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![The West Point Experience](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090109013403im_/http://www.admissions.usma.edu/images/wpe/prosp_sectionflag_wpe.gif)
Learn about being a cadet
The demanding "West Point Experience" transforms cadets into leaders and
includes academic, military and physical development. A strong
emphasis on moral-ethical development is woven into each developmental area.
When you enter the Academy, you become active-duty members of the United States Army and are taking the first steps toward joining the Long Gray Line, one of the proudest traditions in the Army and, indeed, in the nation.
![Firsties](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090109013403im_/http://www.admissions.usma.edu/images/wpe/wpe2.jpg)
At the U.S. Military Academy, you will be developed as a leader of character to serve your Army and country for a lifetime. The active duty service obligation is five years after graduation, but whether you remain in uniform for a career or select another field of endeavor, you will always be recognized as a West Point graduate.
You can be enormously proud of your accomplishments as a cadet. West Point is extremely selective, bringing in only the most promising young men and women. They are bright, eager and enthusiastic, and they demonstrate a high degree of extraordinary leadership potential. They are among the finest young people in America, and we are proud that they have chosen to come to West Point.