WEST POINT BENEFITS – April 18, 2009

WEST POINT, N.Y. – In addition to the contributions of our illustrious graduates, the United States Military Academy provides the nation with tangible benefits every year:

• One thousand second lieutenants with a 5-year active duty commitment, longer than any other commissioning source, and an additional 3 years on active duty or in the reserve.

• Sixty percent of Army officers with hard science degrees—skills that our technological military needs.
  

• Hundreds of ROTC accessions as a result of information our admissions office shares with the U.S. Army Accessions Command. Furthermore, of the 1,000 lieutenants we commission annually, some indicate they would not have joined the Army through any other route than West Point. Thus, there is a clear net increase to the number of Army officer accessions because of the Academy. 

• We also help train ROTC cadets here in the summer, and this weekend ROTC cadets are here competing in our annual Sandhurst military skills competition.

• West Point produces an annual “second graduating class” of more than 100 mid-grade officers, who after teaching here for 2-3 years reenter the operational force better prepared for operational and strategic missions.

• Our cadets, faculty and staff directly support the war effort:
• The Center for Company Level Leaders is a catalyst for members of the profession to connect, to engage with each other, and to advance the profession. CCL develops and operates professional forums and otherwise connects leaders across the Army in conversation about leading and growing combat-effective teams—these online conversations have helped literally thousands of Army leaders fight better and have surely saved hundreds of lives. The CCL also provides the Army with research on leader development and organizational learning. 
• The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point contributes relevant scholarly perspectives through education, research and policy analysis to combat terrorist threats to the United States. They develop curriculum, produce theoretically informed studies, and craft relevant policy recommendations. Through the generosity of Vincent Viola, a 1977 graduate of West Point, the Center was officially launched in February 2003 within the Department of Social Sciences here.
• Since the National Military Academy of Afghanistan was established in 2003, we have deployed more than 60 volunteer staff and faculty “mentors” to assist the Afghan National Army in standing-up this four year degree-producing institution based on the West Point model.
• We continue to routinely deploy staff and faculty members to Iraq and Afghanistan. Examples of this work includes senior policy support to the Multi-National Force-Iraq transition team; direct support and guidance to 173rd Infantry Brigade (Airborne) operations in Afghanistan seeking to stimulate the Afghan economy through small business grants; and mission in Iraq to research and assess combat stress.

• The Army Center of Excellence for the Professional Military Ethic here is formalizing education programs aimed at bolstering the moral and ethical foundations of military service.

• The West Point Center for Oral History is an oral history archive of the story of the American Soldier, in both war and peace, which will be an important research center for historians and the general public.

• The West Point Bridge Design Contest consistently promotes math, science, and technology education in the U.S. and supports the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. The WPBDC is self-funded through annual donations. 

• Every year 500,000 people visit West Point and millions view West Point sporting events in person as well as on television, radio, and the Internet, which helps to positively educate the general public about the Army.

• Our Keller Army Community Hospital is home to an Army Warrior Transition Unit that assists wounded Soldiers throughout the Northeast.

• Just last month, Gen. (Ret.) Frederick Franks (USMA ’59) briefed the Army senior leadership on our strategic and tactical recommendations for changes to the Physical Disability Evaluation System that will help all wounded and injured Soldiers and save the country money.

About West Point
West Point, The U.S. Military Academy, is a four-year co-educational federal undergraduate liberal arts college located 50 miles north of New York City. The world's preeminent leader development institution, it was founded in 1802 as America's first college of engineering. Its mission remains constant-to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the Nation as an officer in the United States Army. For more information, go to www.westpoint.edu