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

by Robert C. Richardson

“Very good, cadet,” replied the “Tac,” and quite satisfied, left the room, just in time to escape the outburst of laughter that followed this highly intellectual conversation.

To be always under the observation of so many pairs of keen young critical eyes is sufficient to make any officer somewhat self-conscious, and to give a certain kink and twist to his actions. The cadets, like all youth, are merciless in their judgment, sometimes almost cruel. They are ever on the alert for any slip that the “Tac” may make and intolerantly condemn him. But so responsive are the cadets that it would take but a smile, or a word or so bordering on intimacy, to remove all critical feelings and bring about “glad confident morning.” I wonder sometimes why that so seldom happens. I suppose it is because we are all artificial.

Although the Tactical officer is very much occupied with the interior discipline and economy of his company, the greater portion of his time is given over to the military instruction of the cadets. The purpose of this instruction is to familiarize the cadet with the duties and needs of a private in the ranks by practical experience, to impress upon his character the habit of obedience, and to train him in the function of command by repeated exercise.

In order best to accomplish this purpose, the cadets are organized into two battalions of four companies each. This is the present organization, but as soon as the Corps has been increased to the full strength recently organized by Congress, the Commandant intends to make a regiment. Although the Tactical officers command the companies in the sense that they are the supervisors of the discipline and administration, the actual commanding of the companies on the drill ground is entrusted to the cadets. Selected men perform all of the duties of the officers and non-commissioned officers. They are chosen for this honor on account of their good conduct and studious habits, and the soldier-like performance of their duties. They are as strict and conscientious in upholding the Regulations as are the officers themselves. As a matter of truth they are more severe because they seldom take it upon themselves to put any interpretation upon the motive underlying the act. A thing is right or it is wrong. There is no middle line. Whenever any cadet is on duty, he insists that all under him obey implicitly his orders, and should any man be so rash as to disregard his authority, he instantly enters a report against the offender. It would seem that such an action would arouse the resentment of his fellow cadets, but this does not occur, due to the honor system at West Point. Cadets generally recognize that their attitude toward their work must be different from the student at the average educational institution because their duties are all in serious preparation for their future careers.

Of course, there are some men who carry their authority too far when they find themselves in command of their fellows. Sometimes they lack judgment and consequently deserve sympathy; sometimes there are a few men who deliberately try to make an impression upon their superiors at the expense of the men in the ranks. These men who allow their desire for probable advancement to lead them astray are quickly sized up by the Corps, and dubbed “quilloids.” They are usually disliked and made to feel the displeasure of their comrades. In nearly every class there are some of these men who do not see clearly, and who persist, throughout their whole course, in placing false values upon trivialities.

Since the cadets are organized into Infantry battalions, the greatest amount of time is devoted to the work of this arm. There are many reasons why this should be so. The Infantry is the largest branch of the Army, and to it is assigned the greatest percentage of graduates. Infantry drill is the basis of all drills and is the best for inculcating discipline and cohesion among the men. Besides, the Great War in Europe has proven that Infantry is still the Queen of Battle, and that all of the other branches, the Artillery, the Cavalry, the Engineers, the Aviation Corps are but her minions. It is the Infantry that decides the fight.

The practical military instruction of the cadets, although carried on throughout the year, varies in intensity at different periods. In the depth of winter it is impossible to drill out of doors. The Infantry instruction is then suspended, except for the daily class and meal formations. When, however, March 15th rolls around, the Ides of March remember, and the snow leaves the ground, the Corps begins its annual training. Immediately after the dismissal of the sections from recitations at four o’clock, the battalions form in front of barracks for the afternoon drill. Despite the raw March winds that blow across the Plain, chilling one to the marrow, the battalion designated for Infantry drill sets about overcoming the inequalities of marching, the lack of precision in the execution of the manual, raggedness of the movements that have been produced by the long inactivity of the winter. It is at this period that the most scrupulous attention must be paid to the manner of executing the various movements. Every little dereliction is criticized, every mistake is corrected, and every movement repeated until it can be faultlessly performed.

First the companies are drilled alone and then later assembled for a short battalion drill before going back to barracks. Up and down the Plain the companies march, now in column, now in line. The right guides of each company seem to be carrying the burden of the drill as with tense faces they fixedly regard the two points upon which they are directing the march of the company. Meanwhile they are measuring their step by a silent count of “one-two-three-four.” The officers and file closers are attentive and alert, giving a word of caution here and one of reprimand there, as the line crowds in on the left, or, like an accordion, opens out on the right. The plebes in the rear rank are striving to the utmost to keep in step and on the line, and at the same time carry their rifles straight and drag in their chins. The detail and care with which every command must be executed begins to produce a feeling of monotony, and stolen glances seek the clock in the tower. Fifteen more minutes! The hour seems interminable and the wind more and more disagreeable. Finally the hands of the clock roll around to five and the musician appears in the sally-port and sounds the recall.

The next afternoon the second battalion attends close order drill and the first takes its place at extended order. A lighter gayer crowd march forth to this exercise. Here they will have a little chance for individual leadership, the command of a platoon perhaps, or of a squad, or they will enjoy the comparative freedom and independence of the skirmisher. In the early part of the spring course the mechanism of the drill must be rehearsed upon the Plain. The parade ground is therefore dotted with prone and kneeling groups of platoon columns and of squad columns. The blast of the officer’s whistle, the simultaneous outstretching of the squad and platoon leaders’ arms as a signal, and the columns magically deploy into one long line of skirmishers. Once again the blast of the whistle sounds; more signals; bayonets are fixed and squads begin their rushes forward to the delight of the small boys and visitors who line the surrounding walks. Then follows the assembly and the companies do it all over again.

As soon as the mechanism is well learned, the battalion is taken up into the hills and maneuvered over all sorts of ground. Combat problems involving advance guard and outposts are worked out under the direction of the Tactical officer. In these exercises the actual command of the companies is in the hands of the cadets, but the Tactical officer, assisted by other officers, directs the drill. The cadets detailed for this drill called Field Training are assembled in front of the old gymnasium where the officer outlines the problem and gives the men a talk on the principles that are involved. Each man is made to understand just what he must do before he starts out and must know the general principles to be applied in cases that arise. A situation is assumed where the cadets are a force in the country of the enemy. They are to form, we will say, the advance guard of their regiment. The instructor gives to the cadets who are to command all information that he has of his own forces and of those of the enemy and he points out to the young commanders what is to be accomplished. The cadet officers are then called upon to communicate to the men under them the instructions that, in their opinion, are necessary to accomplish the mission. The officer stands near to make suggestions and corrections, or to point out errors of judgment. As soon as all understand what they are to do the command moves out to work out the problem.