Women in the Military Academies: US Army (Part 3 of 3)

Abstract

In brief: ‘Every cadet an athlete, every athlete I challenged.’ This dictum, which guides the athletic program at the US Military Academy at West Point, New York, did not change when women entered the academy in 1976. However, some adjustments were made in the physical education program to allow for physiologic differences between men and women. Further changes that have been made include conducting morning runs in groups according to ability and assigning shorter cadets to the front ranks during marching. Participation in competitive sports is an integral part of the physical development program, as it is at the US Naval and Air Force academies, discussed in parts 1 (February) and 2 (March) of this series.