United States Military Academy, Military academy in West Point, New York, United States.
The United States Military Academy spans approximately 65 square kilometers along the Hudson River, featuring academic buildings, athletic facilities, artillery ranges, and historic landmarks that serve as the primary training ground for future Army officers.
Founded by Thomas Jefferson on March 16, 1802, the academy occupies the longest continuously operated military installation in the United States, having served strategic military purposes since the American Revolutionary War in 1778.
The academy motto is "Duty, Honor, Country," a phrase cadets hear throughout their four years. Graduates are called "The Long Gray Line" after their gray uniforms and the continuous file they form at parades. The first American college to award class rings, West Point began that tradition.
Admission requires congressional nomination, physical fitness examinations, academic assessments, and candidates must be between 17-23 years old, unmarried, and demonstrate good moral character to join approximately 4,000 cadets in the program.
The campus covers about 65 square kilometres, making it one of the largest campuses in the world, and includes an artillery firing range alongside academic buildings. Its visitor centre and museum are open to the public.
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