Missouri Military Academy Promotes Racism

[Kyle West]

you guys are all idiots except for spaulding

[Forest Yule MMA Class 94]

Having attended MMA from 8th grade through my Senior year, I can say that in my 5 years there, I recall a total of 5 African American cadets attending the school. While on the surface that could seem like there is an elitist or racist policy governing the academy, I think it may serve as an indictment of society as a whole, not just MMA.
While African American opportunities have undoubtedly increased in this country (Read: President Obama), there still exists an opportunity and access gap for many Af Am families. MMA is an expensive institution to attend, due largely in part to the high quality of the staff and the first class facilities available on campus. This high cost may play a part in the low AA enrolment rates at MMA, but there could be a number of factors. There are equally low rates of African Americans attending the University of Alaska, does this mean it is a racist institution?
I think it also is worth pointing out that of the 5 African American Cadets I remember attending MMA, 3 of them became officers their Senior years. One was Adrian Thomas, Charlie Company Commander after Greg Center became Battalion Commander, one was Kwaku Cassell, Battalion Logistics officer who later went on to serve in the US Army and at the time of last contact worked for the state department and Andrew Deon 96' became Battalion Commander and received a scholarship to play football for the Arkansas State University. Sounds like a real hotbed of racial oppression to me...
When I was there, I had interactions with students from around the world. Brazil, Spain, South Korea, Taiwan, Mexico, Costa Rica, the UK, Egypt, Peru, Venezuela, Columbia, Australia, Japan, China, Italy, Germany and Canada were all represented, and I am sure there were others who I dont recall. The point is that MMA is a great place to be of any race IF YOU ARE WILLING TO WORK HARD. The Academy teaches those who are willing to learn it, that hard work, commitment, dedication and knowledge are the only sure path to success in this world. Many failed to grasp that concept, including me for a few of the early years I spent there.
As for the allegations of abuse, total and complete nonsense. I was one of the most misbehaved and troubled cadets in my first 3 years there. I was never systemically abused or mistreated. I suffered one incident of "hazing" my 8th grade year, that was really more a rough housing accident than hazing and never again did anyone ever harm me in anyway.
My fondest memories, best friends and every ounce of success I have in this world, I owe to MMA. I am profoundly thankful for my time there and would not trade it for anything.
Anyone who doesn’t feel this way about the Academy probably never got "it"..."It " being what the academy has stood for and will always stand for. "Look like a soldier, act like a gentleman and study like a scholar"...It is about teaching young men to choose the harder path, because that steep winding path reaches the summit of what it is that we can accomplish in life. The Academy is NOT about reforming bad kids who don’t want to be better....That is a task better left to the penal system, not private schools that cost $50k per year.

[Been There]

I went to MMA for a short time back in '93-'95. I was in middle school when they still had 4th and 5th graders. I don't know about any band rooms. All I knew was B Barrack.

As for racism, it's not everyone, but there were some devil kids there who were extremely and blatantly racist. But then again, everyone hated the racist kids anyway.

I would never ever send my kids there though... Ever had recycled food?(ie: leftovers mixed together to form something new, esp. the salad)

[JHP II 77]

You need to remember that not everyone is going to like everyone no matter how you try to intervine. Should you not have an opinion then you wouldn't care. So I encourage you all to keep discussing racism and try and have a valid opinion based on fact or more importantly on scripture

[jhp II 77]

Rollo, did you read elizondo has two children at MMA I can't believe you all are reading these blogs. They remind me of the movie honor and glory about the racism within the master divers corp that churches ran in chicago. My nephew eddie drake is a comercial diver certified in new jersey and all know is I would be honored if ledford or wise or jackie shropshire had anything to do with furthering his career. I dont know if any of them are master divers though, I think mark plays the trumpet in the mancini band last I heard.

[anon]

Kyle West wrote:

you guys are all idiots except for spaulding

Wow.... that wasnt ignorent at all.....

[Class of 86-69]

I hated MMA as a cadet... well most of it. There were some good parts... Drill team Col. Mort (RIP)... Color Guard... but I sure hated mess duty. x_x

No racism that I could remember but I lived in my own world. There was the occasional prank here and there but never toward a race... but times change so I can't account for the present.

I had my share of disrespect for cadets but usually those were the bullies. Should I mention people? haha no, no point. Hopefully everyone has grown up and become responsible adults...

That comment about piper is SO true. I tried to sneak a peak at some nudie mag in small mom/pop book store and still to this day I remember the look he gave me during formation outside our rooms when he said something about it but in a way that only I knew what he was talking about. HAHA I loved that guy.

MisMilAca... loved camping out! The escape from the dorm. Fond memories I do have yes yes. I'd do it again.^^

[2009 wrestle]

your are a bunch of retards
i regret not going back senior year
mma rules

[robert]

Still Anonymous wrote:

I'll surmise by your failure to address or refute any of the points in my most recent post that you cannot do so. Here’s another chance.
<quoted text>
You're a bit off on your usage. Webster's defines nerd as "an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially : one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits <computer nerds>." I'll give you unattractive and unstylish as I've lost a great deal of the hair on the top of my head and I'm carrying a few too many extra pounds. I'm not, however, socially inept. I'm also not slavishly devoted to the academic pursuits that you bring up about yourself:
<quoted text>
<quoted text>
So... pot meet kettle; kettle meet pot. How’s *your* hairline?
***INTERMISSION***

Hey dumb shit i went there for four years its an amazing school ,i was in the school when garcia got shot he was next door to me , he was an awesome guy, and it wasnt the instuctors fault and one person ONE person was fatally wounded in the rifle range. And guess what it was the cadets fault not the instructor. Dont talk about something you dont know shit about. And another thing, mma is more than half hispanic and mixed with more than several races. So dont pull a race card dummy. Go back to your corner and find something else to research and bitch about , go cry bud .

[Catscratch]

It was an adventure, crazy sometimes, but all in all a part of my life I would not change. Class of 76.

[Cadet]

DEAR GOD HELP ME! This place is hell. If you are given the chance, don't go here. All it is is fucking company commanders thinking they are better then you, and if you get a check during the week, you can't go out on the weekends and they beat you if you get a check during Saturday, the hardest inspection of the week

[gary grzybowski]

MMA is just an excellent school period....This country should have more like it. If you have a problem or issue with these excellent teachers and staff..you probably have a major problem yourself..so just look into a mirror and realize that YOU have a problem...so get some help.

[6 year cadet]

former mma cadet mid-90s wrote:

your an idiot. I went there, i can name every single faculty member, recite every detail about the campus, schedules, formations, unforms, ranks, etc.
You think I didn't go there idiot? The reason the school never put a stop to it, is because they are racist. One of the guys who did it to Dion was Barney, who happened to be the Sergeant Major and Battalion Commander-designate for the next year you moron.

Barney (who is my friend) was a 120 lbs kid and Dion was a 250 lbs kid. I really don't think Barney was going to pick that fight. There was an instance of an incident with Dion in his early years. The cadets involved (including the battalion commander) were immediately demoted to private and was punished as severely as the school could without expelling them.

[cadet 2012]

im a current cadet at mma and this is a racist and anti religious school. they put you down if your not a christian or catholic. im nt a lazy cadet either. i do my shit and still get treated like shit i was beat the first month i was here and just accepted it. this school almost drove me crazy and labled me a threat to my self and others. this school makes those threats by letting cadets go mad with power. this is a terrible school to go to do not trust the website trust the words of the cadets

[Varela Class 92]

I am from Mexico and attended 3 years at MMA, my brother is of class '90, cousins '94,'11 and hometown friend '92.

Racist school??? NO! school didn't tolerate racism at all. When I was at the company football team I labeled myself on the helmet as "The running s..k" and the faculty told me to remove it. I have never noticed someone giving me a racist remark at all on school.

I don't know about junior school but high school faculty are extremely high quality staff. I thought that my senior English teacher Maj. Mounger was tough on Mexicans and I was so wrong, he teached me to never give up!! like he never gave up on me!

Staff that was a big impact in my life is Col. Matloz a fine gentleman as all the staff of my time were.

Some of the cadets were the racist or the townies, but isn't that on any school, private or public? But it was us who did racist remarks not the staff at all.

I agree that little kids from junior school were too little to be there (in my opinion).
I would never send my little kid there and not because of the school quality education but because of my responsibility as dad of loving and building his character before sending him to MMA high school.

In my time MMA was a tough school, but is a Military school, what did you expect!! and like someone in this forum said its getting easier.

Don't tell me that WestPoint or USAFA are easy. Even doing business or representing a big company is easy. This school is about excellence.

Now all of you that attended this school and finished senior, will always remember "my brothers of MMA", white, black, brown whatever color!!

You were respected on your achivements "RANK".

There were bullying in my year, I was one of them and we were punished (Maj. Samples took care of that). I regret what I did and learned my lesson by teaching my kids to be a better huamn beings.

So the past you cannot change, but the future you can (like Rudkin said) and Military school isn't for all period!

MMA was the best of my years, eventhough I never made it as an officer. You make great friends and awsome memories like shaving cream inside shoes or the chinese bed (stupid but I enjoyded so much, pillow fights aginst floors etc..)

So parents if you send your kid and take them back before finishing their year, you don't have enough proof to say that the school sucks! We who finished ask our parents about MMA. Results is what matters not halfway ones.

Thank You for reading.
David

[former Mexico girl]

I dated cadets in the early 1960s. The boys were respectful, bright, and were proud of their school. The instructors were top-notch and the academy had a very good reputation. After reading the above comments, I feel some are angry with themselves for not being successful in the academy setting. In the 60s, if a boy was found with contraband, etc., he would have been punished and/or sent home. The boys from the USA and other countries were friends, as well as some boys were friends with the town boys. Many boys went on to become successful adults. I was amazed to happen on this site by accident and to read some of the comments.

[Former Cadet]

I did very well at the academy, but ended up getting kicked out over a mental break down due to having more pressure than I could handle heaped upon my shoulders. To be fair, I chased after the responsibility, but it became too much to keep up w/. My dad tried to warn the school that I was cracking, but they didn't listen. I was there golden boy, their "perfect cadet" that they were grooming for the battalion commander position. They said I could handle the stress but I didn't. I was among a small group of kids to leave MMA broken and in shame. I have never been the same since.

I loved MMA until my breakdown. Now that I am older, I see it more for what it represents than what it is. It represents something much worse than what it is, for it is the student body as a whole that makes MMA. I miss people that I hated while at the academy. It is hard to live so close to a group of boys growing up and not develop a sense of fondness for them. What is represents is an primarily an elite establishment to mold the minds of young gullible youth into being good little neocon-republicans that support endless wars and such. Most of the kids I went to school w/ that I am still in contact w/ buy into that crap. I am a republican, but a true one that believes in the constitution, freedom, ending the drug war (funny bc I was so dead against drugs while at the academy), small government, states rights, etc.

I did not witness much serious racism beyond friction between whites and Latino cadets, but I can tell you that most of the people that stay in touch w/ me from the academy who are white (I am white also) I can't stand because they are racist bigots. It's primarily against Muslims. They buy into the whole might is right and the only way to keep America safe and achieve peace is to bomb innocent people in foreign countries. This is precisely why we are not safe. I might not like what you do, but I'm not going to do anything about it until you drop a bomb on my family.

There was a small amount of racism against blacks, but largely, racism was taken very serious and was not tolerated. You could get into big trouble for expressing your opinions about it so those who were racist, generally kept quiet about it. And believe me, there were a number of racists from the South and Texas there. They just kept quiet about it.

I was there when Jerry Dawson, a giant black boy from Paduka, KT, was there. He was a 275+ pound full back and heavy weight wrestling champ that curled w/ a 45 lb bar, 2 2.5 lb locks and a 45 lb weight on each end of the bar. He could sprint faster than me and I was a receiver. He was very well liked and very good natured, but you have a freight train headin' right for you if you pissed him off. I saw him launch a guy through the air who pissed him off and that was his buddy. I wouldn't want to be accused of being a racist while he was at the academy.

I'm sure a certain amount of drug use went on, but I never found out about it or was into that sort of thing then. I heard about coke being snorted off of sabers and kids that took LSD while there. Most of those kids were really erratic in their behavior anyway. Also, I had no experience w/ that sort of thing and we were all a bunch of wild boys who were cooped up w/ our hormones raging, of course we were going to act a bit erratic from time to time. I wouldn't say most, but I would say that a small number of kids got busted for drugs while I was there. There was zero tolerance and they were immediately removed. This happened to Brett Swade, the battalion commander, w/ a few weeks left in the year to go. So sad. Nathan Smith was another Battalion Commander to be dethroned and kicked out w/ a few weeks left to go, I think his was a case of a joke that turned into hazing. Very sad. The school chewed up so many good kids and spit them out when they no longer served the school.

Anyways, that was my experience.

[Delta Company for LIFE]

Im mexican and i just came back from there, a big mistake that i made because now i want to come back and i probably will next year if my parents can afford it. To ALL PARENTS if you have a son the best thing you can do to him is send him to MMA. At MMA you learned things that you dont learn at any other place. I will never forget MMA because it has become a part of my life that i will never forget. and i have a son i will send him to MMA.

[Former cadet also]

Former Cadet wrote:

I did very well at the academy, but ended up getting kicked out over a mental break down due to having more pressure than I could handle heaped upon my shoulders. To be fair, I chased after the responsibility, but it became too much to keep up w/. My dad tried to warn the school that I was cracking, but they didn't listen. I was there golden boy, their "perfect cadet" that they were grooming for the battalion commander position. They said I could handle the stress but I didn't. I was among a small group of kids to leave MMA broken and in shame. I have never been the same since.
I loved MMA until my breakdown. Now that I am older, I see it more for what it represents than what it is. It represents something much worse than what it is, for it is the student body as a whole that makes MMA. I miss people that I hated while at the academy. It is hard to live so close to a group of boys growing up and not develop a sense of fondness for them. What is represents is an primarily an elite establishment to mold the minds of young gullible youth into being good little neocon-republicans that support endless wars and such. Most of the kids I went to school w/ that I am still in contact w/ buy into that crap. I am a republican, but a true one that believes in the constitution, freedom, ending the drug war (funny bc I was so dead against drugs while at the academy), small government, states rights, etc.
I did not witness much serious racism beyond friction between whites and Latino cadets, but I can tell you that most of the people that stay in touch w/ me from the academy who are white (I am white also) I can't stand because they are racist bigots. It's primarily against Muslims. They buy into the whole might is right and the only way to keep America safe and achieve peace is to bomb innocent people in foreign countries. This is precisely why we are not safe. I might not like what you do, but I'm not going to do anything about it until you drop a bomb on my family.
There was a small amount of racism against blacks, but largely, racism was taken very serious and was not tolerated. You could get into big trouble for expressing your opinions about it so those who were racist, generally kept quiet about it. And believe me, there were a number of racists from the South and Texas there. They just kept quiet about it.
I was there when Jerry Dawson, a giant black boy from Paduka, KT, was there. He was a 275+ pound full back and heavy weight wrestling champ that curled w/ a 45 lb bar, 2 2.5 lb locks and a 45 lb weight on each end of the bar. He could sprint faster than me and I was a receiver. He was very well liked and very good natured, but you have a freight train headin' right for you if you pissed him off. I saw him launch a guy through the air who pissed him off and that was his buddy. I wouldn't want to be accused of being a racist while he was at the academy.
I'm sure a certain amount of drug use went on, but I never found out about it or was into that sort of thing then. I heard about coke being snorted off of sabers and kids that took LSD while there. Most of those kids were really erratic in their behavior anyway. Also, I had no experience w/ that sort of thing and we were all a bunch of wild boys who were cooped up w/ our hormones raging, of course we were going to act a bit erratic from time to time. I wouldn't say most, but I would say that a small number of kids got busted for drugs while I was there. There was zero tolerance and they were immediately removed. This happened to Brett Swade, the battalion commander, w/ a few weeks left in the year to go. So sad. Nathan Smith was another Battalion Commander to be dethroned and kicked out w/ a few weeks left to go, I think his was a case of a joke that turned into hazing. Very sad. The school chewed up so many good kids and spit them out when they no longer served the school.
Anyways, that was my experience.

Did you go there in the junior school?

[62 Grad]

The school turned my life around in a very good way. Sure, it wasn't perfect and it wasn't cheap. But you had control over how things went for yourself and they went pretty darn well for me. I have to wonder about how much those MMA-bashers tried to succeed there. There were lots of failures there, and I suspect these guys were among them...I've returned to MMA many times since '62 and it has grown into an impressive facility.