United States Military Academy at West Point

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Hallmarks and Quirks

Things I'm Good At:

Creating strong leaders. I'm the top military academy in the country for a reason. My curriculum is intense because I was designed to shape and mold the next generation of military leaders. Some of the country's most celebrated generals and commanders got their start with me, and you can be sure some of my current students will go on to do great, heroic things during their time in the service.
Engineering. Mechanical Engineering is probably my strongest academic department, though my other engineering programs are all top-notch as well.
Sports. It's so important for my Cadets to stay in shape that they are graded on physical fitness. That means I have an active, athletic student body and some awesome and dedicated sports teams. My best sports are baseball, woman's soccer, boxing, and judo.
Blood Drives. I do a great job supporting blood drives, and boast an impressively high rate of student participation.

My Top 5 Must-Haves:

Discipline. I'm training future servicemen and women here, and you better believe I keep them in line.
Patience. I'm all about tough love over here, and that means you won't be getting all of the same amenities you remember from civ life. If you learn to stick it out, you'll be better for it.
Dedication. You'll need a whole lotta heart to make it through four years with me. It's going to be rough and demanding, but I train the best of the best. Each and every student needs to be fully dedicated to the school and serving their country.
Netflix. Remember what I said about the living situation being a little minimalistic? That and my strict (but fair) rules involving parties may have you scratching your head about what there is to do around here at night. Well…Netflix is your best friend.
A buzz cut. I make sure all of my students adhere to each and every one of my regulations. From a clean room, to a clean head.

Why You Might Have Heard of Me:

Notable alumni. If you're a famous General, there is a good chance you are a graduate of West Point. My list of notable alumni stretches longer than most schools could ever dream of, and I'm darn proud of it.
My campus. In addition to being an active military base, my campus is a popular tourist attraction. I'm nestled on a beautiful peninsula right on the banks of the Hudson River and feature tons of historic buildings and sites, including the West Point Museum and West Point Cemetery.
Traditions. I've been around for over 200 years, which means I've got plenty of time-honored traditions, from the Army-Navy Football game to being assigned a Cullum number upon graduation. These traditions are an important part of each Cadet's experience and help create a strong community of proud alumni.

On a regular Saturday night, you can find me...

In the barracks. Freshmen are not allowed to drink alcohol, so the most common place to find them is posted up in the barracks watching Netflix and taking things relatively easy. My Cadets work hard, but playing hard is not allowed.
Highland Falls. Underclassmen aren't allowed to leave campus during the week, but on the weekends you might find them getting some fresh air or a delicious meal in the town outside my gates. Be sure to check out Dong Fong—it's a local favorite for greasy Chinese food. Mmm.
South Gate, Side Street, or Fire Side. Upperclassmen spend less time watching Netflix and can be found at these locations enjoying some alcoholic beverages or playing a friendly match of beer pong against other Cadets.
The Firstie. If seniors are not gone for the weekend (seniors are the only ones to get unlimited pass, which means they can leave West Point every weekend) you can find them at the Firstie, an on-campus bar only for seniors.

Favorite Hangouts:

Since Cadets are not allowed off campus during the week (Seniors can leave after the duty day 4:00PM but have to be back by TAPS at 1130) the most common place to run into someone is at Arvin (the gym). Other places include Grant Hall, the library, and the mess hall.

Quirks:

My students are called Cadets and need to be nominated by a member of Congress as part of the admissions process. And you thought a personal statement was tough.
All Cadets have to live in the barracks and have a bedtime of 11:30PM. At 11:30PM, a senior comes around and checks to make sure that everyone is in their room and that their door is locked.
Freshmen are not allowed to be friends with upperclassman. Freshmen also are not allowed to talk outside of academic buildings, have to walk along the wall in the barracks, and have to have their hands cupped at all times (unless in an academic building).
Cadets also have to have their doors open in the morning for AMI (inspection) and are not allowed to nap until the afternoon. Tough luck.

Famous Alumni:

Dwight D. Eisenhower. The thirty-fourth President of the United States, Supreme Commander of Allied Forces during World War II, and the first Supreme Commander of NATO.
Ulysses S. Grant. The eighteenth President of the United States and Commanding General for the Union Army during the Civil War.
Douglas MacArthur. He was a five-star military general and overall legend. He served as Chief of Staff of the United States Army during World War II and helped oversee the occupation of Japan following the war's end.
Buzz Aldrin. The second man to walk on the moon.
William Tecumseh Sherman. A solider, businessman, and author who served as a General during the Civil War