Female US general to oversee cadets at West Point academy

In this Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, photo, cadets cheer during the first half of an NCAA college football game between Army and Fordham in West Point, N.Y. More than a dozen students were injured during the annual pillow fight by first year cadets on Aug. 20, 2015. The Pentagon has appointed a women to oversee the cadets. AP

WASHINGTON, United States — The Pentagon has for the first time appointed a woman to oversee cadets at the prestigious US Military Academy at West Point, officials announced Tuesday.

Brigadier General Diana Holland, a veteran of the US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, will assume her position as the 76th commandant of cadets in January.

She will work under the academy’s superintendent and will be in charge of training West Point’s more than 4,000 cadets.

The academy, founded in 1802 and located in New York state, provides education and training to aspiring military officers. Tuition and all expenses are fully paid.

“It’s a privilege to be part of the team that trains and develops leaders of character for our Army,” Holland said in a statement.

The acting secretary of the Army, Eric Fanning, praised her appointment.

“Diana’s operational and command experiences will bring a new and diverse perspective to West Point’s leadership team,” he said.

Though the position was not closed to women, Holland’s announcement comes as the Pentagon works to incorporate more females into the military — especially in leadership roles.

Pentagon chief Ashton Carter this month ordered the military to open all positions — including combat roles — to women.