United States Military Academy

''"USMA" redirects here. For other uses see USMA (disambiguation)

The United States Military Academy (also known as USMA, West Point or, for collegiate athletic purposes, Army) is a United States Army post and service academy. West Point was the first United States military post built after the Declaration of Independence. In its inception, it was under the command of Benedict Arnold. Established by Thomas Jefferson in 1802, it is the oldest military academy in the United States. Students are referred to as cadets. Collectively, graduates 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 single 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 Academy 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. . Occupying over 16,000 acres (65 km²), it is one of the largest school campuses in the world. By comparison, the United States Naval Academy is 338 acres (1.37 km²) and United States Air Force Academy is 18,000 acres (73 km²). 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; it is thus the oldest continuously occupied military post in the United States.

Appointment process

Prior to 1903, the student body was limited to a maximum total of 600, although it was axiomatic that that maximum was rarely reached due to appointment rules and academic and disciplinary attrition in each class. Each US Representative was entitled to have one Cadet from his home district at any time, while each US Senator could have one Cadet from his home State at-large at any time. Each Territorial Delegate could have one Cadet, and the President could have thirty Cadets at any time. This left 89 slots that could be filled by other means, to include appointment from the enlisted ranks, and foreign military appointments. Each new class started with approximately 150 Cadets.

''"USMA" redirects here. For other uses see USMA (disambiguation)

The United States Military Academy (also known as USMA, West Point or, for collegiate athletic purposes, Army) is a United States Army post and service academy. West Point was the first United States military post built after the Declaration of Independence. In its inception, it was under the command of Benedict Arnold. Established by Thomas Jefferson in 1802, it is the oldest military academy in the United States. Students are referred to as cadets. Collectively, graduates 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 single 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.