"There are few places that will give you the same kind of tools to do well in life that MMA has to offer."
"I would recommend MMA to students who want to excel as a leader and create a strong foundation for their future."
— Aboira Irumudomon of Orlando, Florida, Delta Company
"There are few places that will give you the same kind of tools to do well in life that MMA has to offer. By coming here, I have gained the skills it takes to be both a successful student and the meaning of a true leader — putting others before myself, and to always set the example."
— Caleb Reynolds of McAllen, Texas, Alpha Company
"After I have been here for so long, I can say that I stand up for the things I believe in. MMA has taught me to be very strong morally."
— Gabriel Gonzales of Galveston, Texas, Delta Company
"MMA allows boys the opportunity to become men. Without it, I would be just another student trying to get into college, but because of MMA, I have schools fighting over me."
— Michael McGraw of Dallas, Texas, Alpha Company
"I would recommend MMA as a challenge to anybody who wishes to better themselves mentally, physically and academically. MMA has taught me drill, military bearing and work ethic; all of which has made me more responsible, a higher achiever, and, ultimately, a better leader."
— Robert Pearson, Jr. of Las Vegas, Nevada, Delta Company
"[My son] is much better suited to succeed in life having had part of his life's journey stop at MMA."
"We are very proud of MMA and the foundation our boys received there. After graduating from the Marine Military Academy in 2000 and 2003, respectively, they both completed their education at The Citadel Military Academy of South Carolina. Matthew graduated in May of 2007 from their civil engineering program and is working for a top-notch company! Nicholas graduated from the Citadel School of Business Administration and is also working his way up the career ladder, and doing it very quickly! We are very proud of both our sons and their roots at MMA. Chase and I continue to recommend parents to send their boys there because we know the value of it."
— Chase and Jacklyn Lang
"Dear Sgt J, It goes beyond belief what you and SGM Wilson did to encourage my son and lead him toward the right path in life. My wife and I are eternally grateful. I will never forget when I brought Marty to MMA and told SGM Wilson that Marty was lucky to graduate from Pittsfield High School. His grades were just about passable and his attendance was not very good. SGM Wilson told me not to worry and that he would hone him up. Well, now Marty was voted cadet of the month for September and carries a 3.8 GPA at The Citadel. He is also vice president of their honor society. None of this could ever have happened without the guidance that you and SGM Wilson showed my son. God bless MMA."
—Art Butler, MSG USA(RET)
"Dissatisfied with our son’s current school, his mother and I did some research and landed on the Marine Military Academy website. This was our first glimpse into the vast possibilities for him. We were thoroughly impressed with its promise of aiding young men in reaching their full potential, its emphasis on Marine Corps values and its excellent reputation for producing college-ready young men, so we scheduled a campus visit and were simply blown away.
The staff and faculty exude professionalism and seriousness of purpose. We found them sincere and encouraging in setting expectations that ensured the school was a good fit for him.
In short, the results we were looking for were immediate and have surpassed what we hoped for him — so much so that we enrolled our youngest son, as well, so that he can have the same opportunities and the experience of a lifetime. MMA has been a blessing for our family."
— Tony and Trudy Hubbard
"We first looked at MMA for Logan because he was not being challenged enough in public school. Once he arrived at MMA as a freshman, he was challenged beyond our expectations. Now, as a sophomore, he has experienced more than any senior in public school. He will be Soloing (Air Wing) and getting his TDL (Texas Drivers License) all in March, as well as his Eagle Scout in May. MMA has broadened Logan’s horizons more than any of us expected. It is hard to let go, but once you do, your child soars!"
— Ms. Kelley K. Workman
"I understand that successful individuals and leaders are not born; they are developed and shaped through their environment and their interactions with those around them. To be a leader or a morally strong individual who can make decisions, one must have a solid academic background, positive role models and a structured environment with discipline, if needed.
My 12-year old son had none of the above when he started at MMA. He was in public school and wasn't’t being challenged, and things were out of control. Against his wishes, I enrolled him in summer camp and after a few weeks, he didn’t want to leave. He returned to camp the following year, and then, made the choice to start school there.
My son will graduate from MMA soon and I am proud of him and all he has accomplished. He is not the same individual. He now has goals, confidence, respect for himself and others, integrity and the willingness to do what it takes to be the best he can be."
— Colleen Carlton Dunn
"My son was 12, unhappy at his current school and the Marine Corps emphasis at MMA was a big draw to him. We decided to let him start school there the following year.
Today, he's a senior and there have been no regrets; we would not change a thing. He's learned several valuable life lessons such as accountability, not only for himself, but also for his fellow cadets, as well as effective leadership and time management skills.
Additionally, there is a strong mentorship on campus. The DIs and other key personnel become surrogate parents, a critical role and one that we value greatly. They see the ups and downs, resolve conflict, cheer him on when we can’t be there and tend to him in the middle of the night if he is sick. There is a trust and true bond that comes with this relationship. Our son has been at MMA for five years, and his admiration, trust, respect and love of these good men are making him the man he will become."
— Mrs. Joan K. McGraw
"On my son Drew’s first day, he shared his aspirations of becoming a Cadet Battalion Commander with Gunny Martinez who said, "Well, we'll see what you’ve got."
Four years later, he graduated as Battalion Commander, as well as valedictorian, president of numerous organizations, Eagle Scout, varsity wrestler, private pilot, SCUBA certified and with other awards and accolades, but he didn't get there on his own. Gunny believed in my son and ensured that he believed in himself. He put him in positions to learn, fail, succeed and lead and, ultimately, helped him become a man.
Additionally, Drew was courted by the school of his choice — the Coast Guard Academy — which happens to be the hardest school in the nation to get into, statistically.
Thank you for the opportunities you afforded my young man. He is much better suited to succeed in life having had part of his life's journey stop at MMA."
— Bill Hasbrook
“MMA has a way of scratching through the surface to reveal the young man you really are.”
The social sciences curriculum helps cadets understand how political, economic, social and cultural forces continue to influence and shape both their lives and our world.
"Thanks to MMA, I am where I am today — a powerful, positive asset for a successful company who is able to give back to the institution that gave so much to me. Upon graduation from my local high school, my next goal was to be accepted to and graduate from the Naval Academy. However, I found myself lacking the skills and knowledge needed to be considered a solid candidate. That’s when a family friend informed me of MMA’s Postgraduate Program...and the rest is history!
The education and experience I gained in one year at MMA made a huge difference in my career pathway. I learned the skills and techniques necessary to be successful in college and life, gained acceptance to, and completed my education at, the Naval Academy, served our country and returned home to work my way up the corporate ladder to where I am today, a leader and executive of The McIntyre Group, President of the Collegium Charter School Foundation Board, and Board Trustee of the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association and Marine Military Academy’s Board.
I wholeheartedly endorse MMA’s Postgraduate Program for any young man who is up to MMA’s tough academic, physical and moral challenge!"
—Thomas Kolongowski, Class of 1982
"My personal experience at MMA was incredibly rewarding, but even more intriguing in my mind, was that of my family. My older brother (Class of 2003), myself ('05), and my younger brother ('09) all attended MMA for our final three years of high school. Though I didn't realize it at the time, each one of us went for very different reasons.
More than one of us needed to build confidence, another needed to learn social structure, and we all needed to learn leadership. MMA taught all of us exactly what we needed it to.
It starts with learning how to lead ourselves. I don't think that's a lesson to be taken lightly and MMA made sure we mastered it. Then, and only then, are we able to lead others. Although I didn't want to admit it until years later, it was immediately apparent to my friends, coworkers, family members, and yes, even myself, that MMA was shaping me for the better. I'm not aware of another school that would have molded me or my brothers into better people than this one. All three of us are now leaders in completely different arenas and know that we couldn't have done it as easily or quickly had we not spent that time at MMA."
—Scott Miller, Class of 2005
"I have incredibly fond memories of my time and experiences at the Marine Military Academy and cannot fully explain all of the ways that it impacted, and continues to impact, my life. I spent five of the most formative years at MMA, and in many ways, I grew up there.
There is no doubt in my mind that the things that I learned at the MMA changed my life for the better. To this day, the way that I organize my time, operate in business and deal with my own family are all heavily influenced by the things and tools that I gained at MMA. I learned a lot about how to structure and manage my time and important lessons about leadership styles and how to apply them in different situations. Most importantly, I acquired a self-confidence that persists and continues to open doors in my everyday life. I know that when I set out to accomplish something, I can do it. The Marine Military Academy gave me that, and I am grateful for every day I spent there.
I would and do recommend it whenever possible and would not hesitate to send my own son there."
— Trey Colvin, Class of 1996
“After graduating from the Marine Military Academy in 1975, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Texas A&M and then enrolled at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. Today, I am a board certified emergency room physician in Bryan, Texas at St. Joseph’s Hospital and attribute my success to the study habits and life experiences I had at MMA.”
— Frank Colunga, Class of 1975
"On the surface, I wasn't quite acceptable for MMA standards going in, but MMA has a way of scratching through the surface to reveal the young man you really are. The discipline I experienced at MMA manifested itself into the self-discipline needed for college and eventually the starting of my own business, which has been succeeding since its inception in 1996. The experience stays with you."
— Joseph Bowman, Class of 1984