United States Military Academy

United States Military Academy
MottoDuty • Honor • Country
TypeU.S. Service Academy
Established16 March 1802[1]
SuperintendentLTG Darryl A. Williams
USMA Class of 1983
DeanBG Cindy Jebb
USMA Class of 1982
CommandantBG Steven Gilland
USMA Class of 1990[2]
Academic staff
580
Students4,294 cadets[3]
Location, ,
U.S.
CampusRural – 16,080 acres (6,507.3 ha)
Fight songOn Brave Old Army Team
ColorsBlack and Gold[4]
NicknameBlack Knights
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division IPL
AHA CSFL EIGL EIWA
MascotMule
Websitewestpoint.edu
United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy is located in New York
United States Military Academy
Coordinates41°23′35″N 73°57′29″W / 41.393°N 73.958°W / 41.393; -73.958
NRHP reference No.66000562
Significant dates
Added to NRHP1966
Designated NHL19 December 1960

The United States Military Academy at West Point (also known as West Point, USMA, Army (athletic teams)) is a university that teaches students to become officers in the US Army. Students are called "cadets" and are subject to military rules while studying subjects like engineering and military science for four years. For many years, West Point only taught men, but in 1976 West Point admitted its first female cadets.[5][6] Women currently comprise approximately 15% of entering new cadets.[7]

Military officers compose 75% of the faculty. Civilian professors make up the remaining 25% of faculty positions.[8]

Congress formally authorized and funded West Point on 16 March 1802.[1] West Point was so successful, that military academies were added later for the Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force.

West Point was originally a Fort. The Continental Army used it to guard the Hudson River. General Benedict Arnold tried to betray it.

West Point has a very broad sports program. All of its students are required to compete in at least one sport, either at the intramural (i.e., within the school) or intercollegiate (i.e., against other schools) level, in every semester.

The Army intercollegiate sports teams are nicknamed "Black Knights". Most Army teams play in the Patriot League. The football team plays at the highest level, known as Division I FBS, but is independent—not in any conference. The men's ice hockey team plays in Atlantic Hockey.

References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 Ambrose (1966), p. 22.
  2. "USMA Commandant's Corner". United States Military. July 2014. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  3. "Army Now Down to 496,079". Army Times. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  4. United States Military Academy Style Guide (PDF). 2014-10-02. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
  5. "The Class of 1980". Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  6. Barkalow (1990), p. 20.
  7. "Class of 2012 enter West Point". West Point AOG. Archived from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  8. "Fact Sheet: USMA Faculty". USMA Public Affairs Office. Archived from the original on 2012-01-19. Retrieved 21 January 2009.

Further reading

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Other websites

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