Superintendent of the United States Military Academy Douglas MacArthur

macarthur west point superintendent

in 1919, macarthur became superintendent of u.s. military academy @ west point, chief of staff peyton march felt had become out of date in many respects , in need of reform. accepting post allowed macarthur retain rank of brigadier general, instead of being reduced substantive rank of major many of contemporaries. when macarthur moved superintendent s house mother in june 1919, became youngest superintendent since sylvanus thayer in 1817. however, whereas thayer had faced opposition outside army, macarthur had overcome resistance graduates , academic board. macarthur s vision of required of officer came not recent experience of combat in france of occupation of rhineland in germany. military government of rhineland had required army deal political, economic , social problems had found many west point graduates had little or no knowledge of fields outside of military sciences. during war, west point had been reduced officer candidate school, 5 classes graduated in 2 years. cadet , staff morale low , hazing @ all-time peak of viciousness . macarthur s first change turned out easiest. congress had set length of course @ 3 years. macarthur able four-year course restored.

during debate on length of course, new york times brought issue of cloistered , undemocratic nature of student life @ west point. also, starting harvard university in 1869, civilian universities had begun grading students on academic performance alone, west point had retained old whole man concept of education. macarthur sought modernize system, expanding concept of military character include bearing, leadership, efficiency , athletic performance. formalized hitherto unwritten cadet honor code in 1922 when formed cadet honor committee review alleged code violations. elected cadets themselves, had no authority punish, acted kind of grand jury, reporting offenses commandant. macarthur attempted end hazing using officers rather upperclassmen train plebes.

instead of traditional summer camp @ fort clinton, macarthur had cadets trained use modern weapons regular army sergeants @ fort dix; marched west point full packs. attempted modernize curriculum adding liberal arts, government , economics courses, encountered strong resistance academic board. in military art classes, study of campaigns of american civil war replaced study of of world war i. in history class, more emphasis placed on far east. macarthur expanded sports program, increasing number of intramural sports , requiring cadets participate. allowed upper class cadets leave reservation, , sanctioned cadet newspaper, brag, forerunner of today s west pointer. permitted cadets travel watch football team play, , gave them allowance of $5 ($70 in modern dollars) month. professors , alumni alike protested these radical moves. of macarthur s west point reforms discarded but, in ensuing years, ideas became accepted , innovations gradually restored.