About Bill Taylor Expertise I can answer questions about admissions to West Point; about the history of West Point; about how to travel to West Point, where to eat, where to stay, etc.; and about West Point`s alumni organization, the West Point Association of Graduates.
Experience I am a 1970 Graduate of West Point. I served six years on active duty and another 8 years in the active reserve. I have been actively involved as a Field Admissions Representative for over 15 years and have participated on my Congressman's Academy Selection Panel for over 20 years. I am actively involved in West Point Alumni affairs, serving in roles both with the West Point Association of Graduates and the local alumni chapter in Annapolis, MD. I also have two sons who graduated from West Point in 1995 and 2001. Both are veterans of the Iraq war and continue to serve on Active Duty in the Army.
Question Hi, i'm looking into applying to WP and i'm wondering how much time off i get to visit my family? can i leave every weekend, is there a rule about that?
and is deployment a guarantee after WP? how does that work? can i get sent to war while i'm a student there?
Answer It's good to hear from you, Jay. Thanks for your interest in West Point. I apologize for the delayed response as I have been slammed with travel and work.
As to Cadet life at West Point there are definitely rules that govern how often you are allowed to leave post and additionally how often you can remain off-post overnight. In general you are restricted to post Monday to Friday during the week and can go off-post in the local area on weekends. You also have weekend passes, the number of which depends on your seniority. Plebes typically get one or two weekend passes per semester and upperclassmen get more, with the number growing each year. Outside of class hours during the week you can typically host visitors on post, but those hours are limited because you will have a heavy daily load of homework and other responsibilities.
Cadets are NOT deployed to war zones before graduation, but you can count on the opportunity to duty assignments overseas during summer training. Deployment to a war zone upon graduation depends on the world situation at the time and the needs of the Army and Nation. As an Army officer you serve to "Protect and defend the United States of America." That often requires putting yourself and the men and women you lead in harms way. If that is a big concern to you, Jay, then West Point and the Army may not be right for you. There is no shame at all in that, as military service is definitely NOT for everyone. We have an all volunteer force and that is the strength of the Army. Everyone is there by choice.
