Two Army football coaches and nearly two dozen players at West Point Academy have confessed to trying to recruit players using underage drinking and a cheerleader party bus.

In a letter released by Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen, the West Point Military Academy admits an internal investigation uncovered recruitment misconduct by cadets, Army football players, coaches and recruits, stemming from an underage booze bus trip with cheerleaders to the Palisades Mall in January.

Campus administrators confirm two officers have been temporarily suspended from their football duties and say the incidents have been reported to the NCAA.

Caslen said 20 cadets at the heart of the scandal were given maximum punishments. They were not suspended from games, however. "I believe all those involved in this incident have learned from their mistakes, corrected their behavior accordingly and will have the character to be the leaders our nation expects of its West Point graduates," Caslen said in a statement.

As part of their punishment, West Point officials say the cadets involved will not be eligible for rank or leadership opportunities. The academy, meanwhile, was not penalized by the NCAA as a result of the latest allegations.

The academy did not want to go on camera about the allegations or the investigation.

Army's next game is against Air Force on Saturday.