From the Nominator

Upon graduating from West Point, our alumni commit to at least five years of active duty service, directing diverse teams across the Armed Forces in a global operating environment. The service to the nation is a first-class experience distinct from their peers at the undergraduate level. While the traditional undergraduate experience provides students access to career services programs, these opportunities are all but non-existent for West Point cadets groomed to become junior officers immediately after graduation. The goal at West Point is to place 100% of 1,000+ annual graduates into active duty military service. The West Point Association of Graduates provides enrolled cadets career services that would fall contradictory to the West Point mission, providing them with training that would allow placement in non-military positions. In navigating today’s competitive job market among industry-experienced peers, West Point alumni provided consistently overwhelming feedback that career assistance was the area where they needed the most support. As a result, WPAOG launched a full-service alumni career services program in April of 2019, pioneering this first-of-its-kind offering among all federal service academies.

From the Judges

This entry serves as an example that there is always room for measurable and significant improvement. West Point is in a unique position for career services, seeing that their student population will already have placement. Their older alumni population will be those that benefit from a career center. They have demonstrated clearly that they know their audience and have catered to their specific needs. This entry is also a great example of how other schools can work with their alumni throughout their life cycle to provide life-long benefits and support.