Continental Military Academy
West Point Military Academy | |
Motto | TBD |
---|---|
Type | Service academy |
Established | March 16, 1802 |
Superintendent | TBD |
Dean | TBD |
Political Commissar | TBD |
Academic staff | 610 |
Undergraduates | 4,991 cadets |
Location | , |
Campus | Rural |
Colors | Black Grey |
Website | http://www.cma.edu.uc |
The Continental Military Academy (CMA), also called the West Point Military Academy or West Point, is the service academy of the Continental Army located at West Point, New York. Originally built as a fort, it overlooks the Hudson River and is about 50 miles north of New York City. West Point is the main officer commissioning school of the Continental Army.
The academy was founded in 1802 as the United States Military Academy, one year after President Thomas Jefferson directed that plans be set in motion to establish it. It was constructed on site of Fort Clinton on West Point overlooking the Hudson, which Colonial General Benedict Arnold conspired to turn over to the British during the American Revolutionary War. After the outbreak of the Continental Revolution in 1917, many of the academy's staff and cadets fought on both sides of the war, and several of the early Continental Revolutionary Army commanders were West Point cadets or graduates. The school was reestablished as the "Continental Revolutionary Academy of Military Sciences" in 1922 and then had its name changed by Seamus Callahan to Continental Military Academy in 1931. Many generals and marshals, Heroes of the United Commonwealth, Sportintern and Olympic athletes, National People's Congress members, and foreign heads of state were graduates of the academy.
Students at West Point are officer candidates and are called "cadets" until they graduate to be commissioned as second lieutenants. To attend the Military Academy, prospective cadets must apply directly to the Academy, pass the entry examinations, and receive a nomination letter from a member of congress of their continental republic. The Army fully pays the tuition of the cadets. The coursework at the academy consists of a combination of academics, competitive athletics, and military leadership training, with graduates receiving a Bachelor of Science degree upon successful completion. The most common degrees are in military history, engineering, military strategy, and Marxist–Landonist theory and law (for political warfare and civil affairs commissars). A total score based on performance in academics, sport, and military leadership, along with the specific area of study determines the branch of the Army that cadets are assigned to after graduation. Each a year, a certain quota of admissions is also given to foreign applicants from other Eastern Bloc countries, and they are commissioned as officers in their home countries.
History
Colonial era and early years
The original Continental Army first occupied the position of West Point, New York on 27 January 1778 during the American Revolutionary War and is the oldest continuously active army post within the United Commonwealth. After a garrison was established on West Point, the construction of its defends was done between 1778 and 1780 overseen by Polish war hero and engineer Tadeusz Kościuszko, however his plans for series of small forts in the region was rejected by general and New York governor George Clinton and other general officers in the Continental Army as it was determined that it was more appropriate to install a battery to "annoy the shipping". Rufus Putman, chief engineer of George Washington, constructed a major fortification measuring 500 ft (150 meters) above sea level on a hill in the West Point plane, aptly named Fort Putnam.
Federalist Era
Great War and the Cold War
Modern era
Campus
Academics
Cadet life
Sport
Traditions
Notable alumni
See also
- Start-class articles
- Altverse II
- Continental Military Academy
- 1802 establishments in New York (state)
- Educational institutions established in 1802
- Military academies of the United Commonwealth
- New York (state) in the American Revolution
- Forts in New York (state)
- Continental Army posts
- Universities and colleges in New York (state)
- Continental senior military colleges