At West Point, 'Goats' Are an Exclusive Bunch

Wall Street journal ^ | 11-27-12 | Ben Fox Rubin

[afraidfortherepublic]

When cadet Roberto Becerra Jr. walked onstage to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2007, the entire ceremony ground to a halt as he, before a crowd of thousands, transformed into a goat.

For this achievement, Mr. Becerra received a rousing ovation and was handed an envelope stuffed with cash.

In a 210-year-old military academy bristling with traditions, "the goat" is a curious custom that one might not expect to find at a school better known for its selectivity and high standards. Yet every year, the last-ranking cadet to make it through to graduation is anointed the goat, showered with praise, given a dollar from every other fellow graduate—amounting to roughly $1,000—and granted the biggest applause at the graduation ceremony.

"It did come as a shock when I was told that I was the goat," said Mr. Becerra, 29 years old, of El Paso, Texas. "At first I honestly had mixed feelings about it. I was like, 'Well, I don't know if I should take this as an accomplishment or as a scarlet letter.' "

While the title is in many ways a joke, the distinctive mix of the school's prestige, the tradition's long history and the achievements of many goats of decades past lends the name an unlikely significance, making it perhaps the most exclusive last-place award there is.

The origins of the goat are a mystery, but the earliest written reference to the term goes back to 1886, according to author and historian James S. Robbins. Mr. Robbins counts the collection of goat stories as a cherished hobby, and eventually wrote a book about them, called "Last in Their Class."

In most cases, Mr. Robbins said, a goat either tried hard but just barely made it through ~snip~

[Gamecock]

Nothing quantifiable.
I base my statement on knowing several Cadets who are currently there. They are rather disappointed with the level of work that is required.

Last summer I ran across an ROTC Cadet at WP who was participating in summer field training. I asked him what he thought about the training. He looked around to make sure no one was within ear shot and told me that his ROTC field training was much more challenging.

[S.O.S121.500]

The last-place graduate from medical school is called a “Doctor”. :=)

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Point well made........touche’ to boot.

[AbnSarge]

I’ve been stationed down-range three deployments with the better-ranked graduates in the classes, and I’ll take a ROTC grad any day.

[Gamecock]

The last-place graduate from medical school is called a “Doctor”. :=)

....and works in a Doc-In-The-Box...Weekends....Night Shift