Marine Military Academy

Courses offered include regular high school classes as well as honors courses, Advanced Placement authorized courses and dual enrollment courses for which college credit may be earned. Most courses are taught year-long.

Cadets have required attendance at tutorials if they are failing any classes. There are no make-ups for failed exams or missed homework assignments without acceptable reasons and mandatory Closed Call to Quarters (time set aside each evening in the barracks for the completion of homework and studying for exams).

The school has summer programs including a four-week hell summer camp for boys 13–17, as well as ESL classes for foreign students.

All cadets are required to participate in one of the offered extracurricular activities during the afternoon activity period which goes from approximately 4:00–5:30 P.M. The goal of the program is to provide all cadets an opportunity to participate in sports activities regardless of their skill level. Additional athletic activities conducted at the school include judo, boxing, rock climbing, cycling, PFT team, and drill.

Beginning with the 2000–2001 school year, varsity sports began competing in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (T.A.P.P.S.) for statewide honors. Also offered at the eighth grade level is the V.I.S.A. program (Valley Independent School Association), with yearlong competition in various sports. As they are not permitted to participate in TAPPS competitive activities until they reach grade nine, this program provides eighth graders the opportunity to participate in volleyball, basketball, soccer and track and field sports against other member private schools.

The Marine Military Academy established one of the first Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (MCJROTC) in the nation.[1] All cadets are members of the MCJROTC unit, unless they fail to qualify for full membership because of age or citizenship. In this case they receive the training as associate members.

Cadets are assigned to one of five company barracks, supervised by a drill instructor and assistant drill instructor. Introductory training lasts for four weeks, during which new cadets are taught varied general military skills and knowledge. These include military rank structure, uniforms, close order drill. They also undergo training on rappelling, a confidence course, obstacle course and high ropes course. Introductory training, also called the plebe system, is supervised by cadet NCOs serving as cadet instructors, who are supervised by a cadet officer, usually the public affairs officer or executive officer of the company. A parade is held at the end of the training during which the plebes place the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor on their garrison cover to symbolize the transformation from plebe to cadet.

Cadets come from various cultural backgrounds, including students from approximately forty-one states and eight foreign countries. Cadets from Mexico make up the largest complement of international students, but the school includes cadets from China.

Rank structure

The cadet rank structure is based on the United States Marine Corps rank and billet system, with the addition of Cadet before the title.

Eighth grade students cannot advance beyond Cadet Lance Corporal, and freshmen cannot exceed the rank of Cadet Corporal. However, eighth graders and freshmen more often serve as non-rates, those ranks up to c/Lance Corporal that are not non-commissioned officers. As a sophomore, a cadet may be promoted to an NCO rank. Juniors make up most of the Academy's staff NCOs.

Seniors are generally promoted to officer rank. They hold positions of command responsibility, as Platoon Commanders, Company Executive Officers, Company Commanders, Battalion Executive Officers, and Battalion Commanders. There are also many other Battalion Staff and Company Staff positions available for seniors not in billets of command.

Officer Insignia
Officer Rank	c/Colonel	c/Lieutenant Colonel	c/Major	c/Captain	c/1st Lieutenant	c/2nd Lieutenant
Enlisted Insignia									(No insignia)	(No insignia)
Enlisted Rank	c/Sergeant Major	c/First Sergeant	c/Gunnery Sergeant	c/Staff Sergeant	c/Sergeant	c/Corporal	c/Lance Corporal	c/PFC	c/Private	Plebe

• Dale Hellestrae, NFL player, Dallas Cowboys.
• Major General Jeffery L. Harrigan, USAF
• Rear Admiral Joseph Horn, USN

The Academy has been the subject of some controversy regarding its supervision of cadets on campus. Beginning in 1995, parents began a class action for hazing, abuse, and lack of supervision. Debra Wayne organized a group of over 100 parents of cadets to join together against the environment. Debra Wayne began criminal and civil action. The two cadets who committed the attack were discovered, arrested and charged. Both were dealt with through the Texas judicial system. The Wayne case was settled out of court in 2002.

Since the incident the school has improved security by installing room locks, adding video security systems and hiring additional adult supervision in the barracks.[2][3]

Iwo Jima Monument (1982).

The Iwo Jima monument, located on the Marine Military Academy grounds, is the original model, a creation of Dr. Felix de Weldon, and was used for the casting of the monument erected at Arlington National Cemetery.[4] After completion of the monument, this sculpture was placed in storage until the early 1980s when its creator donated it to the Marine Military Academy. Donations were collected to fund the transport and reassembly of the monument, which was supervised by Dr. de Weldon. On April 16, 1982, the monument was officially dedicated. The Marine Military Academy is also the final resting place of Corporal Harlon Block,[5] formerly a resident of Weslaco, Texas, one of the Marines immortalized in the famous photo of the flag-raising on Iwo Jima from which the sculpture is modeled.

• Maj Gen Wayne Rollings, past President of the Academy
• Walter Stauffer McIlhenny, Brigadier general in the Marine Corps and benefactor of the Academy
• Edward H. Hurst, Brigadier general in the Marine Corps and later Superintendent of the Academy 1968-1972
• George S. Bowman Jr., Major general in the Marine Corps and later Superintendent of the Academy 1972-1979
• Peacock Military Academy
• TMI Episcopal
• Texas Marine Corps

• Marine Military Academy
• History of military schools in the US
• Veterans Day
• History of Marine Corps JROTC