The United States Military Academy, also known as West Point, or simply USMA (or Army, for NCAA purposes), is a United States Army post and service academy. West Point was first a military post that was briefly under the command of Benedict Arnold . Established in 1802, it is the oldest military academy in the United States. Students are referred to as cadets. Collectively, graduates are known as "The Long Gray Line" because of the color of cadet uniforms and the unbroken line of West Point graduates. West Point trains more United States Army officers than any other institution, and a high proportion of distinguished American generals have been West Point graduates. Currently, over 900 graduates are commissioned as U.S. Army lieutenants every year, representing 25% of new lieutenants commissioned.
The Academy is located at West Point, New York, on a scenic overlook of the Hudson River, about 50 miles (80 km) north of New York City. (
). Consequently, it is often referred to as "Hudson High". Occupying over 16,000 acres (65 km²), it is one of the largest school campuses in the world. By comparison, the United States Naval Academy is 338 acres (1.37 km²) and United States Air Force Academy is 18,000 acres (73 km²). Its unique combination of facilities includes a ski slope and artillery range, in addition to the academic buildings and sports facilities found on a typical university campus. The post itself was first occupied in 1778, and it is thus the oldest continuously occupied military post in the United States.