US Military Academy

The United States Military Academy at West Point, established in 1802 and better known as West Point, is the Army's four-year college. Each branch of the military has such a college, but West Point is arguably the most famous. Those who win an appointment at West Point receive a fully funded education and $6,500 annual stipend. Upon graduation cadets must serve as commissioned officers for five years.

A West Point education is thorough and prestigious. Cadets choose from over 30 fields of study and more than a dozen majors, but all receive the Bachelor of Science degree. The core curriculum is made up of arts and sciences and an "engineering sequence" of five courses. Class sizes are quite small. Extracurricular activities are strongly encouraged. Beyond academics, West Point requires its cadets to engage in a Physical Program, a US Military Academy Program, and in Moral-Ethical Development. Physical education classes and participation in competitive athletics are the cornerstones of the Physical Program. Army sports teams compete at the NCAA Division 1-A level and West Point's intramural sports program offerings are extensive.

Cadet Basic Training takes place during the summer before freshman year, and supplements the Military Program in which cadets participate during the regular school year. Freshman cadets are tested for emotional strength and the ability to perform under pressure. They are also taught military courtesy, uniform regulations, drill and ceremony, and of course, lots of physical fitness.

Sophomores start Cadet Field Training in their second summer. This is a field exercise of a more serious nature, and includes soldier skills and weapons familiarization. Cadets in their junior year, move on to the training of underclassmen, while Seniors have the opportunity to take charge of overseeing the entire cadet corps.

Moral-Ethical Development revolves to a large degree around West Point's honor code: "A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do." There are also formal programs of instruction about the military code of conduct, the Geneva Convention, and military values. Religious programs are voluntary and plentiful.

Graduates of the US Military Academy routinely go on to careers in the top levels of the Army, government, Fortune 500 corporations, and quite often to graduate school programs. Admission to West Point, however, is highly selective and includes a requirement for nomination from a member of Congress, although that's not as difficult as it sounds. Most candidates are eligible for such a nomination and other sources (such as the Department of the Army itself for an in-service nomination) are available.