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Cadet Capt Bingyn Chen, an 18-year-old senior from Shanyang, China, is one of those students. He is in his fourth year at MMA. "I was a lazy student in China. I didn't want to do my work. I didn't want to go to class. Some friends of my family knew about this school and told them this was the place for me. I arrived not even speaking English. My roommate had to show me what uniform I was supposed to wear each day. It took about four months before I understood how to do things."

Chen made it through that first year and found the school to his liking. The leadership training inspired him, and he learned about teamwork. He is now a company commander and supervises 60 other cadets. Upon graduation Chen wants to remain in the United States and attend a college where he can study architecture.

Cadet Lieutenant Brian Simpson, a 17-year-old senior from Frisco, Texas, decided to attend MMA because he wanted to improve his grades and play varsity football. The three-year cadet was named as First Team All-District center this past season. "I appreciate the discipline and the friendships I have made here," he said. "Like most of the cadets, I am interested in a good college or university. But I think I will enlist in the Marine Corps first."

The battalion commander is Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Winney, an 18-year-old senior from Arlington, Va. The son of a Navy captain, Winney went to MMA with a single objective in mind. "I want to attend the United States Naval Academy, and I thought this was the best school I could attend to become physically and academically prepared to seek that appointment."

A number of cadets attend MMA because they feel it will lead to their gaining appointments to Annapolis, West Point or colleges such as VMI or The Citadel. As a freshman, 14-year-old Ernie Matacotta dreamed of a service academy appointment. Four years later, in 1978 he graduated as a cadet major and class salutatorian. He received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy and earned a degree in oceanography. In 1982 he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. Upon completing his active duty, he joined the Marine Corps Reserve and continues to serve today.

"The Marine Corps has been part of my life since I was 14 years old. The Marine Military Academy taught me leadership and responsibility. All my success in the Corps can be traced to the things I learned as a boy and a young man at MMA. For that I will always be grateful," Matacotta said.

Another MMA and Naval Academy graduate is LtCol Tim Herndon. Since 1983 he has served from the Caribbean to the Persian Gulf and is now commanding officer of Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 302 at Marine Corps Air Station, New River, in Jacksonville, N.C. He lauded the Marine-oriented prep school for "giving me the discipline, moral and ethical foundation that has allowed me to accomplish every goal I have set for myself. I can confidently say that MMA had a greater influence on how I developed as an officer than any other institution or course of instruction."

A cadre of retired Marine Corps officers and staff noncommissioned officers, skilled in administration and technologies of the academic and business world, make up the staff.

Gone is the cigar-chewing, gruff-talking DI with a notebook in his hip pocket. In his place is the modern instructor who is versed in handling the complexities of teenage life, is technology oriented, a counselor, a house parent and a protector.

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Master Sergeant Clifton Jones Jr. is a drill instructor who retired after 23 years of active service to take a position caring for the needs of 60 cadets. He and his family reside in an apartment in the same building that contains the 30 rooms his cadets call home.

His day starts at 5:30 a.m. when he opens up the barracks and makes sure his charges are attending to their assigned duties. He inspects his barracks and his cadets, making sure they are ready for physical training and morning mess.

Following the battalion formation and colors, MSgt Jones has time to catch up on his paperwork. Throughout the school day he is involved in answering e-mail messages from parents who may have written him with questions or concerns about their sons. He even delivers those special e-mail letters parents send to him addressed to their sons.

"After classes we have an athletic period," he said. "I use that time to train my color guard and my drill team. Many of the cadets are involved in football, baseball, basketball or other sports, but every cadet does some form of physical activity."

One of the main concerns for MSgt Jones is homework. "I am provided a list of all the homework assignments that have been given to my company. I am also given a list of those students who failed to turn in assigned work. One of the most important things I do is to make sure they get their lessons completed."

Many alumni have high praise for the solid foundation instilled in them when they were cadets. Because of that structured beginning, Mike Forrester, class of '72, became an attorney and remains a strong advocate for MMA. He is an adviser to the Board of Trustees. David Dickerson, who graduated in the same class, became a corporate pilot and is now a principal in a marketing communications firm. Robert Dolard, another member of that class, claims that strong academic preparation led him to the University of California and law school. After years as a practicing attorney, he now has a successful career in photography. Frank Colunga, class of '75, became an emergency-room physician and a trauma specialist in Punta Gorda, Fla. Chip Hayward graduated in '75 and currently is the lead architect for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' new $35 million training facility.

LtCol Warren Driggers, the deputy G-7 at I Marine Expeditionary Force, graduated from MMA in 1974. He said retired Marine role models who served at the academy positively affected his life. In particular he remembers the guidance provided by his coach, the late Gunnery Sergeant Jim Morton, and SgtMaj Bill Steigerwald. "They taught me what it meant to wear the eagle, globe and anchor and be a Marine. My horizons were significantly expanded.

"Even after 25 years," he said, "I still love being a Marine and doing what I do. I have been fortunate enough to meet the best of America's youth who never cease to amaze me when they are faced with seemingly insurmountable tasks and still accomplish them almost effortlessly … because they are Marines and that is what we do.

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"For me it all started at MMA when I was able to see first-hand the 'old Corps' who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam and how they mentored us smart-mouthed, unruly, pain-in-the-behind kids. I long ago accepted the fact that the 'old Corps' ended the day before I signed up, so I won't ever be in the same league as the crew at the Marine Military Academy who showed me the way and what it meant to be a Marine."

Editor's note: A retired master gunnery sergeant and former combat correspondent, Tom Segel served in Korea and completed two tours in Vietnam. He graduated from the University of Texas-Pan American and earned a graduate degree from Vanderbilt. He retired from a second career as the director of the Division of Information for the Texas Department of Mental Health.

© 2004 Leatherneck Magazine. All rights reserved.