Dear MMA families,
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted schools across the globe and has contributed to a general sense of uncertainty and anxiety. Now more than ever our global world demands visionary, compassionate, and collaborative leadership. MMA’s mission to train and educate young men in a positive, encouraging, and safe environment rises to the immediate challenges. We do not know what the rest of 2020 or 2021 will bring, but MMA is ready and excited to start Summer Camp and the new school year.
We learned much through the nationwide emergency and we have adapted our medical preparedness and response as well as our ability to adapt and overcome educational hurdles that impede many traditional camps and schools. For example, all campers will be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival at campus. All cleared campers will be issued re-usable face coverings and they will be required to wear them anytime they cannot maintain social distancing. Our mess hall staff will always all be wearing face masks and gloves while at work. The mess times have been staggered to allow for social distancing at the dining tables. The staggered times allow for sanitation of the tables and chairs in between companies coming for their arrived dining time. All self-serve stations such as salad bars, beverage stations, and condiment tables have been closed and the mess hall staff will serve salads, condiments, and beverages to the cadets. We have adopted all our summer camp training and activities to follow Governor Abbot’s Summer camp guidance. Additionally, we are installing new air bipolar ionization purifiers in all our barracks. These air purifiers utilize effective ionization technology to proactively neutralize airborne and surface-borne viruses while the young men study, socialize and sleep in their barracks. All DI’s will remain on campus for the duration of summer camp to prevent the risk of community transmission of the virus. All staff will wear facemasks and medical staff that cannot maintain social distancing with the cadets will be wearing face shields in addition to face masks. Finally, we will provide ongoing training for all staff and employees on health and safety protocols as they are issued by state and local governments.
We are ready for the fall academic year and we look forward to welcoming back your young man.
Respectfully,
Christopher S. Dowling
Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired)
President
Marine Military Academy
320 Iwo Jima Blvd
Harlingen, TX 78550
