West Point / An Intimate Picture of the National Military Academy and of the Life of the Cadet

by Robert C. Richardson

The boxing room on winter afternoons presents a warm and pleasing contrast to the cold and snow outside. The mats are covered with agile forms in black jersey tights wriggling and squirming, the perspiration rolling off the wrestlers as they endeavor to grind the shoulders of their opponents to the mat. All men receive instruction in wrestling in class, but like the other sports, its devotees must repair for extra instruction to Mr. Jenkins during recreation hours. It is in this time that men practice for their class teams, one for each of the following weights: unlimited, heavy, light heavy, middle, welter, light, and feather. The four class teams meet each other successively to wrestle for the class championship. There is besides a contest for the individual championship, the final bouts which take place publicly at the Annual Indoor Meet.

Prior to the resumption of the afternoon military drills in March, the cadets hold their annual gymnastic event called the Indoor Meet. The contests, which are held with great ceremony in the Gymnasium, include races, pole climbing, work on horizontal bars and parallel bars, long and short horse, rings both stationary and flying, and the tug of war between the classes.

Each class enters so many men for each event, and for the awards of first, second, or third, the contestant receives a designated number of points. The class receiving the greatest total wins the meet. This athletic event is a very fitting way to end the winter course, for it offers an opportunity to those men who have labored faithfully during the winter afternoons to reap the reward of their efforts. It also is an incentive for better work because of the spirit of competition. The Athletic Association upon this occasion, presents sabers, both to the captain of the football team and to that member of the First Class who during his cadet career has done the most for athletics. It is a very proud night for these young men as they walk forward to receive the coveted saber, the first part of their officer’s equipment.

There is great rivalry among the classes during the events. The four corners of the room are filled with the members of each class, who yell like demons to encourage their representatives. Almost every minute the air is filled with shrieks and yells of excited cadets whose “Zis-boom-ahs!” “Rah! Rah! Rahs!” “1917! 1918!!...” are hurled at one another to the delight and amusement of the spectators, young and old, hanging over the iron railing of the gallery.

The courses in gymnastics, wrestling, and boxing, increase in difficulty according to the class, so that the Third and Second Classmen pursue a more advanced course than the plebes. When, however, the cadets become First Classmen, emphasis is laid upon the theories of physical training with the object of preparing these “near officers” for their duties as instructors in the service. The needs of the Army are carefully considered in the training of the last year in order to send out from West Point men who can at once take hold of a group of recruits and whip them into good physical shape, according to the most intelligent methods.

Unfortunately, the setting-up exercises in the Army are only spasmodically taught. There is very little uniformity in the method, despite the excellent manual with which the troops are provided.

West Point is at present making an effort to influence the Service to a better appreciation of the results to be derived from regular drill in setting-up exercises. To this end, the First Classmen are taught to act as instructors, and are grounded not only in actual practice but in theory. Every year extra classes are held to develop good instructors for the coming summer camps, and for future service in the Army. It is to be hoped that commanding officers will make good use of these enthusiastic young teachers.

Although the control of athletics at the Academy is not under the gymnasium authorities, still it is fitting to speak of the sports in this chapter. The Academy has its football, baseball, basketball, and hockey teams, and in addition the cadets play golf, polo, and tennis. There is little in the training or conduct of these teams that differs from other educational institutions, except the question of time allowed for preparation. It has always been the rule at West Point that no inroads shall be permitted upon the Academic course to aid the development of any athletic team. Consequently, what practice the teams get must be during recreation hours. The only concessions made are supper a half-hour later for the football men, and exemptions twice a week from parade for the baseball men. Athletics receive, however, the greatest support and encouragement from the authorities, whose aim is, however, not to develop a few good men or an excellent team in any one sport, but to seek a good average.

Every cadet is urged to join in some form of athletics instead of remaining in his dress coat along the side lines as an interested spectator. The efforts made in this direction have received a warm response from the cadet body, so that during recreation hours the Plain presents a busy scene of cadet activities. The green parade ground is dotted with the golfers in gray shirts and white trousers; the tennis courts are filled with animated figures; groups of happy cadets ride by on horseback for a gallop in the woods, while others prefer the more sedate hiking in the surrounding hills. It is a great temptation after the recitations and drills to be lazy, hang around one’s room, or “bone fiction” which means reading novels, but in recent years the men have become more and more sensible of the many advantages offered them during their cadet days, and a new spirit of carpe diem has come over the Corps.