beginning of their freshman academic year. Class mottos typically have verbiage that rhymes or is phonetically similar with their class year.^[137]

Cadets today live and work within the framework of the Cadet Leader Development System (CLDS), which specifies the roles that a cadet plays throughout their four years at the Academy.^[138] Cadets begin their Academy careers as trainees (new cadets), then advance in rank, starting as CDT Privates (freshmen) and culminating as CDT Officers (seniors). Freshmen have no leadership responsibilities, but have a host of duties to perform as they learn how to follow orders and operate in an environment of rigid rank structure, while seniors have significant leadership responsibilities and significantly more privileges that correspond to their rank.^[139]

Cadets are not refereed to its as freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors. Instead they are officially called "fourth class", "third class", "second class", and "first class" cadets. Colloquially, freshmen are "plebes", sophomores are "yearlings" or "yuks", juniors are "cows", seniors are "firsties".^[140][141] Some of the origins of the class names are, known, some are not. Plebians were the lower class of ancient Roman society, while "yearling" is a euphemism for a year-old animal. The origin of "Cow" is less known. There are many theories for the origin of "cow", most of which center around the fact that in years past, cadets could not take leave until cow year, and thus the phrase, "until the cows come home". "Firstie" is short for first class cadet.^{[citation needed]}

The Corps of Cadets is officially organized into a brigade. The senior ranking cadet, the Brigade Commander, is known traditionally as the "First Captain". The brigade is organized into four regiments. Within each regiment there are two battalions, which consists of four companies. Companies are lettered A through H, with a number signifying which regiment it belongs to. For example, there are four "A" companies: A1, A2, A3, and A4. First class cadets hold the leadership positions within the brigade from the First Captain down to platoon leaders within the companies. Leadership responsibility decreases with the lower classes, with second class cadets holding the rank of cadet sergeant, 3rd class cadets holding the rank of cadet corporal, and 4th class cadets as cadet privates.^[142]

Cadets have a host of extra curricular activities available, most run by the office of the Directorate of Cadet Activities (DCA).^[143] DCA sponsors or operates 113 athletic and non-sport clubs.^[144] Many cadets join several clubs during their time at the Academy and find their time spent with their clubs a welcome respite from the rigors of cadet life.^[145] DCA is responsible for a wide range of activities that provide improved quality of life for cadets, including: three cadet-oriented restaurants,^[146]. the Cadet Store,^[147] and the Howitzer and Bugle Notes.^[148] The Howitzer is the annual yearbook, while Bugle Notes, also known as the "plebe bible", is the manual of plebe knowledge. Plebe knowledge is a lengthy collection of traditions, songs, poems, anecdotes, and facts about the academy, the army, the Old Corps, and the rivalry with Navy that all plebes must memorize during Cadet Basic Training.^{[149][150][151]} During plebe year, plebes may be asked, and are expected to answer, any inquiry about plebe knowledge asked by upper class cadets. Some knowledge is historical such as found in the Bugle Notes.^[152] However, some knowledge changes daily, such as "the days" (a running list of the number of days until important academy events),^[153] the menu in the mess hall for the day, or the lead stories in the New York Times.^[152]

Each cadet class celebrates at least one special "class weekend" per academic year. Fourth class cadets participate in Plebe Parent Weekend during the first weekend of spring break. In February, third class cadets celebrate the winter season with Yearling Winter Weekend. In late January the second class cadets celebrate 500th Night, marking the remaining 500 days before graduation. First class cadets celebrate three different formal occasions. In late August, first class cadets celebrate Ring Weekend, in February they mark their last one hundred days with 100th Night, and in May they have a full week of events culminating in their graduation. All of the "class weekends" involve a formal dinner and social dance, known in old cadet slang as a "hop', held at Eisenhower Hall.^{[citation needed]}

Due to West Point's age and its uniquely singular mission of producing army officers, it has many time-honored traditions. The list below are some of the traditions unique to or started by the Academy.

The Cullum number is a reference and identification number assigned to each graduate. It was created by brevet Major General George W. Cullum (USMA Class of 1833) who, in 1850, began the monumental work of chronicling the biographies of every graduate. He assigned Number 1 to the first West Point graduate, Joseph Gardner Swift, and then numbered all successive graduates in sequence. Before his death in 1892, General Cullum completed the first three volumes of a work that eventually comprised 10 volumes, entitled General Cullum’s Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the United States Military Academy, and covering USMA classes from 1802 through 1850. From 1802 through the Class of 1977, graduates were listed by general order of Merit. Beginning with the Class of 1978, graduates were listed alphabetically, and then by date of graduation. Seven graduates have an "A" suffix after their Cullum Number. For various reasons these graduates were omitted from the original class roster, and a suffix letter was added to avoid renumbering the entire class and subsequent classes.^[154]

West Point began the collegiate tradition of the class ring, beginning with the class of 1835.^[155] The class of 1836 chose no rings, and the Class of 1879 had cuff links in lieu of a class ring. Prior to 1917, cadets could design much of the ring individually, but now only the center stone can be individualized.^[155] One side of the ring bears the academy crest, while the other side bears the class crest and the center stone ring bears the worlds "West Point" and the class year. The academy libary has a large collection of cadet rings on display.^[156]

West Point is home to the Sylvanus Thayer Award. The award is given each year since 1958 by the Academy to an outstanding citizen whose service and accomplishments in the national interest exemplify the Military Academy motto, "Duty, Honor, Country."^[157] Currently, the award guidelines state that the recipient not be a Graduate of the Academy. The award has been awarded to many famous American citizens, to include George H. W. Bush, Colin Powell, Tom Brokaw, Sandra Day O'Conner, Henry Kissinger, Ronald Reagan, Carl Vinson, Douglas MacArthur, Barbara Jordan, and Bob Hope.^[157]

A monument to Union officer John Sedgwick stands on the outskirts of the plain across the street from Trophy Point. Cadet legend states that if a cadet is in danger of failing a class, they are to don their full-dress parade uniform and visit his statue at midnight before the final exam. Sedgwick's bronze statue has spurs that freely rotate, and if the cadet spins them at the stroke of midnight, they will pass the exam and the course. Though this practice is officially against regulations, violations are often overlooked for the sake of tradition.^[158]

As part of the run-up to the Navy football game, the Corps of Cadets plays the Goat-Engineer game.^[159] First played in 1907, it is a game between the "Goats" (the bottom half of the senior class academically), and the "Engineers" (the top half).^[160] The game is played with full pads and helmets using 8-man football rules at Michie Stadium. Legend states that Army will beat Navy if the goats win, and the opposite if the Engineers win.^[159] In recent years, female cadets have began playing a flag football contest, so there are now two Goat-Engineer games, played back to back the same night.^[161]

The Army mascot has traditionally been a Mule,^[162], but the Academy's football team was historically called The Black Knights of the Hudson.^[163] This nickname has been officially shortened to Black Knights.^[164] U.S. sports media use Army as a synonym for the Academy and is officially endorsed by the Academy. On Brave Old Army Team is the school's fight song.^[165] Army's chief sports rival is by far the Naval Academy due to its long-standing football rivalry and the inherent intra-service rivalry with the Navy in general. Cadets often verbally great each other and faculty with "Beat Navy", and the phrase is painted on the bleachers of the parade field, and in the tunnel that runs under Washington road, called the "Beat Navy" tunnel.^[166][167] West Point also is rivals with Air Force, but not as fiercely as with Navy due to Air Force's relatively young age and geographic distance from Army. In the first half of the 20th century, Army and Notre Dame were football rivals, but that rivalry had since died out.^[168]

Army football began in 1890 when the Naval Academy challenged the cadets to the still relatively unknown game.^[169] The academies still clash every December in what is traditionally the last regular season Division I college football game. Army's football team reached its pinnacle of success under coach Earl Blaik when Army won consecutive national championships in 1944–45, and produced three Heisman trophy winners: Doc Blanchard (1945), Glenn Davis (1946) and Pete Dawkins (1958).^[170] Future NFL coaching legends Vince Lombardi^[171] and Bill Parcells^[172] were Army assistant coaches early in their careers. The football team plays its home games at historic Michie Stadium, where the playing field is named after Coach Blaik. Cadets attendance is mandatory at football games and the Corps stands for the duration of the game. At all home games, one of the four regiments marches onto the field in formation before the team takes the field and leads the crowd in traditional Army cheers.^[173] In recent years, Army was a member of Conference USA, but its NCAA Division I-A football program reverted to its former independent status after the 2004 season. It competes with the other academies for the Commander in Chief's Trophy. The 2008 football season marked Army's seventh consecutive loss to Navy.^[174]

Though football is the best known varsity sport at the Academy, West Point has a long history of athletics in other NCAA sports. The generally acknowledged "inventor of baseball", Abner Doubleday, was a graduate of the class of 1842.^[175] Army is a member of the Division I Patriot League in most sports,^[164] while its men's hockey program competes in Atlantic Hockey.^[176] Every year, Army faces Royal Military College of Canada Paladins in the annual West Point Weekend hockey game.^[177] This series, conceived in 1923, is the longest running annual international sporting event in the world.^[178][179] In the 2005–06 basketball season, the women's basketball team went 20-11 and won the Patriot League conference tournament. They went to the 2006 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament as a 15 seed, where they lost to the University of Tennessee, 102-54. It was the first March Madness tournament appearance for any Army basketball team. The head coach of that team, Maggie Dixon, died soon after the season at only 28 years of age. Bob Knight, the winningest men's basketball coach in NCAA history, began his head coaching career at Army in the late 1960s^[180] before moving on to Indiana and Texas Tech. One of Knight's players at Army was Mike Krzyzewski, who later was head coach at Army before moving on to Duke where he won three national championships.^[181]

Approximately 15% of cadets are members of a club sport team. West Point fields a total of 24 club sports teams and in the last two years, academy club teams have won 6 national championships. In 2008, West Point club sport teams won the national championships in boxing, orienteering, men's team handball, and women's pistol, while in 2007, West Point captured the national title in cycling and women's team handball.^[182]

The majority of the student body, about 65%, competes in company athletics(CA). DPE's Competitive Sports Committee runs the club and company athletics sports program and was recently named one of the "15 Most Influential Sports Education Teams" in America by the Institute for International Sport.^[183] The fall season sees competition in basketball, biathlon, football, soccer, ultimate disc, and wrestling, while the spring season sees competition in combative grappling, floor hockey, orienteering, rugby, and swimming.^[184] DPE unaware of any other college that has a similar full-contact intramural football program. The championship game of CA football and other outdoor sports are held on Daly Field.^[185] Each spring, each company also fields a team entry into the annual Sandhurst Competition, a military skills event conducted by the Department of Military Instruction.^[186]

The academy has produced just under 65,000 alumni during its 207 year existence,^[187] including two American Presidents, Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower, and the president of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis.

The academy has produced many notable generals during its two hundred years. During the Civil War, graduates included Hood, Jackson, Lee, Longstreet, Meade, Sheridan, Sherman, and Stuart. George Armstrong Custer gradated last in his class in 1861.^[188] He would infamously meet his demise at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. During World War I, the academy produced General of the Armies John J. Pershing. During World War II, West Point was the alma mater of Arnold, Bradley, Clark, Eichelberger, Gavin, Groves, MacArthur, Patton, Stillwell, Taylor, Van Fleet, and Wainwright.^[189] West Point has also produced some famous generals and statesmen of recent note including Haig, Scowcroft, Schwarzkopf, McCaffrey, Clark, and Abizaid. The current CENTCOM commander General David Petraeus and the commander of Multinational Force Iraq, General Raymond T. Odierno are graduates.

The Academy's roles include one current US Senator, Jack Reed, and three US Congressmen; Geoff Davis, Brett Guthrie, and John Shimkus.^[190] Graduates have made significant contributions to education, such as Alden Partridge, who founded Norwich University in 1819.^[191], and Oliver O. Howard, who founded Howard University in 1867.^[192] An unofficial motto of the academy history department is "Much of the history we teach was made by people we taught."^[193]

West Point is fourth on the list of total winners for Rhodes Scholarships, seventh for Marshall Scholarships and fourth on the list of Hertz Fellowships.^[194] The official alumni association of West Point is the West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG or AOG), which is located at Herbert Hall.^[195]

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