<p>As I understand it, “active duty” for West Point cadets begins on day 1 at the academy. (not sure about ROTC) or other service academies. The cadets are assigned to West Point and are not sent anywhere else except in the course of normal training. Should the Army decide to send them into “combat” they could do so at anytime during the 4 years of West Point but that occurance while it has happened once or twice in the last couple of hundred years, isnt likely. In times of national crisis (WW!, WW2, Civil War) West Point has accelerated the training and graduated classes early (in some cases after only 2 or 3 years) in order to meet the urgent needs of the Army. As far as being sent into combat after graduation, in a time of war, EXPECT it and you wont be surprised.</p>