At U.S. military academies, Eagle Scouts and former Scouts are everywhere

By Bryan Wendell April 20, 2017 26 Eagle Scout, Scouts BSA

Update, April 24: Merchant Marine Academy numbers added.

Scouts who enter our nation’s military academies find themselves with a leg up on their classmates.

Leadership, patriotism and service? Those are characteristics Scouts are known for.

No surprise, then, that student applications from cadets and midshipmen at U.S. military academies reveal an impressive number of Eagle Scouts and former Scouts.

Here’s a look, academy by academy.

U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

There are 4,200 total cadets enrolled at the academy.

That includes:

  • 716 Scouts (17.0 percent)
  • 425 Eagle Scouts (10.1 percent)

Also worth noting:

  • The academy provides camping facilities to Scout groups. Learn more here.
  • The academy will send congratulatory letters to new Eagle Scouts. Go here for more.

U.S. Military Academy (West Point, N.Y.)

In April 2017, West Point released a class profile that averages data about cadets since 2012.

The academy admits an average of 1,183 cadets per class.

That includes:

  • 239 Eagle Scouts (20.2 percent)

Also worth noting:

  • The West Point Camporee, an invitation-only event sponsored by the U.S. Military Academy, is happening at the end of April. Activities include knot tying, a leadership reaction course, RB-15 (Zodiac) paddle, fire building, fitness challenge, Commander’s Challenge, land navigation, wilderness survival, first aid and more. Find more on the West Point Scoutmasters’ Council Facebook page and see this Boys’ Life video from the event.

U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis, Md.)

The Naval Academy keeps robust statistics on Scouting participation among its midshipmen.

In the Class of 2016, there were 918 male midshipmen.

That includes:

  • 186 Scouts (20.3 percent)
  • 109 Eagle Scouts (11.9 percent)

Also worth noting:

Detailed statistics on male midshipmen:

Class of… Class size Scouts Scouts % Eagle Scouts Eagle %
1988 1236 355 28.7% 87 7.0%
1989 1237 349 28.2% 97 7.8%
1990 1227 349 28.4% 85 6.9%
1991 1199 308 25.7% 104 8.7%
1992 1204 244 20.3% 84 7.0%
1993 1264 356 28.2% 119 9.4%
1994 1092 221 20.2% 83 7.6%
1995 990 279 28.2% 84 8.5%
1996 1069 314 29.4% 106 9.9%
1997 1015 276 27.2% 101 10.0%
1998 1018 250 24.6% 98 9.6%
1999 962 292 30.4% 138 14.3%
2000 1011 268 26.5% 114 11.3%
2001 961 252 26.2% 129 13.4%
2002 1036 228 22.0% 95 9.2%
2003 1029 278 27.0% 114 11.1%
2004 1021 257 25.2% 126 12.3%
2005 1040 267 25.7% 130 12.5%
2006 1025 264 25.8% 128 12.5%
2007 1019 248 24.3% 139 13.6%
2008 988 238 24.1% 140 14.2%
2009 990 230 23.2% 147 14.8%
2010 960 246 25.6% 129 13.4%
2011 948 239 25.2% 131 13.8%
2012 1005 232 23.1% 125 12.4%
2013 995 243 24.4% 133 13.4%
2014 988 208 21.1% 110 11.1%
2015 989 193 19.5% 95 9.6%
2016 918 186 20.3% 109 11.9%
2017 931 182 19.5% 100 10.7%
2018 896 184 20.5% 116 12.9%
2019 866 173 20.0% 118 13.6%
2020 852 147 17.3% 104 12.2%

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point, N.Y.)

There are 279 cadets in the Class of 2020.

That includes:

  • 58 who were Scouts (20.8 percent)
  • 34 who are Eagle Scouts (12.2 percent)

Worth noting:

  • The Merchant Marine Academy hosts the Kings Point Camporee this month, where some 300 Boy Scouts will participate in tours, hands-on demonstrations and simulations.

U.S. Coast Guard Academy (New London, Conn.)

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not ask about Scouting participation on its applications.

Worth noting:

Hat tip: Thanks to the BSA’s Scott Olson for the data.


About Bryan Wendell 3281 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.