Where Mentorship Meets Purpose

At West Point, leadership isn’t just taught, it’s lived every day. The Brigade Tactical Department (BTD) is where that transformation happens.

BTD’s mission is to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so every graduate becomes a commissioned leader of character—someone who lives honorably, leads honorably, and demonstrates excellence in all they do.

Every cadet’s journey is guided by a dedicated Tactical Officer (TAC) and Tactical Non-Commissioned Officer (TAC NCO) team. Together, they form the heart of the West Point experience, teaching, coaching, and mentoring cadets through the academic, military, physical, and moral-ethical challenges that define their four years on the banks of the Hudson.

For cadets, this means constant, individualized mentorship from Army leaders who model what right looks like. For TACs and TAC NCOs, it means taking on one of the most consequential roles in the Army, developing the next generation of officers while continuing to grow as leaders themselves.

Tactical Officers: Commanders, Mentors, and Coaches

A Tactical Officer (TAC) serves as the company commander for roughly 125 cadets, overseeing their holistic development and ensuring their company thrives as a cohesive, disciplined, and values-driven team.

TACs draw from years of Army experience to teach and empower cadet leaders. They guide daily accountability, advise the cadet chain of command, and mentor individuals through the rigors of academic life, military training, and personal growth.

For TACs, this role is both a command opportunity and a career accelerator, a chance to refine leadership skills in an educational environment while shaping the Army’s future leaders.

Through the Eisenhower Leader Development Program (ELDP)—a unique partnership between West Point and Columbia University—TACs earn a master’s degree from a top-tier institution, without using their GI Bill, while preparing for future command.

Many ELDP graduates go on to become battalion and brigade commanders, bringing with them a rare blend of academic insight and practical leader development experience.

Tactical Non-Commissioned Officers: The Backbone of Leader Development

The Tactical Non-Commissioned Officer (TAC NCO) is the indispensable partner to the TAC, serving as the company’s senior enlisted leader, mentor, and model of professional excellence.

With 10–15 years of Army experience, TAC NCOs bridge the gap between officer and enlisted perspectives, ensuring cadets understand and respect the vital Officer–NCO relationship before they ever lead Soldiers.

TAC NCOs train, coach, and inspire cadets daily—shaping not only their discipline and military skills, but also their moral and ethical foundations. Every cadet learns what it means to live the Army Values because a TAC NCO demonstrates them, every day.

TAC NCOs also advance their own professional education through the Benavidez Leader Development Program (BLDP), a 3–4 week executive-level leadership course co-hosted by West Point and Columbia University.

BLDP deepens leadership expertise through graduate-level study in organizational psychology and developmental theory, ensuring TAC teams share a common language and philosophy as they guide cadets.

A Life-Changing Assignment

For TACs and TAC NCOs alike, an assignment at West Point is more than a posting, it’s a calling.

You’ll work in a dynamic, intellectually rich environment alongside world-class faculty and senior leaders committed to your growth. You’ll mentor cadets during their most formative years while continuing your own journey of professional development.

You’ll also enjoy exceptional quality-of-life benefits, including advanced education opportunities, BAH during graduate study, and on-post housing once you begin your TAC role.

Most importantly, you’ll leave West Point knowing you’ve made a lasting impact on the Army, by shaping leaders who will carry the values of Duty, Honor, Country into every formation they lead.