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On July 7, 1976, 119 women joined the Corps of Cadets, establishing the first class of women in the US Military Academy at West Point. LTC Ford was in this class, I believe.
The first women of West Point
Posted from army.milPosted in these groups: 
American History
Military History
United States Military Academy (USMA West Point)
Women in the Military
Rights
American History Military History United States Military Academy (USMA West Point) Women in the Military Rights
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 14
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Thank you SGT (Join to see) for mentioning the USMA Class of 1980.
Image: 1980 Women of West Point class of 1980 at Trophy Point in class uniform; Class of 1980 Women at West Point; Company H-3 graduating members of Class of 1980
1. Yes, I was appointed to the class of 1980 and graduated with that class [913 graduated including 62 women]. In July 1976, 1,465 cadets were admitted to the class of 1980; 6 died, 913 graduated
2. I was also part of the United States Military Academy Preparatory School (USMAPS] class of 1976 which was the class to include women as cadet candidates. 179 USMAPS cadet candidates were admitted as cadets in the class of 1980 on July 3, 1976.
3. The class of 1980 included women in 25% percent of the 36 companies. The concept was to have four women in each company for companionship, security, etc. Separate bathrooms and showers were established in each company are with women billeted directly across the bathrooms. [I expect USNA and USAFA used a similar process]
4. Each year approximately the same number of women were admitted and 25% more companies included women. My company was H-3. We had women in our company beginning in 1977 [class of 1981] and more women were added in my company in 1979 [class of 1983].
5. I am connected with many of my classmates including most of the women.
Background:
1. PUBLIC LAW 94-106—OCT. 7, 1975 established the authorization for women to be admitted as cadets/midshipmen in United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy, and United States Air Force Academy beginning in calendar year 1976 [July 1976]
"SEC. 803. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the 10 USC 4342 administration of chapter 403 of title 10, United States Code (relating to the United States Military Academy), chapter 603 of such title (relating to the United States Naval Academy), and chapter 903 of such title (relating to the United States Air Force Academy), the Secretary of the military department concerned shall take such action as may be necessary and appropriate to insure that (1) female individuals shall be eligible for appointment and admission to the service academy concerned, beginning with appointments to such academy for the class beginning in calendar year 1976, and (2) the academic and other relevant standards required for appointment, admission, training, graduation, and commissioning of female individuals shall be the same as those required for male individuals, except for those minimum essential adjustments in such standards required because of physiological
differences between male and female individuals.
(b) Title 10, United States Code, is amended as follows:
(1) Sections 4342, 6954, and 9342 are each amended by striking out the word "sons" wherever it appears therein and inserting in place thereof in each instance the word "children".
(2) Section 6956(d) is amended by striking out the word "men" wherever it appears therein and inserting in place thereof in each instance the word "members".
(c) It is the sense of Congress that, subject to the provisions of subsection (a), the Secretaries of the military departments shall, under the direction of the Secretary of Defense, continue to exercise the
authority granted them in chapters 403, 603 and 903 of title 10, United States Code, but such authority must be exercised within a program providing for the orderly and expeditious admission of women to the academies, consistent with the needs of the services, with the implementation
of such program upon enactment of this Act.
[89 STAT. 538 PUBLIC LAW 94-106—OCT. 7, 1975]
2. Graduating: "Class of 1980 members entered the Academy on 8 July 1974 (3), 7 July 1975 (18), and 7 July 1976 (892). We graduated on the following dates: 28 May, 26 June, 24 July, 18 August, 9 September, and 20 December 1980. Our Graduation Address was given by The Honorable Harold Brown, Secretary of Defense."
Thanks for mentioning me Lt Col Charlie Brown and LTC Stephen C.
FYI SGT John MeredithMSgt John McGowanMSgt David M.LTC Jeff ShearerSGT Philip RoncariLt Col Jim CoeCWO3 Dennis M.SGT (Join to see)PO3 Bob McCordSgt Albert Castro1SG John MillanSSgt Boyd Herrst SGT Jim ArnoldSFC Randy PurhamCDR (Join to see) MSG Brian Ross PO3 Phyllis Maynard
Image: 1980 Women of West Point class of 1980 at Trophy Point in class uniform; Class of 1980 Women at West Point; Company H-3 graduating members of Class of 1980
1. Yes, I was appointed to the class of 1980 and graduated with that class [913 graduated including 62 women]. In July 1976, 1,465 cadets were admitted to the class of 1980; 6 died, 913 graduated
2. I was also part of the United States Military Academy Preparatory School (USMAPS] class of 1976 which was the class to include women as cadet candidates. 179 USMAPS cadet candidates were admitted as cadets in the class of 1980 on July 3, 1976.
3. The class of 1980 included women in 25% percent of the 36 companies. The concept was to have four women in each company for companionship, security, etc. Separate bathrooms and showers were established in each company are with women billeted directly across the bathrooms. [I expect USNA and USAFA used a similar process]
4. Each year approximately the same number of women were admitted and 25% more companies included women. My company was H-3. We had women in our company beginning in 1977 [class of 1981] and more women were added in my company in 1979 [class of 1983].
5. I am connected with many of my classmates including most of the women.
Background:
1. PUBLIC LAW 94-106—OCT. 7, 1975 established the authorization for women to be admitted as cadets/midshipmen in United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy, and United States Air Force Academy beginning in calendar year 1976 [July 1976]
"SEC. 803. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the 10 USC 4342 administration of chapter 403 of title 10, United States Code (relating to the United States Military Academy), chapter 603 of such title (relating to the United States Naval Academy), and chapter 903 of such title (relating to the United States Air Force Academy), the Secretary of the military department concerned shall take such action as may be necessary and appropriate to insure that (1) female individuals shall be eligible for appointment and admission to the service academy concerned, beginning with appointments to such academy for the class beginning in calendar year 1976, and (2) the academic and other relevant standards required for appointment, admission, training, graduation, and commissioning of female individuals shall be the same as those required for male individuals, except for those minimum essential adjustments in such standards required because of physiological
differences between male and female individuals.
(b) Title 10, United States Code, is amended as follows:
(1) Sections 4342, 6954, and 9342 are each amended by striking out the word "sons" wherever it appears therein and inserting in place thereof in each instance the word "children".
(2) Section 6956(d) is amended by striking out the word "men" wherever it appears therein and inserting in place thereof in each instance the word "members".
(c) It is the sense of Congress that, subject to the provisions of subsection (a), the Secretaries of the military departments shall, under the direction of the Secretary of Defense, continue to exercise the
authority granted them in chapters 403, 603 and 903 of title 10, United States Code, but such authority must be exercised within a program providing for the orderly and expeditious admission of women to the academies, consistent with the needs of the services, with the implementation
of such program upon enactment of this Act.
[89 STAT. 538 PUBLIC LAW 94-106—OCT. 7, 1975]
2. Graduating: "Class of 1980 members entered the Academy on 8 July 1974 (3), 7 July 1975 (18), and 7 July 1976 (892). We graduated on the following dates: 28 May, 26 June, 24 July, 18 August, 9 September, and 20 December 1980. Our Graduation Address was given by The Honorable Harold Brown, Secretary of Defense."
Thanks for mentioning me Lt Col Charlie Brown and LTC Stephen C.
FYI SGT John MeredithMSgt John McGowanMSgt David M.LTC Jeff ShearerSGT Philip RoncariLt Col Jim CoeCWO3 Dennis M.SGT (Join to see)PO3 Bob McCordSgt Albert Castro1SG John MillanSSgt Boyd Herrst SGT Jim ArnoldSFC Randy PurhamCDR (Join to see) MSG Brian Ross PO3 Phyllis Maynard
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SGT (Join to see)
Thank you LTC Stephen F. for your input! I knew you could offer a unique and personal perspective!
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LTC Stephen F. we need you to weigh in on this. The AF was later and they practiced on ROTC cadets I believe
SPC Douglas Bolton SGT (Join to see) Maj Robert Thornton Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) CPT Jack Durish TSgt Joe C. CW5 Jack Cardwell Col Joseph Lenertz Sgt Randy Wilber LTC (Join to see) Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D.
SPC Douglas Bolton SGT (Join to see) Maj Robert Thornton Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) CPT Jack Durish TSgt Joe C. CW5 Jack Cardwell Col Joseph Lenertz Sgt Randy Wilber LTC (Join to see) Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D.
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LTC Stephen F.
FYI Lt Col Charlie Brown the first women were admitted as cadets/midshipmen to USMA, USNA, USAFA in July 1976 IAW PUBLIC LAW 94-106—OCT. 7, 1975. I provided an extract in my response.
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