Lyman Ward Military Academy Kicks Off Major Enrollment Period

While accepting students year-round, Camp Hill, Alabama-based Lyman Ward Military Academy kicks off its major enrollment period in January and, as one of the nation's leading military boarding schools, the ...

[concerned fiancee]

i hate that school, the boys are so miserable. to the point that 1 committed suicide last week. what parent in their right mind would do this to their kids.

[kce4193]

concerned fiancee wrote:

i hate that school, the boys are so miserable. to the point that 1 committed suicide last week. what parent in their right mind would do this to their kids.

Where could I read about the suicide. I was taking my son there Sat.

[nola]

concerned fiancee wrote:

i hate that school, the boys are so miserable. to the point that 1 committed suicide last week. what parent in their right mind would do this to their kids.

Did your child get kicked out after payment?

[nola]

Did your child get kicked out after christmas break?Also payment for next semester?

[Bret Dianich]

I attended Lyman Ward for 5 long years.

I know everything about that school.

Anyone wishing to contact me about Lyman Ward Military Academy can do so by sending me an e-mail to [e-mail].

Hazing, beatings, extortion, sexual assault...all of these things are commonplace at the school. I have proof of some of it.

[Philip Hale]

kce4193 wrote:

<quoted text>
Where could I read about the suicide. I was taking my son there Sat.

Right here I too attended LWMA, your son can read my name on the JR cadet of the year plaque for 87.
Abuse and hazing is a part of daily life at LWMA. One of the kids drank a bottle of Brasso while I was there trying to off himself. There were blanket parties there weekly where children like your son would have a blanket thrown over his head and chest while he was sleeping so that the 2 or 3 other kids that werent holding the blanket down could beat him with bars of soap wrapped in a pillow case or sock.
You should be ashamed of yourself for having sent your son into definate harms way.

[Wilson Franklin]

I also attended Lyman Ward, but more recently than than Mr. Hale and Mr. Dianich. The academy has an unfortunate history of hazing, assault, and money problems.
Within the last few years, however, a new administration, a more selective screening process, and more parental involvement has led to vast improvement. Hazing is virtually nonexistent. Unlike previous years, if a cadet hazes another cadet, he is immediately kicked out of the academy. LWMA does not, under any circumstance, permit assault.
LWMA turned my life around (C- student, habitual thief, no respect for parents or authority). I became battalion commander my senior year, valedictorian, and am presently enrolled at the University of Alabama. I am forever indebted to the academy and hope that many other young men get to experience all the school has to offer.

[Jeremy Farber]

I attended Lyman Ward for seven wonderful years. The school was one of the best things that ever happened to me and I credit my success as a business person (www.pcrecycler.net ) to the years I spent at Lyman Ward. I was in attendance during the period of Mr. Dianich (1988-1995) and the school operated just like any other top all boys military institution. The school is a "military" school not a summer camp, which is what some of the people who attended or the substandard parenting they had, thought the school was. Is it for everyone? No, But is the US Army for everyone. Sometimes it turns into a place for lazy parents to dump their kids in hopes that what they have failed to do in the child's upbringing will somehow magically get corrected if they are sent away.

As for the comments that have been made about hazing and beatings. When people fail at something they rarely blame themselves. Most of the time they want to blame something else for their shortcomings.

In my opinion Lyman Ward was and still is the best choice for any parent that wants his/her child to receive a top education and training to be one of the fine leaders of tomorrow. You only need to look at the people who graduated from Lyman Ward to see if these statements are true.

[Danny Herrero]

Philip Hale wrote:

<quoted text>
Right here I too attended LWMA, your son can read my name on the JR cadet of the year plaque for 87.
Abuse and hazing is a part of daily life at LWMA. One of the kids drank a bottle of Brasso while I was there trying to off himself. There were blanket parties there weekly where children like your son would have a blanket thrown over his head and chest while he was sleeping so that the 2 or 3 other kids that werent holding the blanket down could beat him with bars of soap wrapped in a pillow case or sock.
You should be ashamed of yourself for having sent your son into definate harms way.

This is a ridiculous statement. The Acadamy has and coninues to do great things for young men. You should be ashamed of yourself for posting such a pernicious statement. I remember you and thought you were a very good cadet.
Danny Herrero 87'

[Carey Treadwell 87]

In August 1983 I arrived to the campus of Lyman Ward Military Academy as an easy going but rudderless freshman boy. When I graduated as a senior in May 1987, I left as a young man, with promise, confidence, character and leadership.
If you are considering sending your son to LWMA, you can make such a decision with confidence. There will always be a few individuals that seek to tear down great institutions. These folks should be actively ignored.
Statistically there will also be some boys who arrive at a place like Lyman Ward with their own set of troubles. Most will respond to the system, make a turn and develop into fine young men. There will continue to be those small number that wash out or otherwise don't seek to make something greater of themselves.
As to cadet Hale's comments (rant) above, I was at Lyman Ward during the same years, and sincerely believe his remarks should be dismissed. I was the First Sergeant of F (Foxtrot) Company for part of the 1984/85 school year. I don't believe however that cadet Hale was on campus and in Foxtrot Company until my junior year, 1985/86, when I was the Delta Company Commander. Needless-to-say, such events never occurred under my watch in Foxtrot.
Additionally, Captain Guerra and his wife Rita were the Tacs (dorm parents) for Foxtrot at that time. You will not find a finer set of folks on this planet. They love the school. The cadets are like their extended family. It is incomprehensible that they would ever tolerate such happenings. Thankfully the school and the cadets continue to benefit from the Guerras' involvement.
In so much as whether hazing of any kind ever takes place in a military school, or any boys boarding school or fraternity environment, well certainly, but nothing beyond the prank level. Occasionally there may be a scuffle or something along those lines. Put 200+ high school age boys in any environment and there will always be a few that seek to bully.
The system of leadership and discipline does not tolerate such abuses. Cadets do in many respects run the show. That is the beauty of a military school; how respect is earned and how leadership is developed. Cadet leaders are very closely supervised by Tactical Officers and the Commandant of Cadets.
I was on the Academic & Disciplinary Board my senior year. We (as cadet leaders) actually kicked out a few cadets (for fighting). Abuse of any kind is strictly not tolerated.
The academy is under fine leadership with President Col. Jenrette. He is a "Citadel Man" and a distinguished Army veteran. His leadership and character is beyond reproach.
If you are thinking of sending your son to Lyman Ward, I am happy to make myself available offline to discuss your decision. Please feel free to give me a call (look me up in Germantown, TN).

As President of the Alumni Association, I am also willing to put you in touch with a long list of graduates, any of whom would be more than happy to tell you what it means to be a proud Lyman Ward alum.
Sincerely,
Carey Treadwell '87
Cadet Captain
S-3, Battalion Operations & Training Officer

[bouza]

Wilson Franklin wrote:

I also attended Lyman Ward, but more recently than than Mr. Hale and Mr. Dianich. The academy has an unfortunate history of hazing, assault, and money problems.
Within the last few years, however, a new administration, a more selective screening process, and more parental involvement has led to vast improvement. Hazing is virtually nonexistent. Unlike previous years, if a cadet hazes another cadet, he is immediately kicked out of the academy. LWMA does not, under any circumstance, permit assault.
LWMA turned my life around (C- student, habitual thief, no respect for parents or authority). I became battalion commander my senior year, valedictorian, and am presently enrolled at the University of Alabama. I am forever indebted to the academy and hope that many other young men get to experience all the school has to offer.

wilson franklin.... how can you say that when you are supposed to have been sexually assaulted there?

[Dale Brown - 85]

I cannot speak to any of the allegations levied by some on here as they all appear to be a few years younger than me. All I can speak to is my experience while attending LWMA. I shudder to think where I would be today had it not been for LWMA.

As to hazing, it does happen, like someone stated earlier, you put that many boys together and it happens. I never saw anything however that bordered on dangerous other than a few bruises or sore muscles from too many push-ups. I did hear the school went thorough a rough patch with finances but every not for profit company and many for profit companies have been experiencing some of that as of late.

All and all it was and I'm sure still is a GREAT school. It will take "good" boys and make them better.