Yesterday was Reception Day at the U.S. Military Academy for new cadet candidates - the class of 2009. 1251 men and women will spend the next 6 weeks in Cadet Basic Training, otherwise known as Beast Barracks. They include 250 minorities, 189 women and 21 foreign cadets from 17 countries. This year, Brunei, Afghanistan and Chad have cadets at West Point for the first time.
The Academy is attracting high quality candidates: 188 of this year's crop were HS student body or class presidents, 102 valedictorians, 37 salutatorians. 455 particiapted in scouting, 154 of whom were Eagle scouts (men) or Gold Award recipients (women). Here they are a day after arriving:
Usual attrition rate between Reception day and Acceptance day, when those who choose (& are allowed) to stay as cadets take the cadet oath, is 5-10%.
(Photos from USMA website.)