usma facts
There have been many notable alumnus from the academy,also known as the "Long Grey Line", some of whom are noted below:
Many Alum go into special forces after graduating like Rangers, Airborne, Seals, Green Berets, and countless others.
West Point also has a tradition where if failing a class or have a big midterm the next day cadets will go out at midnight and spin the spur on the monument to Union General John Sedgwick. They have to do this in full parade dress and by tradition if the ghost of Sedgwick catches you then you will fail the class, but if you escape evasion you will pass. A waiver is usually issued for people who are caught although it is against policy to be out of barracks after midnight.
The school song is "On Brave Old Army Team".
The school colors are black, gold, and grey.
The mascot is a mule, but the knight is often seen on the the schools Division I sports teams.
- There have been 3 presidents who have graduated from West Point; Ulysses Grant, Dwight Eisenhower, and Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
- 74 Medal of Honor recipients
- 18 Astronauts, 5 of which have been to the moon.
- 70 Rhodes Scholars.
- 3 Heisman Trophy winners, which is 5th of all schools.
- 3 foreign heads of state; Anastasio Debayle of Nicaruaga, Fidel Ramos of the Phillipines, and Jose Figueres of Costa Rica.
- 34 Generals of major US wars and conflicts including ; Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, William Tecumseh Sherman, Ulysses Grant, Omar Bradley, Douglas MacArthur, George Patton, Creighton Abrams, and Norman Schwarzkopf just to name a few.
- Ironically in 1861 George Armstrong Custer finished last in his class.
- Jim Kimsey, founder of AOL
- Bob McDonald, Procter and Gamble CEO
- Alex Gorsky, Johnson and Johnson CEO
Many Alum go into special forces after graduating like Rangers, Airborne, Seals, Green Berets, and countless others.
West Point also has a tradition where if failing a class or have a big midterm the next day cadets will go out at midnight and spin the spur on the monument to Union General John Sedgwick. They have to do this in full parade dress and by tradition if the ghost of Sedgwick catches you then you will fail the class, but if you escape evasion you will pass. A waiver is usually issued for people who are caught although it is against policy to be out of barracks after midnight.
The school song is "On Brave Old Army Team".
The school colors are black, gold, and grey.
The mascot is a mule, but the knight is often seen on the the schools Division I sports teams.