Cadets at West Point
Quoting text from the 1956 edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica
A candidate for cadetship must be a citizen of the United States, must be between 17 and 22 years of age and must never have been married. Each candidate must take three types of examination: medical, mental and physical aptitude.
Under the act of congress approved June 3, 1942, the authorized strength of the corps of cadets was set at 2,496 cadets, appointed as follows: 8 from each state at large (senatorial); 4 from each congressional district; 4 from each territory (Hawaii and Alaska) ; 6 from the District of Columbia; 4 from Puerto Rico; 2 from the Canal Zone; 172 from the United States at large; and 180 from among the enlisted men of the regular and reserve components of the army and the air force. An act of congress approved June 30, 1950, provided that, when on the date of admission of a new class the total number of cadets was below the strength authorized, the secretary of the army might bring the corps of cadets to full strength by appointing qualified alternates and candidates recommended by the academic board. In addition to the 2,496 mentioned above, the secretary of the army was authorized to permit no more than four Filipinos, to be designated by the president of the Republic of the Philippines, to receive instruction at the United States Military academy. The president of the United States was authorized to permit no more than 20 persons from Latin-American republics or Canada to receive instruction at the academy. These foreign cadets, however, would not be entitled by reason of their graduation to appointment in the United States armed forces.
Upon admission to the Military academy, each cadet takes an oath of allegiance and agrees to serve in the armed forces of the United States for not less than three years from the date of his graduation unless sooner discharged by competent authority.
The normal course at the Military academy is four years. All cadets receive the same military training and pursue the same academic course. The academic year lasts from September to May inclusive. The course is primarily mathematical and scientific in. nature but includes sufficient cultural material to provide a well-rounded education. Approximately 40% of the course is devoted to the humanities and 60% to scientific and technical subjects. The academic course is rigorously thorough rather than extremely difficult. The degree of bachelor of science is awarded upon graduation.
During the months of June, July and August, each class receives one month's leave. The remaining two months are devoted to military training. The third class (sophomores) receive extensive combat training at the training areas on the academy reservation. The second and first classes (juniors and seniors) obtain supplementary instruction at other army and air force training centres. The second class also takes part in joint amphibious manoeuvres with the midshipmen from the United States Naval academy, Annapolis, Md. First classmen serve as instructors for the new fourth class (freshmen), which enters the academy in July; they also assist in training the third class.
