The United States Military Academy at West Point is known as "the cradle of American generals". Many famous American soldiers, such as Grant, robert lee, Eisenhower, Barton, MacArthur and Bradley, are graduates of this school. Many anecdotes of these celebrities in their school days are still talked about by West Point people. ...
About 50 miles north of new york, on the picturesque west bank of Hudson Valley, there is a large building complex made of gray granite stones, which is inlaid with several green lawns of different sizes and several lifelike bronze statues. From time to time, there will be rows of teams in gray uniforms or camouflage uniforms, singing military songs and marching in neat steps. This is the famous American Military Academy at West Point. This year coincides with the 200th anniversary of the founding of West Point Military Academy. A few days ago, the new york Foreign Journalists Center under the State Council organized some foreign journalists to visit this famous military school, which is known as the cradle of American generals.
Military strategist's West Point Military Academy.
The official name of West Point Military Academy is American Military Academy. Because it is located in West Point Town, Orange County, on the west bank of Hudson River in northern new york, it is also called West Point Military Academy or West Point.
West Point Military Academy, where West Point Military Academy is located, was once an important military fortress in the American Revolutionary War. According to Dr. Stivin Grove, who studies the history of West Point Military Academy, West Point has always been a battleground for military strategists. This is mainly because the Hudson River is "S" shaped when it passes through West Point, and the bend is very steep, so the large ships passing by must slow down, and the invading enemy ships are also vulnerable to attack because of slowing down. More importantly, the highland on the west bank of the river has a commanding control function. If a military fortress is built here, it is equivalent to "one person defends it, and ten thousand people cannot do it." General George Washington, commander of the Continental Army at that time, believed that West Point was the most strategic position in the United States and was "a key to open the United States". In view of this, 1778, Washington invited Colonel Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a Polish hero who had participated in the Battle of Saratoga, to help design the military fortress of West Point Military Academy. After some investigation, Koshuzko established the 14 stronghold here to control rivers and defend against amphibious attacks. Each stronghold echoes and supports each other, forming a reasonable and effective defense system. If the British attack by boat, it is tantamount to a trap. Even today, its design idea is still considered to have modern consciousness. In memory of this Polish, the West Point Military Academy also made a statue for him at 1828. Today, Poles still look down on the winding Hudson River. Washington himself moved his headquarters to West Point on 1779. In fact, West Point Fortress has been a military facility used by the United States and an important part of West Point Military Academy since it was stationed in 17781October 20th.
Strict admission requirements
On March 1802 and 16, Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States and the main drafter of the Declaration of Independence, signed a congressional decree announcing the establishment of the "American Military Academy" at West Point Military Academy. West Point Military Academy is the earliest military academy established in the United States. Its first president was Jonathan Wilhelms, the grandson of Benjamin Franklin, a famous American politician and scientist. However, it was Colonel silvanus Thayer, the president from 18 17 to 1833 who was honored as the "father of West Point Military Academy". Because it was during his tenure that he improved the academic level of West Point Military Academy, strictly enforced military discipline, and emphasized honesty and integrity. He also advocates Thayer's teaching method, that is, teaching in small classes, taught by tutors who are familiar with professional knowledge, and students and tutors discuss courses every day. This method is still widely used in West Point Military Academy.
In the past 200 years, West Point Military Academy has grown from a small school with only 1.800 mu when it was founded, with only two students graduating in the first phase, to a prestigious school with an area of 1.600 mu and more than 900 male and female students graduating every year, which has become a place that many young Americans yearn for. Today, the mission of this prestigious school is to educate, train and motivate students, so that every student can become an active officer who abides by the values of "duty, honor, country" and "noble morality"; Train students to become outstanding military talents who take American army officers as their career development and serve the country for life. Correspondingly, West Point also has its own strict admission conditions and standards. According to the admissions officer of West Point Military Academy, the enrollment target of West Point must be unmarried high school graduates aged 17-22 or military personnel with equivalent education, recommended by senior government officials (such as vice presidents or members of Congress or senior officials of the War Department), and selected after examination and physical examination. The examination scope includes academic aptitude test, physical education and so on. The academic system of West Point is four years. Courses are divided into liberal arts, science, engineering, military science and physical education, and field military training is conducted every summer (June-August). However, Dr. Ken Grace, vice president of West Point Military Academy, added that after the "9. 1 1" terrorist attack, the school increased and adjusted some majors and courses in time, including counter-terrorism, cyber terrorism, conflict resolution, information security, international law, legal comparison, international security research, nuclear engineering and chemical engineering, and introduced experts in international law and Islamic law.
West Point Military Academy began to recruit female cadets from 1976, and now the total number of cadets is 4,000, and about 1 200 new cadets are recruited every July1day. The main color of school uniforms is gray, which was determined as early as 18 16. Therefore, the students' team is also called "long gray queue". After graduation, students are awarded the ranks of Bachelor of Science and Second Lieutenant, and generally must serve in active service for at least 5 years.
Cultivate "capable" generals.
Since 1898 West Point Military Academy officially defined "duty, honor and country" as its motto, West Point Military Academy has paid special attention to the cultivation of students' moral character. They have repeatedly stressed that it is not enough to train * * * at West Point Military Academy, only * * * talents with "high moral character". To this end, students are instilled with the basic values of West Point Military Academy from the first day of enrollment, that is, integrity and respect for the dignity of others. The Code of Honor for Students clearly stipulates that "students shall not lie, cheat or steal, and shall not tolerate the above-mentioned behaviors of others". Lieutenant Colonel James Willi, director of the Public Relations Department of West Point Military Academy, said, for example, if students don't explain some quoted viewpoints and words in footnotes when writing papers, once they are found, they will be severely criticized, and in severe cases, they will be ordered to drop out of school. As for respecting others, West Point Military Academy warns every student that if you want to be respected by others, you must treat others with the same respect and dignity.
In a two-day interview at West Point Military Academy, the reporter was deeply touched by this. In Bucknall Training Camp of West Point Military Academy, senior students are conducting field training courses for junior students. This is the tradition of West Point Military Academy, which aims to cultivate students' leadership ability. On the obstacle training ground, whenever junior students make mistakes because they don't master the essentials of action, they get not criticism, scolding or dismissive ridicule, but encouraging applause and such things as "Come on! You can do it! " Encourage. In this atmosphere, the junior students not only completed their movements, but also enhanced their self-confidence, which is also one of the main purposes of field training at West Point.
I can't find General Barton in the library.
West Point Military Academy is known as "the cradle of American generals". Grant, robert lee, Eisenhower, Barton, MacArthur, Bradley and many other American famous soldiers are graduates of this school. Many anecdotes of these celebrities in their school days are still talked about by West Point people.
During the American Civil War, about 400 generals from the North and the South graduated from West Point Military Academy. The most famous of them are General hiram grant who commanded the Union Army and General Robert Lee who led the Southern Army. These two former classmates and alumni became rivals on the battlefield because they were both their own masters. As a result, Glenn's stunts were superb, and finally General Li was forced to bow down.
General Patton, a world war II star, is also a graduate of West Point Military Academy. Because of his rigorous style of work, brave combat, and good at capturing fighters and expanding the results, he is known as the "General of Blood and Gallbladder". But Barton's academic performance in school is not flattering, because it took him five years to graduate from West Point Military Academy, which is more than the students in the same period 1 year. Once, a reporter asked him why, and Barton replied humorously that he didn't find the school library when he was studying. In this regard, West Point people answered and commemorated this 1909 graduate with their own humor. 1950, they erected a statue of General Barton opposite the school library, wearing a helmet, military uniform and holding a telescope. Moral humor: can't you find a library? Now let you stand opposite the library with a telescope in your hand, and you can always find it!
It is said that MacArthur, a five-star general, and his mother spent four years at West Point Military Academy. When MacArthur's mother sent MacArthur to the West Point Military Academy, she camped at the West Point Hotel opposite the student dormitory. Every morning, she gets up with a wake-up call to watch her son do morning exercises, and she doesn't rest until the lights in her son's dormitory go out at night. She stayed with her for four years. MacArthur, on the other hand, often sneaked into his mother's house in the dead of night to have a rare sumptuous meal. Poverty inherits the wind! MacArthur later became the president of West Point Military Academy 19 19 to 1922. During his tenure, the proportion of physical education class in all courses has increased, reaching 15%.
I don't think China is a threat.
The Foreign Languages Department of West Point Military Academy offers seven foreign language courses, namely Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Among them, Chinese course 1966 is offered, including basic Chinese, intermediate Chinese, China military reading, China media and China civilization. At Bucknall Training Camp of West Point Military Academy, the reporter took the opportunity to interview Sinclair, a fourth-grade student who studied Chinese. Sinclair from Missouri is 24 years old and about 1.85 meters tall. He looks quite sophisticated in camouflage combat uniform and camouflage ointment on his face. It turned out that he had been a soldier in the army for nearly three years before coming to West Point Military Academy. Sinclair entered the West Point Military Academy after passing the exam under the joint recommendation of the Army Chief of Staff and the Missouri Federation. He majored in geography at West Point Military Academy, but he studied Chinese for two semesters in his sophomore year. At that time, there were 75 students taking Chinese classes in the same period. In addition, he also read some introductions about the art of war in China's military history in the history class, and got a better understanding of China's history and culture. Sinclair said that learning Chinese is to better understand the people of China and the culture of China. Because of this, he has always been concerned about the development of US-China relations, including President Bush's two visits to China. Sinclair said that some Americans may think that China will pose a threat to the United States, but this is mainly because they don't know much about China. As far as he is concerned, he is optimistic about the development direction of China and the US-China relationship. He doesn't think China is a threat. Sinclair finally stressed that many of his classmates hold this view.
International students who passed the test.
Starting from 1889, West Point began to recruit foreign students, and the State Council and the Ministry of National Defense were responsible for sending invitations to relevant countries and regions. The entrance requirements and examination subjects are almost the same as those in the United States, except that the referees become government officials of the invited countries. In addition, candidates need to take an extra English test. Up to now, 306 foreign students have graduated from West Point Military Academy, including former Philippine President Ramos, who graduated from 1950. At present, West Point has sent invitations to 160 countries and regions.
The reporter interviewed an international student from Cameroon at Bucknall Training Camp. Eric Mumberghob, 22, is not tall, but strong, with thick lips, giving the impression of simplicity and hard work. He introduced himself in English with a strong accent. Eric comes from a military family, and his father served in the Cameroonian army. Knowing that the United States Military Academy at West Point will recruit two international students in Cameroon in 2000, he asked the American Embassy in Cameroon for the enrollment brochure and signed up. Eric, who speaks French, made up his English specially because he had to take an English test. After some competition, Eric finally stood out and won a four-year full scholarship of $250,000 from the US Congress. In June 2000, he entered the West Point Military Academy, majoring in international relations and taking computer courses. He is a sophomore now. Eric said that when he first came here, he encountered many problems, such as cultural background, customs and habits, but the biggest problem was language communication. He had to concentrate on listening and taking notes in class. When talking to others, you often ask others to speak slowly. After two years of training, Eric said that he was getting used to it. Eric hasn't returned to China for two years, but he said he must go back after graduation because he signed a five-year service contract with the Cameroonian army before he came out.