Hello, I'm new here.
I'm sorry this is long, but I don't know where to get this information, and I'm really hoping someone here has information for me!!
* BACKGROUND--
My son is a high school sophomore and is seriously considering applying to USMA. We've read through the requirements, read a lot of websites (official and unofficial) and watched a lot of youtube videos, and I think we have a general idea of how it all works.
I think my son has a good chance of admission-- he's strong and athletic, is outgoing and charismatic with many leadership experiences, and is very intelligent (last year, in 9th grade, he scored a 32 on the ACT with near perfect math and science subscores).
My son loves his country and thinks he would make a good soldier and military leader. He knows he's smart and feels that it is his duty to use his intelligence to make his country (and the world in general) a better and safer place rather than just use his intelligence to make money in the corporate world. He loves creative problem solving and strategy and sees himself in a future career working in military intelligence or for the CIA, FBI, etc.
But, in seriously considering West Point, he and I were wondering-- What is the political climate of the service academies?
My son is scientifically minded, atheist, progressive, and liberal. He is very turned off by reflexive patriotism and nationalism.
Here's an example to explain what I mean--
With the recent Kaepernick media coverage, my son sided with those who supported Kaepernick. Conservatives tend to say that Kaepernick was anti-American and that by not standing for the national anthem he was disrespecting the soldiers who died to protect our country.
My son disagreed. He believes that Kaepernick is being a good American because he bravely participated in the fundamental right of American citizens to peacefully demonstrate. My son believes that when someone sees a way in which America needs to improve (such as racial inequality), then that person has an obligation as an American citizen to bring attention to the area that needs improvement like Kaepernick did with his anthem protest.
In my son's opinion, *that's* what makes a great American-- someone who is brave enough to fight to make necessary changes, *not* someone who reflexively says this country is great and that anyone who suggests a need for improvement is anti-American.
Anyway, my son is pro-science, pro-choice, pro-marriage equality, pro-gun control, and generally aligns himself with progressive liberal ideals. He is also pro-military, but here is the south, the only people that seem to be pro-military are conservatives with the opposite views as my son.
So, would my son, as a liberal/progressive, intellectual/scientist type, have a place as USMA? Are West Point cadets/faculty mostly conservative or is it a mix?
I appreciate any advice you might have!