He competed in intercollegiate equestrian riding, dressage and jumping, all four years, winning 1st place in dressage and being recognized at nationals. During his Firsty (senior) year, Jette won the Mounted Attack Saber Drill hitting all targets in the shortest time with best form. Because of his abilities on horseback, Jette became the Black Knight (West Point's mascot) and a mule rider, often charging down a cadet cordon with sword and shield in full knight garb leading the football team onto the field. On June 2, 1976, Jette graduated with a Bachelor of Science with dual concentrations (West Point did not have majors at that time) in Nuclear Engineering and Chemistry. Prior to graduation, Jette completed and passed his Professional Engineer-in-Training (EIT) exam from the State of Pennsylvania. Jette was commissioned a second lieutenant (2LT) of Armor and, subsequent to graduation, attended Armor Basic Course and Motor Officer Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky, before departing for his first assignment as platoon leader, 3rd platoon, Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR) patrolling the East German border. In addition to staff position, Jette commanded Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1/11 ACR, B company 6-32 Armor, B company 3-68 Armor, and B company 2-68 Armor. Jette was an operations officer in his staff positions as assistant S-3 and S-3 Air in 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, and assistant S-3 and acting S-3, 3rd Brigade, 8th Infantry Division. Captain Jette was then selected as S-3, 2-68 Armor Battalion, 8th Infantry Division, Baumholder Germany. The Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, General Maxwell R. Thurman, recognized the need for a highly technical future Army by establishing a program in which he selected 12 officers who had demonstrated technical competence through their education and a high degree of tactical and operational competence, Capt. Jette being one of the twelve. Jette was accepted to MIT, where he earned a Master of Science in Materials Science. His master thesis was titled "Feasibility of electrodeposition of yttrium and barium" and was published in 1991. He also earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Solid-state physics from the MIT. Upon graduation, Maj. Jette assumed duties as Science Advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Gordon R. Sullivan, authoring some of the concept papers which initiated the digital battlefield.