The U.S. Military Academy at West Point will go ahead with its in-person graduation ceremony this year.

About 1,000 cadets who were sent home for safety reasons are now being recalled for the ceremony. President Donald Trump will deliver the commencement address.

Will Goodwin is a West Point graduate who now works for the nation's largest progressive veterans military families organization, Vote Vets.

He says he is against an in-person commencement ceremony, saying the president is using it for his own political benefit.

"The risk that's posed by bringing them back from all across the country, having to travel, go through airports…and then come back to New York state, which as we know has been so hard hit by the coronavirus, puts them in a great deal of risk," he says.

In response to an onslaught of criticism, the Army issued a statement saying in part, "We are fully committed to the health and safety of our cadets, and believe we can safely conduct the graduation ceremony and associated activities. We are putting the appropriate measures in place to respond to the COVID-19 crisis and to protect our force, cadets and families."

The upcoming in-person graduation at West Point is in contrast to what's being done at the Naval Academy. Due to coronavirus concerns, the academy will virtually commission midshipmen in the Class of 2020.

Just over a week ago, Vice President Mike Pence delivered an in-person commencement address at the Air Force Academy graduation in Colorado Springs. Cadets followed social distancing guidelines.

West Point's graduation is scheduled for June 13.

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