New Mexico Military Institute

New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) is a public military junior college in Roswell, New Mexico. Founded in 1891, NMMI operates under the auspices of the State of New Mexico, under a dedicated Board of Regents that reports to the Governor of New Mexico. A land-grant institution located in the city center of Roswell, New Mexico, NMMI enrolls nearly 1,000 cadets at the junior college and high school levels each year. NMMI is the only state-supported military college located in the western United States and has many notable alumni that have served at senior levels in the military and private sector.

New Mexico Military Institute
NMMI
Statue in Bronco Plaza
Address
101 West College Blvd.

Roswell
,
Chaves County
,
New Mexico
88201

United States
Coordinates33°24′36″N 104°31′29″W
Information
School typeHigh School & Junior College (Military)
MottoDuty, Honor, Achievement
Religious affiliation(s)Non-Denominational
Founded1891
FounderJoseph C. Lea, Robert S. Goss
NCES District ID350225000984
Grades9-14
GenderCo-educational
Age range13-23
Number of students914
Average class size15
CampusCity
300 acres (1.2 km2)
Color(s)Red and black
NicknameThe Old Post
Team nameBroncos (College), Colts (High School)
AccreditationAdvancED Commission
Tuition$21,305/year (out-of-state) $14,823/year (in-state)
President/SuperintendentMajor General(Ret. US Army) Jerry Grizzle
Academic DeanBrigadier General(Ret. USAF) Douglas Murray
Commandant of CadetsLieutenant Colonel(Ret. US Army) Jonathan Graff
Websitewww.nmmi.edu
New Mexico Military Institute Historic District
LocationRoughly bounded by Nineteenth and N. Main Sts., College Blvd. and Kentucky Ave., Roswell, New Mexico
Area64 acres (26 ha)
Built1907 (1907)
ArchitectI.H. Rapp, et al.
Architectural styleLate Gothic Revival
MPSRoswell New Mexico MRA
NRHP reference No.87000907[1]
NMSRCP No.1008
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMay 7, 1987
Designated NMSRCPJune 8, 1984

Academic school years at NMMI usually begin with nearly 1,000 cadets enrolled, with slight attrition occurring during the school year due to the demanding nature of academic and physical requirements on students. The school's two-year Army ROTC Early Commissioning Program (ECP) commissions approximately 30 cadets each year as U.S. Army second lieutenants, and almost 100 cadets each year go to one of the five major United States Service academies.[2]

The school's motto is "Duty, Honor, and Achievement." NMMI's athletic teams are the Broncos (junior college) and the Colts (high school). The school's colors are scarlet and black. The Cadet Honor Code, which was voted into place by a unanimous vote of the Corps of Cadets in 1921, states "A Cadet Will Not Lie, Cheat, or Steal, Nor Tolerate Those Who Do" and is administered by an Honor Board of Cadets, advised by Cadre and Staff.

History
New Mexico Military Institute, 1904

New Mexico Military Institute was founded by Colonel Robert S. Goss and Captain Joseph C. Lea in 1891, originally as the Goss Military Institute, with an initial enrollment of 38 students. It was recognized by the territorial legislature and renamed NMMI in 1893. While the legislature had recognized the school, it failed to provide funding, and the school was forced to close its doors on "Bad Friday", March 29, 1895. In the winter of 1894-1895 a funding bill was prepared and approved by the legislature. James J. Hagerman donated a 40-acre (16 ha) tract of land which became the current location of the institute. The school reopened in the fall of 1898.[3]

Hundreds of graduates served in World War I and World War II, including Medal of Honor recipient John C. Morgan[4] and hotelier Conrad Hilton of the Hilton Hotels chain. In 1948, the institute introduced a four-year liberal arts college program but discontinued it in 1956. The school became fully coeducational in 1977, although some females had attended as non-cadet day students from 1891 to 1898. The current superintendent, Major General (retired) Jerry W. Grizzle, was appointed in 2010.

In 2013, the institute broke off relations with the alumni association over disagreement about finances.[5][6] Members of the alumni association claimed that this was an effort by the school to gain access and control of the over $5.2 million in assets of the association.[7][8] On June 10, 2013, the school filed a lawsuit in Chaves County to take control of the assets of the alumni association.[9] Editorial response to the institute's actions has been generally negative, calling it a "hijacking" of the group and its resources.[10] On April 21, 2015, the Fifth Judicial District Court found that the alumni association had not breached its agreement with NMMI and that NMMI had "improperly terminated" the agreement.[11][12] The judge required the association to turn over the funds.

Campus
Winter view of the north side of Hagerman Barracks with Pearson Auditorium in the background

The original area of land for the campus was donated to the school by local rancher James J. Hagerman, for whom the main barracks complex is named.[4] The institute's buildings are made in a uniform Gothic Revival style out of buff brick. Its architecture and organization was inspired by the Virginia Military Institute. The campus is a designated area on the National Register of Historic Places.

Hagerman Barracks, looking south toward Sally Port

Cadet life

Cadets are organized into a Corps of Cadets, following the organization of a cavalry regiment with a Headquarters Troop that comprises the Marching Band. The regiment comprises three squadrons consisting of four to five troops each. Cadets are structured into classes, 6th Class (9th grade high school equivalent) through 1st Class (college sophomore). Cadets are all treated on the basis of earned merit. The military boarding school environment is maintained by the cadet leadership, with all academic classes, meals, and military and physical training occurring "on post" (on campus) in a controlled environment. Based on the rank structure of the Virginia Military Institute, cadets start out as New Cadets, also known as RATs (recruits at training). College and High school cadets are RATs for one semester, then the next semester are known as yearlings, and after the one year mark they are called Old Cadets. Cadets also earn Junior or Senior Army ROTC positions outside of the Corps. These factors determine a cadet's privileges and authority and define social interactions at the institute.

Rules are enforced using a system of tours and demerits. A tour is simply one full hour of marching in uniform with a rifle. Cadets with excessive demerits may be put on disciplinary probation, in which many of their privileges are taken away. Similarly, cadets who fail to meet standards of academic performance are put on academic probation, in which their privileges are largely revoked. Punishment at the institute is strict and quickly administered by the cadre and staff of the institute when regulations are not followed. Leaving post is generally only authorized on weekends, holidays and during family visits.

Athletics

The football team, the Broncos, competes in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference with six Texas schools and one Oklahoma school. Its other sports compete in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference. The high school football team is the Colts.

Notable alumni

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "New Mexico Military Institute - Roswell, New Mexico/NM - Boarding School Profile". Boarding School Review. 2008-02-14. Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  3. Porter, COL Edward J. D. (1983). The Pictorial History of New Mexico Military Institute, 1891-1983. NMMI Alumni Association. pp. 5–9.
  4. New Cadet Required Knowledge and Skills Qualification Book. 2013.
  5. Uyttebrouck, Olivier (March 8, 2013). "Regents tell NMMI alumni group to fix finances". Albuquerque Journal. p. C2. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  6. "NMMI severs ties with alumni association". KFDA-TV. April 27, 2013. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  7. Romo, Rene (May 22, 2013). "NMMI breaks with alumni group". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  8. Vallez, Kim (6 August 2013). "Military Institute wants alumni association". KRQE. Archived from the original on 16 August 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  9. "New Mexico Military Institute v. NMMI Alumni Association, Inc". June 10, 2013.
  10. "Bearing the weight of failure". Albuquerque Journal. June 4, 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  11. Brunt, Charles D. "NMMI regents cut off alumni group again". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  12. Tucker, Jeff (April 22, 2015). "Judge: $5M of alumni funds belong to NMMI". Roswell Daily Record. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
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