Cadet Life at West Point

by Hugh T. Reed

APPOINTMENTS.

HOW MADE.—Each Congressional District and Territory—the District of Columbia and also Porto Rico—is entitled to have one cadet at the Academy. Each State is also entitled to have two cadets from the State at large, and forty are allowed from the United States at large. The law, however, provides that for six years from July 1, 1910, whenever any cadet shall have finished three years of his course at the Academy his successor may be admitted. The appointment from a Congressional District is made upon the recommendation of the Representative in Congress from that District, and those from a State at large upon the recommendations of the Senators of the State. Similarly the appointment from a Territory is made upon the recommendation of the Delegate in Congress. The appointment from the District of Columbia is made on the recommendation of the Commissioners of the District. Each person appointed must be an actual resident of the State, District or Territory from which the appointment is made.

The appointments from the United States at large are made by the President of the United States upon his own selection. The cadet from Porto Rico, who must be a native of that island, is appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Resident Commissioner.

The Secretary of War is authorized to permit not exceeding four Filipinos, to be designated, one for each class, by the Philippine Commission, to receive instruction at the United States Military Academy at West Point: Provided, That the Filipinos undergoing instruction shall receive the same pay, allowances, and emoluments as are authorized by law for cadets at the Military Academy appointed from the United States, to be paid out of the same appropriations: And provided further, That said Filipinos undergoing instruction on graduation shall be eligible only to commissions in the Philippine Scouts. And the provisions of section 1321, Revised Statutes, are modified in the case of the Filipinos undergoing instruction, so as to require them to engage to serve for eight years, unless sooner discharged, in the Philippine Scouts.

DATE OF APPOINTMENTS.—Appointments are required by law to be made one year in advance of the date of admission, except in cases where, by reason of death or other cause, a vacancy occurs which cannot be provided for by such appointment in advance. These vacancies are filled in time for the next examination.

ALTERNATES.—For each candidate appointed there should be nominated two alternates. The principal and each alternate will receive from the War Department a letter of appointment, and must appear for examination at the time and place therein designated.[67] The fitness for admission to the Academy of the principal and alternates will be determined as prescribed in paragraphs 19 and 20, Regulations U. S. Military Academy. If the principal fails to qualify, either mentally or physically, then the qualifications of the alternates will be considered and if only one has met the requirements he will be admitted; if both alternates have met the requirements the better qualified will be admitted. The alternates, like the principal, should be designated one year in advance of the date of admission.

EXAMINATION AND ADMISSION OF CANDIDATES.[68]

The following are extracts from the Regulations of the Military Academy relating to the examination of candidates for admission and will be strictly adhered to:

19. On the second Tuesday in January of each year candidates selected for appointment (except the Filipino candidates) shall appear for mental and physical examination before boards of Army officers to be convened at such places as the War Department may designate. The Filipino candidates selected for appointment, unless otherwise notified by the War Department, shall appear for mental and physical examination on the second Tuesday in October of each year before a board of Army officers to be convened at such place in the Philippine Islands as the Commanding General of the Philippine Division may designate. Candidates who pass will be admitted to the Academy without further examination upon reporting in person to the Superintendent before 12 o’clock noon, on the 1st day of March following the examination.

20. Each candidate before admission to the academy must show by examination as prescribed in paragraph 19, that he is well versed in algebra, to include quadratic equations and progressions, plane geometry, English grammar, composition and literature, descriptive and physical geography, and general and United States history, as explained in the circulars of notification. No rejected candidate shall be re-examined, except upon recommendation of the Academic Board.

22. Immediately after reporting to the Superintendent for admission, and before receiving his warrant of appointment, the candidate is required to sign an engagement for service in the following form, and in the presence of the Superintendent, or of some officer deputed by him:

“I, ________, of the State (or Territory) of ____, aged ____ years ____ months, do hereby engage (with the consent of my parent or guardian) that, from the date of my admission as a Cadet of the United States Military Academy, I will serve in the Army of the United States for eight years, unless sooner discharged by competent authority.”

In the presence of ________.

The candidate is then required to take and subscribe an oath or affirmation in the following form:

“I, ________, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and bear true allegiance to the National Government: that I will maintain and defend the sovereignty of the United States, paramount to any and all allegiance, sovereignty, or fealty I may owe to any State or country whatsoever; and that I will at all times obey the legal orders of my superior officers, and the rules and articles governing the armies of the United States.”

Sworn and subscribed, at ____, this ____ day of ____, nineteen hundred and ____ before me. ________

QUALIFICATIONS.—No candidate shall be admitted who is under seventeen, or over twenty-two years of age, or less than five feet four inches in height at the age of seventeen, or five feet five inches in height at the age of eighteen and upward, or who is deformed, or afflicted with any disease or infirmity which would render him unfit for the military service, or who has, at the time of presenting himself, any disorder of an infectious or immoral character. Candidates must be unmarried.

Each candidate must on reporting at West Point present a certificate showing successful vaccination within one year; or a certificate of two vaccinations, made at least a month apart, within three months.

Note.—Candidates are eligible for admission from the day they are seventeen until the day they become twenty-two years of age, on which latter day they are not eligible.

It is suggested to all candidates for admission to the Military Academy that, before leaving their places of residence for the place of examination, they should cause themselves to be thoroughly examined by a competent physician, and by a teacher or instructor in good standing. By such examinations any serious physical disqualification or deficiency in mental preparation would be revealed.

It should be understood that the informal examination herein recommended is solely for the convenience and benefit of the candidate himself, and can in no manner affect the decision of the Academic and Medical Examining Boards.