The Corps of Cadets

The West Point student body is known as the United States Corps of Cadets. The Corps is one of of the most cohesive student bodies in the world - and a part of the Long Gray Line.

The Corps of Cadets

The West Point student body is known as the United States Corps of Cadets. The Corps is one of of the most cohesive student bodies in the world - and a part of the Long Gray Line.

The Corps of Cadets

At the United States Military Academy, all students are called cadets. The student body is referred to as the Corps of Cadets.

The Corps of Cadets simulates and operates much like an active-duty Army unit. Cadets are responsible for running day-to-day operations under the supervision of a professional military staff who work for the Commandant of Cadets. This professional military staff is known as the Brigade Tactical Department (BTD). The Commandant's staff contains other elements who work hand-in-hand with the BTD in developing and mentoring cadets on their path to becoming leaders of character dedicated to the ideals of duty, honor, and country.

"The long gray line of us stretches thro' the years of a century told, and the last man feels to his marrow the grip of your far off hold."

- Line from The Corps by Bishop H.S. Shipman

Cadet Leadership

As cadets move through their 47-month experience, they take on more responsibility within the Corps. The Corps is headed by a first-class cadet known as the “first captain.” The first captain is the highest-ranking cadet, chosen for their outstanding leadership performance.

First-class cadets (seniors or “firsties”) are cadet officers. The second-class cadets (juniors or “cows”) act as senior non-commissioned officers and third-class cadets (sophomores or “yearlings”) represent the cadet junior NCOs. Meanwhile, all fourth-class cadets (freshmen or “plebes”) serve as "members of the squad", becoming accustomed to the demands of the academy and learning how to be good followers and teammates.

Camaraderie

Cadets do everything together. They live, eat, study, and participate in all military training with their cadet company. The company is the most important unit level of the Corps. Often, cadets' most rewarding experiences at the military academy are experienced with the members of their company. The bonds forged during the rigors of academy life last a lifetime.

"Encourage us in our endeavor to live above the common level of life. Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong…Help us to maintain the honor of the Corps untarnished and unsullied and to show forth in our lives the ideals of West Point in doing our duty to Thee and to our Country.”

-Excerpt from the Cadet Prayer

Cadet Mentorship

Cadets are led, mentored, and supported by professionals in the Brigade Tactical Department (BTD). A major component of the BTD is "TAC Teams" - the tactical officer and tactical non-commissioned officer pair that is assigned to each of the 36 cadet companies. These TAC Teams serve as the primary leader developers/integrators of the academy's developmental programs. They oversee each cadet's individual development in the academic, military, physical, and moral-ethical dimensions within the framework of the cadet company and are responsible for the establishment and maintenance of a command climate that fosters individual and organizational excellence.

Regiments and Companies

The Corps of Cadets includes 36 companies divided into four regiments. Each regiment contains three battalions of three companies. Each regiment and company possess distinct cultures - like traditional military units.