Although West Point Military Academy has been admitting female cadets for over three decades, they still only account for about 16 percent of the student body, according to NPR. However, there is a good chance that figure will increase in the coming years.
West Point aims to draw more female cadets
The military academy is taking measures to boost its number of female cadets, The Associated Press reported. These steps will include stronger outreach and the cultivation of high-potential candidates. West Point has also developed a new recruitment strategy aimed at female high school students in their freshman, sophomore and junior years.
"We obviously have to increase the female population for a number of reasons," Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen Jr., West Point's superintendent, told the AP. "One is because there are more opportunities in the branches for the females."
Indeed, the U.S. military has dropped restrictions that prevented females from obtaining combat roles, and the Army will make thousands of these positions open to women by 2016. In parallel with the Army's gender breakdown, Female West Point cadets are now welcome to enter any military branch, including the infantry and armor. In addition to helping the Army fill combat roles, Caslen believes that an increase in the percentage of female students will facilitate the integration of women at the academy.
For the most part, West Point has the same expectations for its male and female cadets. While women are allowed to sport longer hair and wear stud earrings, they still accomplish the same demanding tasks as male cadets. In fact, West Point cadet Austin Boroff told the AP that she carries machine guns during training exercises, while many of her male peers take lighter weapons.
Admissions officer expects substantial results
Col. Deborah McDonald, director of admissions, feels confident that future classes will have a significantly higher proportion of women cadets.
"I have no concerns at all that we won't actually move right beyond the 20 percent mark," McDonald told the AP. "It might even be as high as 22 percent."
She said the admissions office is already receiving a greater number of applications from female students, and military academy is helping competitive women candidates complete the rigorous application process. As of April 26, West Point has accepted 229 female applicants for the class of 2018, and admissions officers will consider another 36 female students from the academy's prep school.