| West Point exists to educate and train Cadets who | | | | ordnance, intelligence, aviation, etc.) I would go to the |
| are commissioned as Officers in the US Army upon | | | | Army's web site and check it out thoroughly. |
| Graduation. The commitment is for a total of 8 years, | | | | As for percentage rates for West Point, there are |
| 5 of which are on active duty and 3 in the Reserves if | | | | two interesting numbers. The first is the percentage |
| you choose not to continue on active duty. A very | | | | rate of acceptance of offers of admission. In recent |
| few graduates may select commissioning in other | | | | years (since 9/11) the percentage rate has been |
| services, primarily where one of their parents has | | | | steady at about 85%. That is the highest acceptance |
| served a career in another service. | | | | rate of any college or university in the nation, topping |
| The primary options for Army service are the choice | | | | Harvard, Princeton and all the rest. This says that |
| of branch of service. You choose that at the beginning | | | | those who apply to West Point know what they are |
| of your senior year. What are your army career | | | | doing and are very serious about it. |
| options? After graduating from West Point, you will be | | | | The second percentage rate of interest is the |
| commissioned in one of several Army branches. You | | | | graduation rate. In recent years the graduation rate has |
| may want a combat arms branch such as Infantry, | | | | held steady between 75% and 80% of those who |
| Field Artillery, Armor, Air Defense Artillery, Aviation or | | | | enter graduate, in four years. The national average is |
| Combat Engineers. You also may choose a combat | | | | 50% in SIX years. |
| support branch such as Signal, Military Police, Chemical | | | | If you chose not to stay beyond your five year active |
| or Military Intelligence. | | | | duty commitment the world is open to you. |
| You may also want to choose one of the combat | | | | Experienced young Army officers are in great |
| service support branches such as Ordnance, | | | | demand everywhere in our business world and they |
| Quartermaster, Transportation, Adjutant General or | | | | have no problems supporting themselves or their |
| Finance. Opportunities are also available for the | | | | families. |
| Medical Service Corps or the Judge Advocate | | | | Finally, to answer your question about the potential for |
| General Corps later in your service career. You will | | | | playing a professional sport following graduation. The |
| advance to positions of greater responsibility in each | | | | Department of Defense has recently adopted a policy |
| branch based on your abilities. | | | | where a small number of Service Academy |
| West Point is looking for well rounded young men and | | | | Graduates (not just West Point) to be released early |
| women who want to serve as commissioned officers | | | | from their active duty obligation to play professional |
| in the US Army. By well rounded I mean good | | | | sports. They do have to pay back the cost of their |
| students, good athletes, and good leaders. The focus is | | | | education (several hundred thousand $$) and serve in |
| on service in the Army rather than on the college | | | | the Army Reserves in a recruiting role, but today there |
| education part. | | | | is a viable option for elite level athletes. |
| Now to answer your specific questions. Commissioned | | | | If you work for what you want then some day you will |
| officers serve as leaders of the wonderful young men | | | | get it and when you do you will look back on your |
| and women in our Army today. The military is | | | | days at West Point and thank them for giving you the |
| organized into branches of service that are either | | | | change to become something better to do something |
| directly involved on the front lines (infantry, armor, field | | | | better with you life. |
| artillery, etc) or operate in support roles (signal, | | | | |