<p>Are there students at West Point who went there for first 2 years, and then transferred to other school? To Ivy's or elites? Can you do that?</p>
<p>Happens all the time and yes you can do that right up until the first day of classes your cow year.</p>
<p>I read it is until you walk into your first class of your cow year................</p>
<p>so if you are on the fence and standing outside the classroom trying to decide and a cadet bumps into you and you accidentally stumble into the classroom - well then ------ :)</p>
<p>One reason why the class of 1300 dwindles down to less than 900 on graduation day. Of course one should only show up on R-Day with graduation in mind - but things happen.</p>
<p>Wow.. that is pretty bad. Those kind of people should never go to the academies because they are obviously taking advantage of a free education. And if I'm right... in ratio, ROTC students stay in as career military officers longer than academy grads. Is that right?</p>
<p>No doubt it does happen, but I imagine it's a rare event because one of two things probably happens.</p>
<p>Either the jumper discovers the rigor of West Point is much too much and they are not sufficiently motivated so they bail out early; perhaps the first day, perhaps the first week;</p>
<p>or;</p>
<p>They come to the realization that graduating from West Point means so much more than graduating from one of the numerous ivy league caliber civilian institutions and they decide to say on and finish what they started.</p>
<p>Oh yeah; I forgot a third scenario:</p>
<p>The admissions staff are pretty good at evaluating the candidates and spot him or her a klick away and they never get in the door.</p>
<p>Think about all the students in civilian colleges who change their majors - more than once. It is likely that many 17-year olds who think they want a career as a military officer will also change their minds. It happens and there is nothing wrong with it. </p>
<p>However, the student who 'plans' on getting 2 free years of college and then transferring is another story. I can't even imagine getting through the 2 years if it's not something your're passionate about.</p>
<p>And then there are those who leave WP, realise they have made a mistake and reapply....</p>
<p>There will be a formal affirmation ceremony this Sunday, August 19th, for the Cows during which they will confirm their intent to stay at USMA.</p>
<p>This is the final opportunity for cadets to voluntarily exit USMA without incurring a financial or military service obligation.</p>
<p>Actually the affirmation ceremony is just that -- ceremonial . The cadets can (and some have) still leave after the affirmation ceremony. It is attending the first class the day after the ceremony that marks the end of the opportunity to leave without owing the army time/money.</p>
<p>There are some who leave West Point after two years and then go the ROTC route in a civilian college. We met an Army Officer at the ROTC unit at USC who did just that. He wanted a career in the Army, he just decided that West Point wasn't the way for him. I don't think those who leave are taking advantage of anything except an opportunity to see what's "right" for them.</p>
<p>The West Point Cadets attending the US Air Force Academy this fall will have their affirmation ceremony two days earlier than the cadets at West Point. The ceremony at Air Force will be on August 17 at 6pm. Army Major General Swan, the Director of Operations for the US Northern Command, will adminster the oath to the West Pointers at Air Force.</p>
<p>Lest I be misunderstood, and since I clearly didn't help things by being completely ambiguous, let me elaborate on my earlier post.</p>
<p>I'm not at all critical of those who enter West Point with good intentions but who later find, for whatever reason, that they simply aren't a good fit for West Point, the Army, or both. I am completely sympathetic for those who give it their best shot but ultimately chose an alternate path because it's the right thing for them.</p>
<p>My earlier post was a comment on the hypothetical student who might enter West Point with the premeditated intent of leaving after getting two years of a free eduction. And again, I believe that is a very rare occurrence the error of which would be immediately apparent to the unfortunate fool who tried such a stunt.</p>
<p>Unfortunate fool is an understatement...I can't imagine going through Beast and Plebe year just to knock out two years of credits...ick.</p>