The Corps of Cadets is organized as a battalion, a typical military structure with promotions based on academic achievement, conduct, proven leadership abilities, dependability, sportsmanship and adherence to the Academy's values. In the classroom all cadets are under the supervision of their faculty member, on campus and in the dorms cadets are responsible for cadets with adult members of the Commandant's office acting in a supervisory capacity. Once a cadet masters the basics of academic and dormitory life, he can be promoted to assist other cadets in mastering those same skills. Cadets are given the opportunity to participate in a precision drill team, marching band and color guard. These groups represent the Academy at exhibition performances on and off campus.
Cadets learn character and responsibility through leading others.
The cadet leaders, because they are in direct control of other cadets, have a unique opportunity to be responsible. Their actions affect not only themselves, but also other people in their close-knit boarding school community. They can be a positive constructive influence in the development of a younger cadet. Many of them have had an older cadet invest and mentor them helping them get through, so they are willing to do it and know its value. Along the way they learn to be counselors and mediators, motivators, critics and encouragers.