Military Academy West Point

The recent visit to the US of the German defense secretary inspired us to publish this...

"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." that is the motto of the probably best known elite military academy in the US: WEST POINT.

History
The Academy's role in US history dates back to the revolution, when both sides realized the strategic importance of dominating the Western shore of the Hudson River. It was General George Washington (whom later gave his name to the US capital) who declared the West Point - thus the name - as the most important strategic point. The General himself chose Thaddeus Kosciuszko, son of Polish immigrants and hero of Saratoga, to plan the fort, and in 1779 Washington moved his own headquarters there. Mercenaries who served the US army built forts, batteries of defense artillery, and entrenchments. The laid a 150-ton iron ring across the Hudson River to control the waterway. Never in its entire history has the fort been taken by the British. That makes West Point the oldest military post in the US that has always been controlled by Americans.

Famous soldiers such as George Washington, Knox, Hamilton and John Adams insisted the US needed an institution that only taught the science and art of war, so that the US would be independent from foreign engineers and artillery specialists, as they had been dependent on them during the war. In 1802 President Thomas Jefferson finally signed the law that made it a military academy, after he had the future elite soldiers swear that they would act as representatives of Democratic America.

Colonel Sylvanus Thayer, also called the father of the academy, served as superintendent between 1817 to 1833. Thanks to him the academic standards improved, and he created the foundation for a construction engineer program on the curriculum. During the first half of the century most of the academy graduates were responsible for building a large part of the American railway system, the bridges, ports and streets.

The graduates had their first war experiences during the Mexican and Indian Wars, where they served in the highest military positions. Generals such as Grant, Lee, Sherman (the famous tank in World War II was named after him) set high standards for military leadership in both the Southern and the Northern part of the country. Since the combined military and civil education meets high demands, it is considered the first and best step towards a military career. Thus, the list of famous people who came from there is impressive to read: Eisenhower, MacArthur, Bradley, Arnold, Clark and Patton are just some of the names that achieved national recognition as heroes of World War II.

During the time after the war the contents of the military education changed, also because the rapid developments in science and technology required a long-term adjustment of the training. Going along with that was an increased understanding of other cultures and more common knowledge.

In 1964 the President signed a law that raised the number of cadets from 2,529 to over 4,000, which resulted in an expansion of the school and dormitory buildings. Over the course of the following years more members of minorities were excepted into the school and also the first woman who served in the cadet corps, which caused a significant improvement of the school's quality and finally made the school live up to the reputation of representing all citizens of the country.

The Academy
The Academy program is challenging. It consists of 31 sub-areas and tries to balance military skills and scientific education. The cadets usually graduate with a bachelor of science. The physical part of the training includes a rigorous body training and different kinds of sport activities. The education is divided into several parts - during the summer the largest part of the basic training takes place for the new arrivals. This takes one year, and afterwards follows the "Cadet Field Training." The cadets then spend their third and fourth summer in military units around the globe and are trained in airborne units, air combat and warfare. Some especially suitable candidates are immediately being trained as military leaders during their first and second year.

Male and female applicants between the ages of 17 and 23 may apply at the academy. Before that the applicants must be nominated by Members of Congress or the high command of the US army. Before they are accepted they have to pass a difficult aptitude test, which serves out about the applicants training, physical condition and the leadership potential. The requirements are quite high. But there are sunnier sides as well. A great number of sports activities make hard academy life more attractive. The cadets may imitate Bernhard Langer on the academy's own golf course, go skiing, sailing, or admit that they are passionate ice skaters. Anyone who finds all of this too boring can go hiking or join the Big Brother Big Sister Club (please don't ask us what that means).

The "output" of leaders is amazing. 900 graduates leave West Point every year, that's one quarter of the military leaders in the US Army. 5 percent of them are women. Ever since it was established, 50,000 people underwent the difficult training program.

Tips for visitors
Wets Point is about 50 miles from New York City on the Hudson River. A visitor's center welcomes you with the unavoidable souvenirs in a souvenir shop, a movie theater with films about the academy, and a fully furnished cadet's dormitory to let you experience a little of the atmosphere. A bus tour around the entire complex rounds off the experience. Visitors may look at the academy every day between 9am and 4:45pm, the only days the academy is closed to visitors are Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.

By the way, you may only enter the real military area if you book the bus tour, you are not allowed to walk across the highly secured military part of the academy by yourself. Please do remember to bring your passport, identification will be checked meticulously. If you wish to take a tour around the academy, please call the visitor's center at least two days in advance.

For more information, please call (845) 938-2638.

By the way, you will not be the only people there. The academy has close to 3 million visitors every year, many of them family and friends of academy graduates, students on class trips or senior groups, and of course tourists from all around the world. According to official statistics this makes the academy one of the three most popular tourist destinations in New York.