The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-05-18

i III H United States several hundred husky
Awl young Americans between the ages Of
| seventeen and twenty-five have been
81 n taking the examinations for admission
A to the United States Military academy
~ at West Point. They are the men who
have received appointments to fill the
vacancies in the Corps of Cadets up to its maxi
mum authorized strength of 1874, these vacan-
cies existing by reason of graduation, resigna-
tons and dismssals from the academy
If those who received these appointments are
successful in passing the rigorous mental and
physical entrance eXaminatiOns-for there is no
place In the world where the demand for
"sound mind in a sound body is more impera-
tive than it is in Uncle Sans school on the Hud-
son-they will enter the academy during the first
week of next July and begin that four years.
course of intensive training which makes Officers
and gentlemen"-but, most of ALL MEN!
Where do these 1874 cadets come from? Well
they come from every part of the United States
and from every stratum of American society,"
Nearly half of them are from the farms of the
North and the East, the ranches of the West
and the plantations of the South check-up
on the occupations Of the parents of the cadets
at West Point In recent years showed the fol-
lowing: farmers and planters, LAC; merchants,
772; lawyers and judges, 645; physicians, 1857;
army officers 1862; mechanics BAL manufacture
ers, Isl; clergymen, 1928; bankers, 90; and one
each for the following: auctioneer, author, chief
of police, cook, halter iceman, inventor, justice
of the peace, pilot, teamster and warden of
prison.
From different strata Of society the newcomers
to the academy may be when they get off the
train at the little station at West Point next
July, but "a hours later the son of the teamster
the son of the iceman, the son of the judge and
the son of the army officer are exactly on the
same plane. They are all "plebes" and, as such
are placed in the "beast barracks" to receive
their preliminary training. Rich and poor, col
lege man and high school graduate, they are all
treated alike. They all rise at fve-thirty in the
morning and go to bed at nine-thirty in the eve
ming. So far as equality is concerned 1t is democ-
racy to the nth degree.
The course of instruction during the period Of
two months before September classes begin is
designed to give the new arrival sound, erect
body, and teach him the fundamental principles
of military discipline and drill. Throughout this
phase, the cadet has little or no time of his
own. In what might be termed his moments Of
leisure, he Is required to learn the cleaning and
care of his rifle and equipment.
The great melting pot is at work: the egotis-
tical and conceited are brought down; the weak
are strengthened the surly and Indifferent are
taught to obey and act quickly-a democratic
group of youths is ready to join the Corps of
Cadets and start the school year. The first phase
is over-the 'beast" becomes a cadet
The corps is organized into regiment of IL
companies, in each of which members of all four
classes are arranged according to height In
cadet argot, the second battalion, composed Of
the short men, are called ''the runts," while the
first and third battalions are termed "fankers,"
as descriptive of their station on the TANKS at
parades and other functions. So habitual is his
use of this slang, that cadet will unconsciously
refer to any tall man as a "1anker," whether
such 'f1anker' be bell-boy in hotel or for
eign minister.
Cadet commissioned officers and sergeants are
appointed from among the irst-classmen (sen-
iors). The highest In rank performs the duty of
regimental commander, and is titled first cap
tain; subordinate grades range down through
battalion and company commanders to lieuten-
ants who command platoons, and to sergeants.
The second-class furnishes the corporals. All
these appointments are based on the cadets rat
ings in leadership, military science, academic
standing, conduct, and personal appearance.
The mass molding" of these men Is carried
to no extreme; it ends with the military organ
izations and disciplinary drills. In all other actv-
ities individual character-building. self-reliance
and initiative are stressed. A cadet never loses
sight of the great primary aim of West Point
the development Of personal integrity.
Academic sections are formed with never more
After the Instructor has discussed the lesson to
explain any parts which are not clear, each cadet
prepares a blackboard assignment, and later re-
cites orally from the material on his blackboard.
Every cadet recites and is graded each day. His
assignment customarily includes original work,
develops thorough understanding of a topic,
rather than the mere ability to memorze, and
the language of his oral recitation must be pre-
else and correct. Thus he acquires that quality
most essential to his later career-self-reliance
At West Point, participation in athletics is not
the special privilege of the swiftest and the
strongest. Every fall and every spring through
out the entire four years, each cadet is enrolled
for some sport which he attends twice week.
During the hour and fifteen minutes of each at
tendance he receives instruction from competent
coaches, and, after short preliminary training,
plays on his company team in competition with
other companies. In this system of intramural
athletics, no cadet repeats a sport; accordingly,
In four years he becomes familiar with eight
different sports which, after he graduates he
will employ for the physical training of enlisted
men In the army
After the first class has graduated ia June, the
new second class-which has completed two
years at the academy-goes on furlough which
lasts until the resumption of classes in Septem-
Der. Meanwhile, the new first and third classes
move into tents in summer camp, located on
the edge Of the parade-ground, and overlooking
the beautiful Hudson river. And here begins that
phase of cadet life which West Pointers always
remember as most ideal
Drill and play are in order, with studies TO
interrupt the latter. Drill, held only in the fore
noon, signifies more than the mere forming of
ranks and execution Of evolutions on the parade.