New Mexico Military Institute

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New Mexico Military Institute
NMMI ("nimmy")
New Mexico Military Institute
Statue in Bronco Plaza
Duty, Honor, Achievement
Address
101 West College Blvd.
Roswell, New Mexico, Chaves County 88201
 United States
Information
School type High School & Junior College (Military)
Religious affiliation(s) Non-Denominational
Founded 1891
Founder Joseph C. Lea, Robert S. Goss
NCES District ID 350225000984
Grades 9-14
Gender Co-educational
Age range 13-23
Number of students 914
Average class size 15
Campus City
300 acres (1.2 km2)
Color(s) Red and black
Nickname The Old Post
Team name Broncos (College), Colts (High School)
Accreditation Higher Learning Commission of North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Tuition $13,000/year (out-of-state) $8,700/year (in-state)
President Jerry Grizzle
Commandant Jonathan Graff
Dean Douglas Murray
H.S. Principal George Brick
Chaplain Chance Mace

New Mexico Military Institute (N.M.M.I.) is a state-supported educational institution located in Roswell, New Mexico, United States. One of five military junior colleges in the United States, it is the only state-supported military college located in the western United States. NMMI includes a college preparatory four-year high school and a two-year junior college. Students who attend NMMI are referred to as Cadets. NMMI is the only state-supported co-educational college preparatory military boarding high school (grades 9–12) and junior college in the United States. Academic school years begin with about 900 and 980 cadets enrolled, 95 percent of whom go on to four-year universities.[citation needed] The school's 2-year Army ROTC Early Commissioning Program (ECP) commissions approximately 30 cadets each year as US Army 2nd Lieutenants, and almost 100 cadets each year go to one of the five major United States Service academies.[1] Additionally, NMMI, through a memorandum of agreement with the US Maritime Administration, also serves as the preparatory school for the US Merchant Marine Academy, located at Kings Point, New York. Cadets selected for entry to the prep school spend one year at NMMI focusing on academic preparation for the academy, and then transfer in at the end of the prep year at NMMI to join the entering class at the academy the following summer.

The school's motto is "Duty, Honor, and Achievement." The school'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 Academy, with an initial enrollment of 28 students. In 1895 it acquired the land at its current location, and in 1910 it received land-grant status and revenue from the New Mexico government.

Hundreds of Institute graduates served in World War I and World War II, including Medal of Honor recipient John C. Morgan[2] and hotelier Conrad Hilton of Hilton Hotels fame. In 1948, the Institute introduced a four-year liberal arts college program, but discontinued it in 1956. The Institute became a fully coeducational university 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.[3][4] 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.[5][6] On June 10, 2013, the Institute filed a lawsuit in Chaves County, New Mexico, to take control of the assets of the Alumni Association.[7] Editorial response to the Institute's actions has been generally negative, calling it a "hijacking" of the group and its resources.[8] 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.[9][10] 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.[2] 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.[citation needed] The campus is a designated area on the National Register of Historic Places.

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 "RAT"s (recruits at training) and then advance to become New Cadets, Yearlings, and finally Old Cadets; High School Cadets must do a full year as RAT's, whereas college cadets only require a semester as RAT's. Cadets also earn Junior or Senior Army ROTC positions within 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 Western States Football League. Its other sports compete in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference. The high school football team is the Colts.

Hagerman Barracks
Hagerman Barracks

Notable alumni

References

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External links

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