United States Military Academy at West Point Challenge Coins
Continuing the rich US Army officer traditions of the past with the cutting edge coin designs of the future
Honoring Over 240 Years of US Military Excellence in Leadership and Education with Custom Designed Coins.
“Duty, Honor, Country” - the Ideals Supporting Army Values and Foundation of the West Point Motto
Just 2 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed, the US Continental Army occupied West Point, New York on 27 January 1778. General George Washington, who later became the First President of the United States of America, chose West Point as his official Army Headquarters on July 8, 1779. To this day, it is still the oldest continuously operating Army post in the United States.
The United States Military Academy at West Point was established in 1802 by President Thomas Jefferson and has been the educational institution of choice for many of the country's top military leaders. The academy offers a rigorous academic curriculum that focuses on engineering, science, and the liberal arts, as well as providing military training. Graduates of the academy go on to serve as commissioned officers in the U.S. Army.
West Point is one of the most selective colleges in the country, with an acceptance rate of just 10%. Admission is highly competitive, and applicants must meet stringent academic and physical requirements. The academy also requires a congressional nomination for admission.
West Point graduates are the most elite and highly respected of all Army officers, and U.S. DOD Coins is the elite challenge coin maker for the dedicated men and women who go from Cadet all the way to US Army officer in 4 challenging years.
Daily Life of a West Point US Army Cadet
A cadet's day at the United States Military Academy (USMA) begins early. Reveille, the wake-up call, is usually around 6:00 a.m., although it may be earlier on some days. After waking up and getting dressed, cadets have breakfast and report to morning formation before heading to their first class of the day, which begins at 7:30 a.m.
Cadets have a busy schedule with classes, military training, and other activities taking up most of their time. They typically have three or four hours of class time each day, broken up by an hour for lunch and two 15-minute breaks in between classes. In addition to their regular academic classes, all cadets must take mandatory courses in military subjects such as leadership, tactics, and weaponry.
After their last class of the day, every cadet is required to take part in a sport, whether inter-mural or Division I. Dinner is usually followed by another mandatory activity, such as evening study hall or military drill. Cadets are usually in bed by 10:00 p.m. for that all-important rest after a long, challenging day.
Proud US Army West Point Traditions and Great Ideas for Challenge Coins
West Point is steeped in tradition, so it’s no surprise some traditions eventually became national institutions that are recognizable even by the larger American public to this day.
- US Army Football (and the Annual Army - Navy Game) - The Army–Navy game is one of the most traditional and enduring rivalries in college football. Since 1945, the game has been nationally broadcast on either ABC, CBS, or NBC every year.
The first football helmet in history was worn by Navy Midshipman Joseph Mason Reeves in the 1893 Army-Navy Game, and Instant replay made its American debut in the 1963 Army-Navy game.
Notable NFL quarterback Roger Staubach (Navy, 1965) and offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva (Army, 2010) both played in the Army-Navy game during their college career. Staubach went on to have a Hall of Fame career with the Dallas Cowboys while Villanueva was an offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.
- The West Point Band or US Military Academy Band - The West Point Band (also known as the US Military Academy Band or USMA Band) is the United States Army's oldest active band and the United States Military Academy's oldest unit, dating back to the American Revolutionary War.
- The West Point Cadets' Sword - The West Point Cadet Sword is a sword and sash given to cadet officers of the United States Military Academy at West Point for formal events such as parades, drills, inspections, and graduation. The swords are distributed to new recruits in their First Class (4th) year and returned to the school after they graduate; however, cadets may purchase a new or repaired saber if they choose.
Today's West Point cadet is the only individual in the Army who wears a sword and sash.
More Great West Point Academy Class Themes and Traditions That Are Perfect for Custom Challenge Coins
Great Challenge Coin Designs for West Point Academy Graduating Classes and Staff Can Incorporate These Other Time-Honored Traditions:
Cullum Number - The Cullum number is an identification assigned to each graduate, created by brevet Major General George W. Cullum (USMA Class of 1833). In 1850, he started work on compiling the biographies of every graduate and gave Swift, the first West Point graduate, number one. He then numbered all successive graduates in sequence.
Put your very own sequential Cullum numbers on a custom challenge coin
Class Ring - The United States Military Academy at West Point established the college class ring tradition with the graduating class of 1835. Each year during Ring Weekend (usually in early Fall) senior cadets receive their rings.
Thayer Award - The Sylvanus Thayer Award is given annually to an exemplary citizen whose service and accomplishments benefit the nation as a whole. This award cannot go to someone who has graduated from West Point Academy, rather, it is a community-facing external award.
Sedgwick's Spurs - On the outskirts of the parade field known as the Plain is a monument to Civil War Union General John Sedgwick. His bronze statue has spurs with rowels that rotate, and legend says that if any cadet is in danger of failing their class, they should wear their full-dress parade uniform during final exams.
At the stroke of midnight, the cadet visits the monument and spins the rowels. The cadet then races back to camp as quickly as possible. If Sedgwick's ghost catches them, they will fail the test; otherwise, the candidate will pass it.
Goat-Engineer Game - The Corps of Cadets participates in the Goat-Engineer game leading up to the Navy football game. The "Goats" (the bottom half of the senior class academically) play against the "Engineers" (the top half). Full pads and helmets are utilized during this eight-man football match.
It is said that if the goats win, Army will defeat Navy, and vice versa if the engineers triumph.
Walking the Area - One form of punishment for cadets who break academy rules has been a term known as "punishment tours" since the academy's inception. This procedure is better recognized among the cadets as "hours" because they must walk a certain number of kilometers in dress uniform under arms as punishment.
Need more ideas for your next custom challenge coin order with UD DOD Coins? Check out some of our other designs we’ve made for specific Army units.
Famous Military Commanders Who Attended West Point US Army Military Academy
George Patton - Famous general of World War II who is considered one of the greatest military commanders in history.
Dwight Eisenhower - Five-star general and 34th President of the United States. Served as Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe during World War II.
Ulysses S. Grant - 18th President of the United States and Commanding General of the Union armies during the Civil War.
William Westmoreland - U.S. Army General who served as Supreme Commander of NATO forces in Europe during the Cold War.
Hugh Shelton - Four-star general who served as the 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1997-2001.
Buzz Aldrin - Former astronaut, engineer and fighter pilot. He made three spacewalks as pilot of the 1966 Gemini 12 mission, the Lunar Module Eagle pilot on the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, he and mission commander Neil Armstrong were the first two people to land on the Moon.
Accomplishments of West Point Graduates
A total of 76 graduates have been awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration that can be awarded by the United States.
Some of West Point's notable alumni include astronauts, CEOs, and founders. 18 NASA astronauts have graduated from West Point, including 5 who went to the Moon.
- Jim Kimsey, founder of AOL
- Bob McDonald, CEO of Procter & Gamble who was later nominated to be the Secretary of Veteran Affairs
- Alex Gorsky, CEO of Johnson & Johnson
- Keith McLoughlin, President and CEO of Electrolux
- Jeffrey W. Martin, CEO Sempra Energy
- Alden Partridge, founder of Norwich University
West Point has also produced three Heisman Trophy winners: Glenn Davis, Doc Blanchard, and Pete Dawkins.
Custom West Point Challenge Coins That Honor What It Means to Be a US Army Officer and Soldier
It’s the oldest US military installation and a leading national university for good reason. That’s because of the mission, drive and the purpose behind the USMA: to produce the highest grade of soldier and officer in defense of the freest nation on Earth.
Shouldn’t your challenge coins be the best of the best too?
U.S. DOD Coins can customize your order with the following specialization:
- 3D Coins-- Having your design pop off the surface of the coin will make it even more unforgettable.
- Sequential Numbering-- Giving each coin a unique sequential number adds a personal touch to your purchase, especially since no two numbers are ever repeated.
- Edge Numbering-- If there's no natural sequential numbering area on your coin's design, think about including it on the edge of the coins.
- Glow in the Dark-- Our distinctive glow-in-the dark enamel helps you locate your custom challenge coin regardless of lighting conditions.
Designing Your Own Custom West Point Military Academy Challenge Coin
Follow these three steps to create your own custom coin:
Gather your elements, files and ideas and send them to us via a quote request.
From 24 to 48 hours you will get a quote along with a digital proof.
Order to start production or request revisions. Revisions are unlimited.
West Point: An Eternal Institution and Timeless Memorial to the United States Soldier
With its rich history, West Point, or the US Military Academy, represents the very best, brightest and boldest Army officers of the United States of America. But it’s part of an even larger story that brought the USA from a small, rebellious colony to the premier superpower of the world in such a short period of time.
Let U.S. DOD Coins design and produce a custom challenge coin to honor your West Point graduating class today! With lightning-fast design times and turnaround, your order will be at your front door before you can say “mail call!”
Challenge Coin Design Template
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Let U.S.DOD Coins Bring Your Custom Coin Idea to Life
THE EVOLUTION OF CHALLENGE COIN AWARDS
Eight years ago, the Challenge Coin industry had what we call a recipe for designing challenge coins. Round, flat, and empty.
This type of Challenge Coin is a classic, and it still being used nowadays, But people were somewhat asking for a little more spice, uniqueness, and bold designs.
That's when clients started to bring more complex ideas. Instead of refusing to take on the project as most other companies did, we embraced the challenge. We began to increase difficulty and detail to coins; we started experimenting and bringing expectations to whole new level. Some worked; some didn't.
In the end, what was the client's reaction to their finished project?
The response was so positive that a new wave of high quality and detailed coin requests came flooding into the company! Word got spread about the high-quality and unique designs spread across all militaries throughout the world.
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It takes a lot of effort, longer production time, and hard design to make these unique coins possible, so the list of clients can get full from time to time.
If you are planning to take your coin to the next level, Fill a quote here
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