Proven Path to Command

This assignment also offers unmatched opportunities for professional and personal development. Officers who attend the Eisenhower Leadership Development Program (ELDP) often benefit from advanced education, mentoring, and networks that accelerate their careers.

ELDP combines a top-tier Ivy League graduate education with the opportunity to serve as a Tactical Officer (TAC) at West Point. This rare blend of academic rigor and practical leadership development will prepare you to return to the force as a stronger officer and leader.

While in graduate school, you’ll learn alongside high-caliber civilian peers, gaining perspectives and skills that few Army officers encounter early in their careers.

Many former TACs have gone on to serve as battalion and brigade commanders. Research shows that officers who complete ELDP and are promoted below the zone to major often maintain or even improve their competitive edge for below-the-zone selection to lieutenant colonel.

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Life as a Tactical Officer

As a Tactical Officer at West Point, you’ll take on the responsibility of a company commander, leading and mentoring about 125 cadets who will become the Army’s future leaders. Paired with a senior NCO, you’ll form a command team that shapes cadets through your example, your values, and your leadership.

Summers are dynamic and challenging. TACs typically command during Cadet Basic Training (CBT) or Cadet Field Training (CFT), guiding cadet-led units as they train their peers. CBT transforms incoming freshmen into members of the Corps, while CFT gives rising sophomores a “field-deployed” experience focused on soldiering and leadership skills. Both provide opportunities to mentor cadets in real-world, Army-relevant environments.

This assignment also offers quality-of-life benefits for you and your family. You’ll receive BAH during graduate school, and as a mission-essential officer, you’ll receive priority housing on post once you begin your TAC role. Whether at USMA, the Preparatory School, or the Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic, serving as a Tactical Officer is a chance to make a lasting impact on the Army while developing yourself for future command.

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The Eisenhower Leadership Development Program (ELDP)

The Eisenhower Leadership Development Program (ELDP) combines a top-tier Ivy League graduate education with service as a Tactical Officer at West Point — a life-changing experience that builds both intellect and leadership. You’ll earn an advanced degree without using your GI Bill, mentor cadets during their most formative years, and gain mentorship from senior leaders deeply invested in your success.

ELDP alumni consistently emerge better prepared to lead Soldiers and excel in future assignments. Many go on to battalion and brigade command, and officers who were promoted below the zone to major often remain highly competitive for promotion to lieutenant colonel. Along the way, you’ll also build a lasting network with senior leaders, peers across branches, and civilian faculty.

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The Bottom Line

An assignment at West Point is both professionally rewarding and personally fulfilling. You’ll strengthen the intellectual foundation of the officer corps, expand your own skills, and contribute to shaping the next generation of Army leaders — all while building a career-enhancing network that will serve you long after your USMA tour ends.