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United States Military Academy at West Point facts for kids

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United States Military Academy
at West Point
U.S. Military Academy COA.png
Motto Duty • Honor • Country
Type Federal military academy
Established 16 March 1802
Superintendent LTG David H. Huntoon
Administrative staff
 600 faculty
Undergraduates 4,487
Location
West Point
,
New York
,
United States
Campus 15,974 acres (65 km2)
Colors Black, gray, and gold
              
Athletics Black Knights
24 varsity teams
Affiliations Patriot League, Atlantic Hockey Association
Website westpoint.edu
United States Military Academy
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NRHP reference No. 66000562
Significant dates
Added to NRHP 1966
Designated NHL December 19, 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. Women currently comprise approximately 15% of entering new cadets.

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

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

Sports

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.

Images for kids

  • 1780 Map of West Point Defenses

    West Point fortifications 1780

  • The American Soldier 1805

    Artillery cadet 1805, in the mixture of conmissioned and nonconmissioned uniforms prescribed for cadets of artillery.

  • West Point, from Phillipstown, 1831

    West Point, from Phillipstown. engraving by W. J. Bennett showing the original buildings of the United States Military Academy

  • Thayer Statue at West Point

    Thayer monument

  • The USMA Corps in mid 1800s

    Corps of Cadets c. 1870

  • Bundesarchiv Bild 102-08174, USA, Unterricht in der Offiziersschule West-Point

    Class at West Point, 1929

  • Class of 1980

    First female graduates in 1980

  • USMA Aerial View Looking North

    Central campus looking north

  • Cadet Chapel USMA

    Cadet Chapel

  • One of six wings of Washington Hall, the Cadet Mess Hall at the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY during lunch

    One of the six wings of Washington Hall during lunchtime.

  • West Point Cemetery

    West Point Cemetery

  • USMA Graduation Hat Toss 2008

    Class of 2008 toss their hats after "class dismissed"

  • USMA Cadets Cross a Rope Bridge

    Cadets cross a rope bridge during summer training

  • Horizontal Ladder and Vertical Rope USMA IOCT

    Indoor obstacle course

  • Cadet Honor Plaze USMA Dec 2008

    Class of '57 honor memorial on which the honor code is inscribed

  • USMA Cadet Rank -1

    Cadet captains' shoulder sleeve insignia

  • USMA Color Guard on Parade

    Cadet color guard on parade

  • 2012s Motto Beast March Back

    Class of 2012's motto

  • Flickr - The U.S. Army - President of Rawanda visits son at West Point

    Rwandan President Kagame visits his son's room during Plebe-Parent Weekend

  • Beat Navy Tunnel, West Point

    "Beat Navy" tunnel

  • ArmyNavyLax2009

    A cadet in action during the 2009 Army–Navy lacrosse game

  • West Point 2012 Ring

    2012 West Point class ring

  • Sedgwick's Spurs

    Sedgwick's spurs

  • West Point Goat Engineer Game 9 Dec 2009

    2009 Goat-Engineer game

  • West Point Cadet walking the Area, May 98

    "Walking the area"

  • West Point stamp 5c 1937 issue

    West Point commemorative stamp, 1937 issue

  • Hagenbeck and Huntoon at Change of Command Ceremony 19 July 2010

    The 57th & 58th Superintendents, LTG Hagenbeck (L) & LTG Huntoon (R)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Academia Militar de los Estados Unidos para niños

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