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Motto | Duty • Honor • Country |
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Type | U.S. Service Academy |
Established | 16 March 1802[1] |
Superintendent | LTG Darryl A. Williams USMA Class of 1983 |
Dean | BG Cindy Jebb USMA Class of 1982 |
Commandant | BG Steven Gilland USMA Class of 1990[2] |
Academic staff | 580 |
Students | 4,294 cadets[3] |
Location | , , U.S. |
Campus | Rural – 16,080 acres (6,507.3 ha) |
Fight song | On Brave Old Army Team |
Colors | Black and Gold[4] |
Nickname | Black Knights |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division I – PL AHA CSFL EIGL EIWA |
Mascot | Mule |
Website | westpoint |
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United States Military Academy | |
Coordinates | 41°23′35″N 73°57′29″W / 41.393°N 73.958°W |
NRHP reference No. | 66000562 |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | 1966 |
Designated NHL | 19 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.