United States Military
Academy
West Point

USMA Mission
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; professional growth throughout a career as an officer in the United States
Army; and a lifetime of selfless service to the nation.

USMA Motto
“Duty ­ Honor ­ Country”

History of the Academy
• West Point is located on the west bank of the Hudson
River
• In 1778 General George Washington had fortifications built at West Point to control river traffic
• West Point was never captured by the British, despite
Benedict Arnold’s treason
• West Point is the oldest continuously occupied military post in America

History of the Academy

President Thomas Jefferson established the United
States Military Academy at West Point in 1802

History of the Academy

The first Army - Navy football game
1890
Navy won 24-0

History of the Academy
Women at USMA
1976
631 applied for admissions
176 were found qualified
148 were offered admissions
116 entered in June 1976
Today 15% of the class are women History of the Academy
87 women graduated in 1980

Famous Graduates
Robert E. Lee
USMA 1829
• Superintendent at
West Point - 1848-1852
• Civil War General

Famous Graduates
George A. Custer
USMA 1861
• Last in his class
• Remembered for his defeat and death at the
Battle of the Little
Bighorn.

Famous Graduates
Henry O. Flipper
USMA 1877
• First black graduate

Famous Graduates
Douglas MacArthur
USMA 1877
• Graduated first in his class • Took part in three wars
- WWI, WWII and the
Korean War

The Recruiting Funnel find Prospects: Quality students everywhere 200,000+

inform

Leads: Students interested

50,000+

inspire

Candidates: Open files

10,000+
4,000

qualify

Nominated

select

Qualified

inform

Offers

1,180

inspire

Accepts

1,180

NEW CADETS

2,200
1,500

Counseling Points
• In considering colleges, take a good look at West Point
• Start a file at the end of your Junior year and apply for nominations • Make an effort to learn all there is to know about West
Point and the Army:
- Read about West Point and the role of the officers in the Army
-View videos at Congressional Academy Nights and