Military Traditions-Draft | U.S. Military Academy West Point

Traditions That Test, and Transform, You

At West Point, military traditions build your discipline, toughness and pride as a future officer. You’ll complete the 13-mile March Back from summer training, cheered on by families, Old Grads and the West Point community as you finish “Beast.” You’ll join a company with its own mascot and motto, train for parades and reviews that showcase precision and teamwork, and may compete in Sandhurst or earn the Recondo Badge for elite fitness and tactical skill. These traditions strengthen your confidence and prepare you to lead soldiers.

March Back

After you complete Cadet Basic Training at Lake Frederick, you’ll take on the March Back, a 13-mile trek in full Army gear that marks the end of Beast Barracks. Members of the Long Gray Line will walk beside you, showing their support as you return to West Point’s main post. Family, friends, staff, and residents line the streets with signs and flags to cheer you on. It’s a powerful celebration of how far you’ve come and the beginning of your life as a cadet.

Company Mascots

When you join the Corps of Cadets, you’ll become part of one of 36 companies, each with its own mascot, motto, colors, and traditions that give your group its identity. Your company becomes your team as you compete in academics, drill, sports, spirit campaigns, and even friendly contests over who has the best logo. These shared victories, challenges, and daily moments create bonds that run deep. The friendships you build with your company mates often become some of the strongest relationships of your life, lasting well beyond your years at West Point.

Parades and Reviews

As a cadet, you’ll take part in West Point’s parades and reviews, some of the most visible and time-honored traditions on post. You’ll march in major events such as the Acceptance Day (A-Day) Parade and the Graduation Parade, as well as reviews held before home football games and ceremonies like the Thayer Award and Retiree Appreciation Day. To prepare, you’ll practice “drill,” which sharpens your discipline and teaches the fundamentals of unit movement. Each parade is a reminder that you’re part of something bigger, an academy known for precision, pride, and professionalism.

Sandhurst

Each spring, you’ll witness (or even compete in) the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition, one of West Point’s most demanding and internationally recognized events. What began in 1967 has evolved into a two-day test of grit, teamwork, and tactical skill. Teams from West Point, Army ROTC programs, other service academies, and military academies from around the world come together to push their limits. Whether you’re on the course or cheering from the sidelines, Sandhurst showcases the intensity, discipline, and global camaraderie that define the cadet experience.

Recondo Badge

If you earn the Recondo Badge, you’re joining a legacy that traces back to the Vietnam-era Recondo School, an elite standard of toughness and tactical skill. While the requirements have evolved with cadet summer training, the expectation remains unchanged: you must prove that you’re physically strong, mentally resilient, and tactically proficient. Earning this badge is a mark of distinction and a clear sign that you’ve risen to one of West Point’s highest challenges.

Academy Traditions

Academy traditions celebrate your journey and connect you to the Long Gray Line. Eeach moment honoring your growth and lifelong connection to the academy.

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Academic Traditions

Academic traditions challenge you to learn with purpose and lead with integrity. From lighthearted rituals to honors that celebrate excellence, these moments build camaraderie, discipline, and pride, reminding you that success is measured by both intellect and character.

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Athletic Traditions

Athletic traditions build discipline, teamwork and pride. You’ll live the motto “Every Cadet an Athlete,” pushing yourself in training and competition. Athletics are central to life at the academy, shaping your strength, resilience and leadership.

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