As a West Point graduate, you can expect to have many exciting and rewarding opportunities open to you throughout your lifetime. Joining “The Long Gray Line” of West Point graduates is a mark of distinction, representing high achievement and the promise of outstanding, ethical leadership.

Upon graduation, you will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army and serve for five years on active duty. During your senior year, you’ll find out which specialized field, or “branch,” you will enter. Both the needs of the Army and your preferences will be considered.

Graduation. What’s Next?

In your first year after graduation, you’ll attend a Basic Officer Leader Course for general information and training. Upon its successful completion, you then take branch-specific courses to become competent in the technical aspects of your specialty.

Join Your Unit

Next, you’ll be sent to an Army unit where you will build experience in troop command for the next three years. You might lead a Military Police unit, a small artillery fire support team, or a Military Intelligence unit, for example.

Advance In Your Career

In year five, you have a decision to make. You can move ahead in your Army career by getting more advanced education and training. If so, you will prepare for higher levels of responsibility, leadership, and specialization required as commanders. Eventually, you will select a career field and may even go on to earn a graduate degree from a leading civilian university.

The Army pays for all of your training, travel, and advanced education. You could eventually work in the Pentagon, command a large troop unit, or serve as a military attaché in a foreign country.

The other option is choose to complete your commitment and return to civilian life.

Army or Civilian Career?