United States Military Academy at West Point

The United States West Point Military Academy Mission Statement

To build, educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets to be commissioned leaders of character committed to the Army Values and ready for a lifetime of service to the Army Nation.

A Brief History of West Point

The United States Military Academy was established in 1802, but West Point had a major role in our nation’s history during the American Revolution. Both the American patriots and the British realized the strategic importance of the prominent plateau on the west bank of the Hudson River. General George Washington considered West Point to be the most important strategic location in America and in 1778 selected Taddeus Kosciuszko, a Polish engineer, to design the fortifications for West Point. Washington later transferred his headquarters near West Point in 1779. American Continental Line soldiers constructed forts, gun batteries, redoubts and installed a 65-ton iron chain across the Hudson to block British invasions along the river. Fortress West Point was never captured by the British, despite Major General Benedict Arnold’s treasonous attempt to turn-over the garrison to the British in 1780. Today, West Point is the oldest continuously occupied regular army post in the United States.

In the 1790s several distinguished Americans, including President Washington and most of his cabinet, desired to establish an institution devoted to the art and science of warfare to train and develop officers for the Army. However, the proposal met opposition, especially from Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, who objected to the concept based on his opposition to professional armies and the officer class so prominent in Europe. Later, as president, Jefferson realized the importance of defending the new republic against possible invasion. Additionally, the nation’s expansion west with new territory would require an armed force for protection and defense. President Jefferson signed legislation that established the United States Military Academy on March 16, 1802. The Academy fell under the auspices of the US Army Corps of Engineers and all the superintendents through 1866 were engineer officers.

Major Sylvanus Thayer, considered the “Father of the Military Academy,” served as Superintendent from 1817-1833. He improved academic standards, instilled military discipline, and emphasized honorable conduct and officership. Aware of our young nation’s need for engineers, Thayer made civil and military engineering the foundation of the curriculum and the top few in each class became engineers. The Academy was the first engineering school in the United States. Other officers served in the infantry, cavalry (dragoons), artillery and other branches in the tough frontier Army.

During the 19th century, USMA graduates were largely responsible for the construction of the bulk of the nation’s earliest waterways, infrastructure, harbors, the Washington Monument, and surveys for the future transcontinental railroads. Perhaps the greatest engineering feat in world history was the Panama Canal completed in 1914 under the direction of Colonel George W. Goethals (Class of 1880), an Army engineer.

After gaining experience and national recognition during the Mexican and antebellum Indian Wars, West Point graduates dominated the highest ranks in both the Federal and Confederate armies during the Civil War. Graduates such as generals Ulysses S. Grant (Class of 1843), William T. Sherman (Class of 1840), Philip Sheridan (Class of 1853) and hundreds of others served for the Union Army, while some 304 graduates rejected their oath of allegiance to the United States and served in armed rebellion in the Confederate States Army. Regardless of loyalties, West Point graduates provided significant military leadership for both the North and South.

After the Civil War, the Academy entrenched itself in its success, where tradition and austere discipline ruled the Corps of Cadets for the next several decades. During this time African-American cadets entered the Academy and endured “silencing”—the practice of isolating unwanted cadets and intimidating them to resign. Henry O. Flipper succeeded against institutional prejudice to graduate in 1877. Two other Black Cadets graduated by the turn of the century. During this era, young, commissioned officers served in the Indian Wars on the frontier army, facing the tough realities of guerilla warfare against skilled warriors.

In World War I, many graduates provided distinguished service on the battlefield, led by General John J. Pershing (Class of 1886), the commander of the American Expeditionary Force of more than two million American soldiers in Europe. Five classes were graduated early to provide new officers at the front.

After the Great War there were sweeping revisions and modernization to the curriculum resulting from the dramatic developments in science and technology, and new, younger, reform-minded leaders. One such leader was Brigadier General Douglas MacArthur (Class of 1903), who served as superintendent from 1919-1922. He sought to instill his war experience into the Corps of Cadets with an intensive physical fitness program and realistic combat training necessary for modern warfare away from the Plain of West Point. MacArthur pushed for major changes in the physical fitness by establishing intramural programs, decreeing “Every cadet an athlete.” Additionally, MacArthur established the cadet-run Honor System in 1922.

The interwar years were austere for the Army and the Academy but advances and progress were made mainly based on the quality of leaders who graduated after the turn of the century. Future senior commanders such as MacArthur, Jonathan Wainwright (Class of 1906), father of the U.S. Air Force Henry “Hap” Arnold (Class of 1907), George Patton (Class of 1909), Joseph “Vinegar Joe” Stilwell (Class of 1904), Dwight Eisenhower (Class of 1915), and Omar Bradley (Class of 1915) were among an impressive array of Academy graduates who met the challenge of leadership in World War II. During the war, a third of the Corps of Cadets underwent flight training at Stewart Field in nearby Newburgh. Nearly all the major ground and U.S. Army Air Forces units in World War II were commanded by West Point officers. More than 600 members of the Long Gray Line lost their lives in foreign lands in the war.

In 1975, Congress passed legislation allowing women to enroll at the federal service academies for the first time. The following summer, 119 women arrived at West Point for Cadet Basic Training as part of the Class of 1980. Four years later, 62 women graduated, with Andrea Hollen, a Rhodes Scholar, as the first woman graduate academically.

Over the years, the Corps of Cadets has become more diverse, with women and minority cadets attending in record numbers. Additionally, the campus has evolved immensely since 1900 with major buildings booms from 1910-13 and again from 1964-68 with the construction or renovation of new barracks and academic halls. More recent infrastructure additions include a new library (Jefferson Hall) in 2008 and Davis Barracks in 2017, honoring Air Force General Benjamin O. Davis Jr. (Class of 1936), commander of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. In 2025, a new Cyber Engineering Academic Center will be completed, modernizing USMA’s engineering, technology, and cyber education capabilities.

Academy graduates have excelled in academia, business, science, and government, as well as the military. Seventy-seven have received the Medal of Honor; two (Grant and Eisenhower) were presidents of the United States, and many are senior Army leaders today.

For more information, visit the U.S. Military Academy at West Point homepage.

The West Point student body numbers are approximately 4,000. In addition to the Corps of Cadets, West Point is home to approximately 1,300 active-duty soldiers and approximately 3,000 family members. Supporting the mission of the Academy is a civilian workforce of approximately 5,000 personnel.

According to the official U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts dataset, the cities of Poughkeepsie, Newburgh and Middletown New York have a combined estimated population of 90,656.

The United States Military Academy at West Point graduates approximately 1,000 to 1,200 cadets each year. These graduates are commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army. The exact number can vary slightly depending on the class, but this range is typical for recent years. In addition to the Corps of Cadets, West Point is home to approximately 1,300 active-duty soldiers and 3,000 family members. Supporting the mission of the Academy is a civilian workforce of 5,000 personnel.

The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known as West Point, Army, Army West Point, The Academy or simply The Point, is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in West Point, New York, in Orange County it has approximately 16,000 acres (6,500 ha) . It was originally established as a fort that sits on strategic high ground overlooking the Hudson River with a scenic view, 50 miles (80 km) north of New York City. It is one of the four U.S. military service academies, and one of the five U.S. service academies. As a military installation, USAG West Point is a self-contained city and the oldest continuously occupied military post in America.

Directions to United States Military Academy at West Point:

Airports

Arriving at La Guardia International (LGA) or John F. Kennedy International (JFK)

NYC Airporter is the official airport bus operator of the DOT & The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. They provide the easiest and best transportation from JFK and LaGuardia airports to Grand Central station in NYC. Go to www.nycairporter.com for schedules and additional information.

***From Grand Central Station take the Metro North Train to Peekskill and a taxi to West Point (There are closer stations, but taxis may not be available from these stations.) Go to http://www.mta.info/ for schedules and additional information

Arriving at Newark Liberty International (EWR)

From Newark Airport take NJ Transit bus to Grand Central Station. Go to www.njtransit.com for schedules and additional information.

***From Grand Central Station take the Metro North Train to Peekskill and a taxi to West Point (There are closer stations but taxis may not be available from these stations.) Go to http://www.mta.info/ for schedules and additional information

Arriving at New York Stewart International (SWF)

There are several car rental companies available at the Stewart. Take Route 207 (Temple Hill Road) east, Route 207 becomes route 300 continue into Vails Gate at the light in Vails Gate continue straight onto route 32. Travel about 5 miles and make a left onto Quaker Ave. Turn right onto the ramp for Route 9W south. Take the Highland Falls/West Point exit and follow Main Street/West Point Highway to the Thayer Gate.

Short Line Bus from New York to West Point

Short Line Bus offers daily bus service from the New York City Port Authority, near Times Square in midtown Manhattan, to the West Point Visitors Center Go to online for schedule and additional information.

Driving Directions

If you are using a GPS enter the following address into you GPS, use 2 Thayer Road, West Point, NY

Palisades Interstate Parkway Directions

Take the Palisades Parkway north to the Bear Mountain Bridge circle. Proceed 3/4 of the way around the circle, follow signs for West Point / Route 9W north. Continue on Route 9W for approximately 3 miles Take the Highland Falls exit As you enter the Village of Highland Falls, travel approximately 2 miles on Main Street, bear right onto west Point Highway, which will bring you to the Thayer Gate of West Point

Driving from the South

Take Route 287 north at the New York state line follow route 87 north toward Albany. Take exit 16 toward Harriman, stay to the right going through the tolls. After passing through the tolls take the first exit, number 131. At the top of the ramp make a left, at the third light make a left onto Route 6 east. Continue on route 6 east to the top of the hill, then bear left onto Route 293. Take 293 to the end and keep right onto route 9W south. Continue south to the Highland Falls/West Point exit, second exit. Take Main Street, bearing right onto West Point Highway to Thayer Gate.

Driving from New York City

Follow signs to the George Washington Bridge. Cross the bridge by way of the upper deck or level, getting into the right lane. Immediately after crossing the bridge, follow signs to the Palisades Interstate Parkway. Take the Parkway north approximately 37 miles. See Directions for Palisades Interstate Parkway above

Driving from the West

Traveling east on route 80 or 78 take the exit for Route 287 north. At the New York state line follow route 87 north toward Albany. Take exit 16 toward Harriman, stay to the right going through the tolls. After passing through the tolls take the first exit, number 131. At the top of the ramp make a left, at the third light make a left onto Route 6 east. Continue on route 6 east to the top of the hill, then bear left onto Route 293. Take 293 to the end and keep right onto route 9W south. Continue south to the Highland Falls/West Point exit, second exit. Take Main Street, bearing right onto West Point Highway to Thayer Gate.

Traveling east on route 84, continue on route 84 into New York state, take exit 15A towards Goshen, route 6 east. Continue 4 miles and merge on Route 17 east/ Rte. 6. Take exit 131A, Bear Mountain/West Point. Continue on route 6 east to the top of the hill, then bear left onto Route 293. Take 293 to the end and keep right onto route 9W south. Continue south to the Highland Falls/West Point exit, second exit. Take Main Street, bearing right onto West Point Highway to Thayer Gate.

Driving from New England

Travel west on Interstate 84 until you cross the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. Take exit 39A and follow signs for Route 9W south. Stay on Route 9W for approximately 12 miles. Use caution this road is narrow with many curves limiting visibility as you go over Storm King Mountain. At the bottom of the mountain, Continue south to the Highland Falls/West Point exit, second exit. Take Main Street, bearing right onto West Point Highway to Thayer Gate.

ShortLine Bus offers daily bus service from the New York City Port Authority, near Times Square in midtown Manhattan, to the West Point Visitor's Center.

Enter the following address into you GPS:

2 Thayer Road, West Point, NY