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The Cadets of West Point web site is designed to help high school students, serving soldiers and others learn about today's West Point Cadets.
This effort began in 1999 and was originally created to promote closer relationships between West Point alumni and current cadets. A secondary purpose was to help inform high school students and guidance counselors. As more cadets chose to participate, support was solicited from West Point Admissions and the Cadet Public Relations Council (CPRC). An informal survey of CPRC cadets revealed that cadets endorsed the idea of continuing this effort. The Admissions office informed me that participation by individual cadets must be voluntary since West Point cannot release personal information about individual cadets.
Hopefully this site is a valuable resource for West Point's Admissions Field Force, members of Congress and their staffs, high school guidance counselors, Army recruiters, cadet families, West Point Alumni, West Point Societies, veterans and the cadets themselves.
For the Admissions Field Force, Cadet Public Relations Council, West Point Societies and West Point Parents Clubs, a slide show is available for use at local gatherings of high school students, Founders Day Dinners and Parents Club activities.
Much of the content on this site is available in the public media (newspapers, congressional records, varsity team rosters, other web sites, etc), however personal information is not displayed unless cadets specifically agree to have it displayed. Most, but not all, include information about their:
- High school activities and achievements
- Academic major or Field of Study
- Military Awards
- Cadet Awards
- Extra-curricular activities
- Varsity Sports
- Branch preference
- USMA Prep School attendance
- Prior Service
- General Comments
- Photo*
- Email connection
- Cadet photo
- Class crest & motto
* Note: Most cadet photos are courtesy of Academy Photo.
Since many visitors may not be familiar with military and cadet awards, award images are linked to information about what those awards mean. Each class crest is also linked to a page telling the meaning of that crest. For international cadets there are links to maps showing their country's geographical location.
Following Branching Night each November, all First Classmen are asked to let me know their branches. An an image of the cadet's branch insignia is then put directly below the cadet's name and linked to information about that branch.
Upon graduation all graduated cadets are immediately removed from the site. Because of the cadets? busy schedules, I try to limit correspondence to only a few messages each semester. When an email message is returned as undeliverable, I assume that the cadet is no longer at West Point and I remove him or her from the site.
Since 2003 there have been more than 150,000 new visitors to the site.
No matter how effective West Point's Admissions Field Force is, nothing can really substitute for direct contact with West Point's best ambassadors ? today's cadets. As more of our nation's youth discover these outstanding young men and women, we hope to see an increasing number of qualified applicants pursuing a West Point appointment.
As webmaster I assume full responsibility for the content of this site.
Note: Each year I create a memo to new cadet parents informing them of this site and asking for their help. The memo may be viewed here.
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