1. Compose your own responses. In the space below, explain why you want to attend the United States Military Academy and serve on active duty as an Army officer.
For much of my life, I have been blessed by the service of others. Both of my parents had emigrated to the
United States by the time I was one, and for the next three years, I enjoyed love and fostering from my
grandparents in China while my father and mother relentlessly battled for a stable life in America. Though
oblivious to the efforts of my parents at the time, I grew up appreciating the honest diligence and servitude
to others in the church, workplace, and community. I'll never forget mother's words to me: Always go the
extra mile. Live your life in a way to please others...
I want to go to West Point because I want to be an officer and bless my country and countrymen through
leadership and service. American has been so good to me in so many areas of education, opportunity,
freedom, and so it is my responsibility to give back what I can to such a great nation. I understand that this
academy trains people up by breaking down cadets to reshape and rebuild them back up as thoroughly
equipped leaders of character. This is the place where world-changing individuals like General Patton and
President Eisenhower emerged. At West Point, I will relinquish what I want for myself, and embrace what
others want for me. I will further learn deeper aspects of teamwork and the importance of sacrificing for the
good of others. By the transformation of mind and character at West Point, I can approach the dream of
service to country on a more profound level. I could easily attend a prestigious university and follow
complacent, normal life. However, I will not settle for anything less than excellence. I want to challenge
myself physically and morally, completely prepared to endure Beast and plebe year along with the
demands of the cadre, while maintaining the rigorous academic curriculum. West Point is the place that will
burnish and refine my existing abilities, fully tapping into the full potential, enabling me to achieve more for
the nation and my military career.
I believe that step by step, I will be able to succeed in attending and graduating from West Point. The past
March I became naturalized. Another milestone. Though the road is long, I am not going to relent, just as
my parents did not. So goes a Chinese proverb: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single
step. I've already begun mine.
2. Compose your own response. What are the most important qualities in becoming a successful
USMA cadet and a successful Army officer?
Teamwork and Character. These two qualities must be bred into every cadet and officer so that proper
discipline, conduct, and professionalism may ensue. Both traits go hand-in-hand, fully intertwined, and
serve as the fundamental principles by which cadet or officer must live to earn success.
Teamwork is the ability to understand one another and strengths, while sharing his/her burdens at the same time. One cannot become a successful cadet or officer without being able to easily cooperate and
work with others. The Army and the Corps each is a team. It lives, sleeps, and fights as a team. Cadets
and officers must sacrifice their individuality and self-interest in order to belong on the team. Doing so
eliminates many individual flaws a person carries, flaws which otherwise would be detrimental to the group.
A team operates through a hierarchical system, with leaders and subordinates. Just like the parts of a
body, each organ has a specific function, all coordinated by the brain to achieve a certain goal. If the hand
refuses to cooperate with the mouth, the body starves, and everybody suffers. If a member is not able to
work with others, he poses a threat to the efficiency of the team because by not being able to accomplish a
task or complete a duty assigned, the team will not function correctly.
Character pertains to each person's conscience (acting upon the right thing to do), incorporating a wide
range of values like integrity, diligence, responsibility. It is so important that USMA dedicates itself to train
leaders of character, because only these kinds of people can inspire others to maintain teamwork. In the
end character manifests itself best on the battlefield: a lieutenant's lying or neglecting a required task could
mean the demise of his entire platoon. On the flip side, a cadet who goes out of his way to help a
struggling classmate may not get immediate reward, but in the long run will reap the benefits of greater
camaraderie and respect. To live and work with character is to embody the values of Duty, Honor, and
Country. That is why character will ensure a prolific career in the United States Army.
Success is not a goal to be reached or a status to be attained, but a journey to be walked and a life to be
lived. Day by day as either a cadet or an officer, I believe that the qualities of Character and Teamwork will
serve as guides to help one overcome the adversities and difficulties of circumstances allowing him/her
become successful in every way.
3. Compose your own response. West Point and the Army are committed to the idea that respect for others and an understanding of diversity are important leadership traits. Why will you be successful in working with leaders, peers, and subordinates of a gender, color, ethnicity, and/or religion different from your own?
I will be successful in working with those of various backgrounds because of my extensive exposure to
various cultures of different races and beliefs.
I emigrated from China to Illinois at a young age, and had to overcome the challenge of interacting with
Caucasians and African-Americans without knowing the English language. Growing up, I quickly realized
that my family's culture differed from that of that of American families. When all the little boys would barter
food during lunch time, I couldn't really trade my exotic Asian cuisine for somebody's bag of chips or Capri
Sun. Future experiences like this allowed me to develop an understanding for minorities of other ethnic
groups. I moved again to Washington state and to New Mexico, where I stayed for the duration of my
childhood. In the southwest, I became immersed in the thriving Native American tribal culture, along with
the enduring Hispanic influence on the region. When I later moved to upstate New York, I grew
accustomed to the very diverse demographics of Polish, Italian, Jewish, Indian, and Middle-Eastern people
in my school and community.
Through the discovery of myself among the diverse American society, I've learned how to cooperate with
those of races and cultures in the scholastic, athletic, and work environments. I have achieved a wide
degree of compatibility, eager to sacrifice my own interest in order to maintain harmony with others. My
flexibility proves versatile even in the most stressful encounters, and I am never hindered by variations in
the identities of my colleagues because I know race does not affect one's capacity for effort and teamwork.
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