Students accepted to the Army's U.S. Military Academy at West Point often demonstrate leadership and excel in athletics and academics in high school, and they get their choice of Army assignments when they graduate from the academy.
While attending West Point, tuition is free along with room, board, medical care and dental care, and base pay is equal to a third of that of a second lieutenant -- $1,339.50 for calendar year 2024. With expenses deducted, students actually receive about $225 to $625 a month.
One of five U.S. service academies, West Point commands a position overlooking the Hudson River in West Point, N.Y., 50 miles north of New York City. First occupied in 1778, the site represents the Army's oldest continuous post, transitioning into an academic institution in 1802.
Created under the purview of the Army Corps of Engineers, the 16,000-acre campus was the only engineering college in the United States until 1824. Its graduates designed much of the country's early infrastructure. During the Revolutionary War, the site featured a 69-ton iron chain-link barrier stretching across the Hudson to thwart a British invasion. Even now, while cadets may choose from 36 majors, they must all complete a five-course engineering sequence.
West Point graduates served as officers on both sides of the Civil War, with more than 300 rejecting their oaths of allegiance and joining the Confederacy.
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Today, about 4,400 students attend West Point in a given year, with about 1,300 active-duty soldiers assigned to the school and about 5,000 civilian personnel. The admission rate of applicants was just under 11% for the Class of 2027, according to information provided to Military.com.
Led by Lt. Gen. Steven W. Gilland, a 1990 graduate who began serving as the academy's superintendent in June 2022, West Point's mission 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."
Getting into West Point
To become a West Point cadet, a student must be at least 17 years old, but not yet 23, by July 1 of the year they would enter the school. For the most part, they must be U.S. citizens, though as many as 60 cadets at a time may be international students from countries designated each year. Candidates may not be married nor responsible for child support.
Students can start their application by activating an online account requiring their birthdate, home address, high school address and congressional district.
They'll need to take either the ACT or SAT, and they're free to repeat the test as many times as they want -- West Point will apply the highest score.
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Students meet with members of the West Point Field Force recruiting organization as part of the application process and should treat the meeting like a job interview.
They must also receive a nomination from one or more of the following: their representative in Congress, either of their state's U.S. senators or the U.S. vice president; or be eligible for a service-connected nomination as:
- a current Army member or member of an Army reserve component
- a Reserve Officers' Training Corps or Junior ROTC member
- or the child of a deceased or disabled veteran, prisoner of war, service member missing in action, Medal of Honor awardee or career military member.
Applications are due by Jan. 31 of the year the student would start at West Point.
Academic and Leadership Requirements
West Point expects applicants to have an "above average" academic record. It factors in standardized test scores along with high school grades from the student's first 3½ years. Candidates should "perform well" on the ACT or SAT.
West Point's admissions officers also look for students who took part in extracurricular activities "that demonstrate leadership skills and potential," such as Eagle Scouts, Girl Scout Gold Award recipients, sports team captains, class leaders and attendees of the American Legion's Boys State and Girls State programs. Leadership within a small number of extracurriculars counts for more than just taking part in many different activities but not in a leadership role.
In the Class of 2027, out of the 1,255 admitted, 76 were high school valedictorians, 108 were class or student-body presidents, 783 were team captains and 1,239 were varsity athletes.
Physical and Medical Requirements
Students must be in "good physical and mental health" and pass a Defense Department medical exam. Eyesight must be at least 20/20 or correctable to 20/20 with glasses or contacts.
As part of their application packet, students must also complete the Candidate Fitness Assessment with an approved adjudicator. A physical education teacher, military academy liaison officer, Field Force representative, military officer or noncommissioned officer from any branch, professor of military science or JROTC instructor may administer the assessment.
The test consists of six events. West Point doesn't publish the minimum scores, instead encouraging students to "do your best for each event." However, it does publish the maximum scores. The following are the six events of the test and their maximum scores:
- basketball throw (women 68 feet, men 102 feet)
- pull-ups for both men (18) and women (7) or the flexed-arm hang for women who can't do one pull-up
- shuttle run (8.6 seconds, 7.8 seconds)
- modified sit-ups (95 for both women and men)
- push-ups (50, 75)
- mile run (6:00, 5:20)
After Graduating from West Point
Cadets ranked the highest among their classmates in their final semester get their choice of available billets on Post Night, when in descending order, soon-to-be graduates choose from assignments around the world.
West Point graduates receive bachelor of science degrees and become Army second lieutenants with the pay grade of O-1, as is typical for new officers. They attend training courses in their chosen career field as well as a basic officer leader course before reporting to their first duty station.
They serve on active duty for at least five years followed by another three years as either a drilling reservist or member of the Individual Ready Reserve. Many go on to serve 20 years, when they're eligible to retire, or longer, and they often serve lifelong careers, reaching the highest ranks of the Army.
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