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.
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.