It's just one month?

[LordJohnMarbury]

Good morning/afternoon/evening, highly distinguished individuals,
Here's my question: how strict ARE the age requirements for admission into West Point anyway? For clarification, I turn 17 on July 31st, a few months after I graduate high school. I know that you have to turn 17 by July 1st, but has there been an exception? Is it true that I would have to wait another year to apply? If so, would I begin my application during my senior year instead of my junior year?
Your insight is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

 

[Capt MJ]

I suspect that is a hard boundary with very few and unique exceptions, but you can always contact USMA Admissions, your official source, to confirm that one way or another. The sooner the better, so you can plan appropriately for your alternate approach.
You typically open your application the calendar year before you would report in the summer.
if you are indeed too young to report, you can plan to attend college, take and excel in a plebe-like course of studies, perhaps join an AROTC unit and gain a nomination from them, along with others you apply for from elected officials and VP. That allows you to gain professional training, grow and mature in a college environment, and likely live away from home and gain skills in that area. If you don’t get into USMA the first time or any other time you apply, you would them already be on your way to a commission as an Army officer, which is presumably your goal.

 

[professorm804]

Good morning/afternoon/evening, highly distinguished individuals,
Here's my question: how strict ARE the age requirements for admission into West Point anyway? For clarification, I turn 17 on July 31st, a few months after I graduate high school. I know that you have to turn 17 by July 1st, but has there been an exception? Is it true that I would have to wait another year to apply? If so, would I begin my application during my senior year instead of my junior year?
Your insight is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

To speculate, I believe it is because during CBT you need to sign many different forms for like vaccinations, your cadet accounts, etc. which therefore requires you to be at least 17. I would still ask though.

 

[dddad]

Good morning/afternoon/evening, highly distinguished individuals,
Here's my question: how strict ARE the age requirements for admission into West Point anyway? For clarification, I turn 17 on July 31st, a few months after I graduate high school. I know that you have to turn 17 by July 1st, but has there been an exception? Is it true that I would have to wait another year to apply? If so, would I begin my application during my senior year instead of my junior year?
Your insight is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

The requirement is statutory - not just a rule made up by the SA that it can re-write. Then again, there are almost always exceptions to everything. This is one that you should reach out to admissions before you start down a path that doesn't really exist. As usual, heed Capt MJ's sage advice!

 

[OldRetSWO]

To speculate, I believe it is because during CBT you need to sign many different forms for like vaccinations, your cadet accounts, etc. which therefore requires you to be at least 17. I would still ask though.

No
US military minimum age is 17, not 16 and 11 months or whatever. Eighteen is actually the age of majority and typically the age at which someone is allowed to sign forms but the US military has allowed 17 yr of age as a minimum for accession for a very long time.

 

[penguin05]

I don't know the answer to your question, but your screen name brought back fond memories of The West Wing Time to visit the What to watch thread

 

[nuensis]

By law: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/7446. As opposed to policy, not something any of the military services can waiver or otherwise bend. This includes the prep schools, since you enlist for those as well.

A while back, an age waiver was allowed as part of the yearly NDAA to grant >23 age waivers for servicemembers that served in OIF/OEF. But those kinds of exceptions are enacted and authorized by Congress.

Judging by the original post, you're applying too early anyway. You apply senior year, not junior year.