Ten Things You Didn't Know About West Point

President Obama recently made his national speech to justify sending additional soldiers to Afghanistan. He decided to hold the speech at the elite United States Military Academy at West Point, or USMA. Many are aware of West Point's prestige for providing the world's best military training since the early days of our nation's history. I have uncovered a few other notable facts about West Point that you may have forgotten and/or that may surprise you:

1) George Washington considered West Point to be the most strategic military location in America. He ordered its fortification in 1778 ¹. It is located approximately 50 miles above New York City on the Hudson River ² .

2) West Point is the oldest American military post to be continuously occupied, now for over 230 years ¹ .

3) West Point Military Academy was established in 1802 under President Thomas Jefferson. West Point was the first engineering school in the United States. It's distinguished civil engineering graduates went on to build the infrastructure-railroads, bridges, canals, etc. to propel the United States into the industrial age ^1.

4) West Point alumni are known as "The Long Gray Line ³." During the Civil War, leaders on both sides of the conflict were notable members of "The Long Gray Line." Graduates who fought for the Union included: Sherman (class of 1840), Ulysses S. Grant (class of 1843), McClellan (class of 1846), and Custer (class of 1861). Graduates who took the Confederate side included: Jefferson Davis (President of the Confederate States- class of 1828), Lee (class of 1829), Beauregard (class of 1838), and Jackson (class of 1846) ² .

5) African-American men were first allowed to join the ranks of the academy in 1870. Henry O. Flipper was the first African-American man to graduate from West Point in 1877 ³.

6) Women were officially allowed to join the ranks of the academy in 1976. Andrea Lee Hollen was the first woman cadet of 62 to graduate from West Point in 1980 ^1,3 .

7) In 1938, West Point sold four acres to the United States government for the purpose of erecting a U.S. silver depository, like the gold depository established at Fort Knox. The silver depository at West Point minted its first coin, a penny, during 1973. It did not officially become West Point Mint until 1988 ⁴ .

8) Applicants to West Point, whether civilian or soldier, must be at least 17 years old and no older than 22 years old on July 1^st of the admission year . In addition, you must be unmarried with no dependents. Therefore, divorcees with kids are excluded. Also, pregnant women are excluded, as well ¹ .

9) Once accepted, a West Point cadet who is a United States citizen is trained and educated at no personal out-of-pocket expense. Also, each cadet receives a monthly stipend for supplies and living expenses. The value of a West Point education per cadet was approximately $ 540,000 as of January 2009 ⁵ .

10) West Point does accept up to 15 cadet applicants from foreign countries per year. The expense of attending this prestigious American institution must be paid by the foreign country ¹ .

Sources:

1. "United States Military Academy at West Point," usma.edu.

2. "West Point in the Making of America," americanhistory.si.edu/westpoint/history_0.html.

3. "United States Military Academy," en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Military_Academy.

4. "H.I.P. Pocket Change™ Web Site - The United States Mint at West Point," usmint.gov/Kids/coinNews/mintFacilities/swf/.

5. "West Point Soldier Admissions Program Information Paper," January 26, 2009, usma.edu.