United States Military Academy

The United States Military Academy at West Point (also known as West Point, USMA, Army (athletic teams)) is a university that teaches students to become officers in the US Army. Students are called "cadets" and are subject to military rules while studying subjects like engineering and military science for four years. For many years, West Point only taught men, but in 1976 West Point admitted its first female cadets.^[5][6] Women currently comprise approximately 15% of entering new cadets.^[7]

United States Military Academy

Motto	Duty • Honor • Country
Type	U.S. Service Academy
Established	16 March 1802[1]
Superintendent	LTG Darryl A. Williams USMA Class of 1983
Dean	BG Cindy Jebb USMA Class of 1982
Commandant	BG Steven Gilland USMA Class of 1990[2]
Academic staff	580
Students	4,294 cadets[3]
Location	West Point , New York , U.S.
Campus	Rural – 16,080 acres (6,507.3 ha)
Fight song	On Brave Old Army Team
Colors	Black and Gold[4]
Nickname	Black Knights
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I – PL The American, AHA, CSFL, EIGL, EIWA
Mascot	Mule
Website	westpoint.edu
United States Military Academy
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Coordinates	41°23′35″N 73°57′29″W
NRHP reference No.	66000562
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	1966
Designated NHL	19 December 1960

Military officers compose 75% of the faculty. Civilian professors make up the remaining 25% of faculty positions.^[8]

Congress formally authorized and funded West Point on 16 March 1802.^[1] West Point was so successful, that military academies were added later for the Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force.

West Point was originally a Fort. The Continental Army used it to guard the Hudson River. General Benedict Arnold tried to betray it.

Sports

West Point has a very broad sports program. All of its students are required to compete in at least one sport, either at the intramural (i.e., within the school) or intercollegiate (i.e., against other schools) level, in every semester.

The Army intercollegiate sports teams are nicknamed "Black Knights". Most Army teams play in the Patriot League. The football team plays at the highest level, known as Division I FBS, in the American Athletic Conference. The men's ice hockey team plays in Atlantic Hockey America.