fˈɑːloʊɪŋ ɡɹˌædʒuːˈeɪʃən fɹʌm kˈænzəs sˈɪɾi sˈɛntɹəl hˈaɪ skˈuːl ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti fˈaɪv hiː ɐtˈɛndᵻd ðə juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts mˈɪlətˌɛɹi ɐkˈædəmi æt wˈɛst pˈɔɪnt, ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾɪŋ ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd æz ɐ sˈɛkənd luːtˈɛnənt ʌv kˈævəlɹi.
Following graduation from Kansas City Central High School in 1895 he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1900 as a second lieutenant of cavalry.