Exchange Database
Chinese cadets' numbers rise in US military academies
For China-born William Wang, who just graduated from West Point, serving in the military is a way of showing his interest in "the prosperity of this nation". Aside from "the sense of purpose, pride and discipline" of the military, what also attracted Lt Wang to the military was the opportunity to promote Chinese Americans' voice in US society, which he thinks is disproportionately weak. Chinese Americans, he said, "typically favor careers in medicine, business, law and academia". But, he added: "their cultural stigma about military service diminishes their social leadership and political influence." With Asian-American enrollment in US military academies steadily on the rise over the last four years, the percentage of Asian-American students peaked with the class of 2017.
Outcomes:
At the US Military Academy at West Point, for example, the class of 2009 had 62 Asian Americans or 5 percent of the class, according to the school's public affairs office. The class of 2017 has 84 Asian Americans, or 7 percent. At the US Coast Guard Academy, the percentage of Asian-American students has remained in the 4-to-6 percent range since 2009, according to the school. At the US Naval Academy, the portions are 3.6 percent in the class of 2014 and 7.1 percent in the class of 2017, numbers from the school show. Wang, who immigrated to the US from China with his family at the age of 12 and graduated valedictorian of his Virginia high school class, said that thanks to enhanced protection, racial discrimination against minorities was no longer a serious issue at West Point.
Government?:
No
Type of Exchange:
education/science
military
Partners:
US Military Academy at West Point
Sponsor(s):
US Military Academy at West Point
Participants (Types):
Asian-American cadets
Exchange Date:
Wednesday, May 28, 2014 to Thursday, August 28, 2014
Continuing:
No
Image:
Location:
West Point, New York
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