MacArthur's vision of what was required of an officer came not just from his recent experience of combat in France, but also from that of the occupation of the Rhineland in Germany. The military government of the Rhineland had required the Army to deal with political, economic and social problems but he had found that many West Point graduates had little or no knowledge of fields outside of the military sciences. During the war, West Point had been reduced to little more than an officer candidate school, with five classes being graduated in two years. Cadet and staff morale was low and hazing "at an all-time peak of viciousness". MacArthur's first change turned out to be the easiest. Congress had set the length of the course at three years. MacArthur was able to get the four-year course restored.
MacArthur's vision of what was required of an officer came not just from his recent experience of combat in France but also from that of the occupation of the Rhineland in Germany The military government of the Rhineland had required the Army to deal with political economic and social problems but he had found that many West Point graduates had little or no knowledge of fields outside of the military sciences During the war West Point had been reduced to little more than an officer candidate school with five classes being graduated in two years Cadet and staff morale was low and hazing "at an all-time peak of viciousness" MacArthur's first change turned out to be the easiest Congress had set the length of the course at three years MacArthur was able to get the four-year course restored