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Though military in tradition and form, the high school portion of VFMAC, Valley Forge Military Academy, is . NASA Education Earth Science Projects. (The similarly sized Church Farm School in Exton has an endowment of $150 million.) Cadet senior NCOs carry British Army pace sticks. One former administrator went so far as to call him a creepo, noting that female cadets often complained to her about Riveras behavior. Because the bottom line: Corporations and powerful people with deep pockets will never sustain the type of journalism Mother Jones exists to do. Non-Black administrators collectively referred to Black cadets as a gang, the lawsuit claimed, and unruly non-Black cadetsone literally spat in the face of a staff member; another elicited a swat response by threatening to blow up the schoolwere allowed to remain on campus, while her kid was suspended over a racially charged fight he wasnt even involved in. Cadets who achieve academically and in personal efficiency and leadership are allowed additional leaves and local leaves into Wayne and to the King of Prussia mall. 196 reviews. Baker retired as superintendent in 1971 and died at his home on July 31, 1976, at 80.[1]. Walt Lords appointment as president in 2018 heralded a brief period of reform at Valley Forge. VFMAC's Commandant of Cadets is Garrison Sergeant Major William Mott.[15]. One member of the Medenbach Foundation alumni group has filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania attorney general, alleging mismanagement by the nonprofit school, said Lord. Cadet officers wear gold rank stars or "pips." PMCS Valley Forge will serve grades K-12, with military programming beginning in 6th grade. They are going to do hell across the board.. If I hear you have problems, then fucking leaveI dont need a broken soldier, another former cadet recalls. He was also waterboarded, he claims, and had his head slammed into a wall. They ruled by intimidation and fear.. end of submenu, closing. Students are immersed in a unique educational experience centered Five Cornerstones . When I walked back in three summers ago, I found my name carved into the same furniture from the 80s, Bossert said. An institutional focus on protecting the Forges reputation above all else has created, in the words of one former teacher, a chocolate-covered onion. Amid a steady drip of scandals, lawsuits, and pissed-off parents, leaders have clammed up, countersued, and compiled a list of perceived enemies who are barred from campus. These young men and women work together and support each other to gain admission to the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, the United States Coast Guard Academy and the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Asked directly what the prospects were for keeping Valley Forge open, he sounded a note of warning. The Valley Forge Military Academy, a long-standing Main Line private school that in recent years has faced declining enrollment and allegations of mismanagement, has been denied in a bid to open a publicly funded charter school. $169.99. It also relied on well-to-do foreign students, who pay higher tuition. "I" Company had been named "I" Troop for all college cadets wishing to participate in equitation. On selected weekends, Cadets are permitted to leave at home. We were civilians, notes one Marine veteran who worked as a TAC from 2005 to 2019. Valley Forge Military Academy & College is a private, international leadership institute comprised of A combat-tested, exceptional leader. Valley Forge Military Academy was founded in 1928 by Lieutenant General Milton G. Baker, Pennsylvania Guard (Retired). We are fighting against a people well acquainted with the theory and practice of war, brave by discipline and habit, American General Henry Knox wrote in 1776 to John Adams, who then chaired the Continental Congress Board of War. Wood quit the Forge that year, in any case, after seven years on the job. The strong core curriculum, developed based on careful analysis of the general education requirements of competitive colleges and universities, is the heart of the degree programs. His role included organizing parades for Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Family. His masterwork, The Catcher in the Rye, opens with Holden Caulfield at Pencey Prep, a fictionalized version of the Forge. For all the time theyre putting into this they could do something positive, Helgeson said. The move evoked a vehement response from powerful alumni (including McGeorges son), who complained that Valley Forge was losing its character. At least five cadets I interviewed identified Rivera, a former helicopter pilot who didnt respond to multiple requests for comment, as one of the most abusive TACs. We were there to be a role model for these kids, not a drill instructor. About us. [6], The school had, as of 2011, 487 students. Browse 204 valley forge military academy photos and images available, or search for military school cadets to find more great photos and pictures. A rappel tower the Army constructed on campus for its Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC), a program in which Valley Forge no longer participates. Another slide depicted Rivera as particularly abusive, a contention bolstered by numerous staffers and cadets, including one who remembers Rivera routinely ordering Schumacher into his office just to scream at him. The deliberately punitive ethos of military schools rests on the false assumption that it wrings out bad habits and encourages good ones. College cadets also participate in an annual intramural program of athletics events, academics, and creative challenges leading to the award of the Provost's Cup. VFMA is a private, all-male, boarding and day college preparatory school for students in grades 7-12 The officer rank system was increased and improved in the 1960s with the introduction of additional Cadet Captain ranks (from Cadet Captain to Cadet 1st Cpt.). Valley Forge Military Academy is an international leadership institution, comprised of a middle school and high school for boys in grades 7-12. But when a former administrator reported a different tooth-pasting attack to her superiors, they didnt do anything about it, she said. [19] Colonel Feltham also introduced the British "Slow March" in approximately 1961.) Parents in focus groups complained about little discipline, students cutting classes, disruptions in class, light supervision of study halls, and, worse, physical and sexual abuse, according to the Healey report. Based on the schools own data, Valley Forge logged at least 30 incidents of alleged sexual misconduct from 2015 through 2020, from stalking and fondling to rape; two ongoing lawsuits claim the school has attempted to impede investigations by its Title IX office. We provides our students career guidance and employment counseling upon completion of the . Only about 3% of all these school graduates go on to join the military. Today the collection consists of the full complement of voices, which consists of six B-flat soprano[citation needed] trumpets, six B-flat tenor trumpets, two G-bass trumpets, and two E-flat soprano[citation needed] trumpets. One can reasonably argue that the military must instill compliance and cohesion in its combat units. Easy Interview. The shield is of red and white vertical stripes with a blue field containing thirteen stars, one for each of the original states. The campus is crumbling, too, its barracks periodically infested with rats, cockroaches, and moldcadets have also complained of burnt and moldy food in the dining hall. Theyre weakening the brand.. Incumbent trustees on Valley Forges board say the criticism is overblown and that they are moving aggressively to tackle its problems. The Delaware County Court of Common Pleas reported the following activity in the suit brought by Valley Forge Military Academy and College against Roman E. Yang on March 12: 'Complaint (e-Filed)'. A note in the end credits says the events in the film are not meant to reflect "the educational philosophy or teachings" of then-Valley Forge Military Academy and Junior College. Gerald Hale, USCG (Ret. Faculty and Staff Officers generally wear military uniforms and generally wear United States Army officer rank insignia save for those who are a part of the United States Air Force, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard and wear their respective rank insignia. In recent months, victims of the ongoing sexual assault and abuse legal case against Valley Forge Military Academy have shed some light on several instances where abuse such as hazing, sexual assaults, and fighting took place.To summarize the initial complaint placed against the military academy, there were reports of the following scenarios . The cadets are, from 2014 onward, grouped into three battalions, the Mounted and the two Infantry battalions. He ascended through the Army ranks to the position of major general and served in Sarajevo and Afghanistan. The board of trustees is the leadership, not the president at schools such as Valley Forge, he said. Supervising officers got burned out, Schumacher told me, and began ignoring even blatant misbehavior: Theyd shut their door to the TAC office., While many secondary schools grapple with some amount of egregious behavior, the military model made for a more challenging environment. Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation. Police reports obtained by Mother Jones from the last decade involve cadets as young as 13 experiencing psychiatric crises, including suicidal behavior. VFMC offers the Army ROTC Early Commissioning Program (ECP). Lines were drawn. Founded in 1928, Valley Forge Military Academy and College offers an all-boys' prep school for cadets through high school, and a two-year co-ed junior college program. The conclusion of this period occurs when the students complete the traditional requirement of earning their "Capshield", the brass crest that adorns the uniform cap.[16]. In 2018, one former TAC said he was tasked with a night shift overseeing four buildings, or 300 kids by himself. In 2015, the schools thenTitle IX officer warned of a Gomer Pyle method of training, referring to a character from Full Metal Jacket whose brutal hazing by others pushes him to commit a murder-suicide. The faculty currently includes Royal Navy, Royal Marines Commandos, and Royal Marines Band Service personnel, especially in the academy's regimental band and also as staff and tactical officers. Cadets listen to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney at a 2012 Valley Forge rally. By the time Navy Rear Admiral Peter Long took over as president in 2000, the Forge was down to a few hundred students and on the verge of bankruptcy. Valley Forge Military Academy. Valley Forge Military Academy and College - Wikipedia. At Taps, all cadets, except those granted "Late Lights" to study and cadets of the college, are required to be in bed. Established in 1928, Valley Forge Military Academy and College is an international leadership institution, comprised of a middle school, high school, and college. Those with Academy Commissions wear the letters "VF" in place of the "U.S." insignia and school crests as branch insignia and unit crest. But when an administrator raised concerns with the HR office about that counselorwho was later convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old at another schoolI was told that it was none of my business, to just stay out of it.. Starting in Fall 2020, VFMA offers a Varsity eSports Program. Price. And security has been told that if my wife steps foot on the grounds, they are to call the police. School administrators said Mrs. Lord has not been banned and is still welcome on campus, following the visitors protocols,once campus is open to visitors again. Be the first to find this review helpful. Who owns Valley Forge? He had a decidedly different job in 2011, when he was the Garrison Sgt. The decision to admit women into the junior college was made in 2005 by Longs successor, Charles Tony McGeorge, the Forges first civilian president. During the 1950s to early 1960s, the officer rank structure of the Corps of Cadets, VFMAC, was: Other ranks wore the chevrons on the sleeve and were ranked accordingly, with a mix of British and U.S. Army and Marine enlisted ranks. Alumnus Al Ciardi, a longtime critic of the board of trustees, denied that, saying the FBI had investigated and determined that the alleged threats were unfounded. Pennsylvania Military Charter School at Valley Forge is a tuition-free public charter school coming to the Wayne area in the fall of 2026! Rules werent being enforced.. . The word snafu comes from a military acronym meaning situation normal: all fucked up. And thats a sentiment the Forge and like-minded institutions seem to be imprinting upon the next generation of military leaders. They are given an opportunity to acclimate to the overall campus environment. Many business, political, and military leaders have embraced that tough-love approach. We keep hoping these guys would go away, said current president Stuart Helgeson. The corps expanded to include artillery (formerly machine guns) in the late 1930s. Once, most College Cadets in the infantry battalion were assigned to the "F" Company, but have been divided into "G", "H", and "I" Companies today. In an unpublished 1995 letter to a friend and former classmate, shared with me by the J.D. Rafael Garcia 1979-1983. Taps: Directed by Harold Becker. We didnt get anything done.. "Jack" Mier Jr. major general, Army National Guard of the United States (Retired), Former. As he returned from the shower one night, a door flung open and five cadets dragged him into a room and attempted to penetrate him, first with fingers, then a coat hanger: I struggled for a little bit, but five, six other peoplenumbers just kinda won that. Soon after, he fought off another tooth-pasting attempt. Current board chairman English confirmed the dissolution of the alumni association. Brigadier General Alfred A. Sanelli, Class of 1939, B.A., M.A., Pennsylvania Guard (Retired) [Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army (Retired)] (19212005), was the long-serving Chaplain and Director of Character Education, after serving as Dean of the academy, Dean of the college, Professor of Military Science, and in other staff positions over many years. Westley Watende Moore. It is, however, non-sectarian in practice, as the address, which focuses on character and leadership, is given by the distinguished military, civil, and academic leaders. Weve got a plan. I resigned, said Lord, adding that he offered to stay in 2019 for the remainder of the fiscal year. So we urgently need this specific ask, what you're reading right now, to start bringing in more donations than it ever has. Wayne, PA - Valley Forge Military Academy and College (VFMAC) faces several lawsuits that allege former students were sexually assaulted, hazed, and physically assaulted during their time as cadets at the private military boarding school. Some trustees have been on the schools board for decades, fueling criticism that the board has become ossified and resistant to change. All they cared about was that there was no negative press, even if it meant that kids were being sodomized or kids were having inappropriate sexual relations, or getting drunk or getting high, or whatever. Valley Forge Military Academy has an overall rating of 2.2 out of 5, based on over 22 reviews left anonymously by employees. In his affidavit, Niessner testified that when he reported his abuse to the TAC office, an officer asked, Will your parents sue? (They did not.) ECP Lieutenants are obligated to serve for a total of eight years upon commissioning: the initial two years are served in the Reserve Components (Army Reserve or Army National Guard), and the additional six years are served in either the Reserve Components or the Active Component, dependent upon the needs of the Army. Valley Forge Military Academy and College (VFMAC) is a private boarding school (grades 7-12) and military junior college (MJC) in Wayne, Pennsylvania. #9 Best Value of 1,323 places to stay in Wayne. The culture was rife with abuse of every part of a persons being. Recalls another alum: I didnt feel like a human the majority of the time I was there.. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and A prime slice of campus was sold off to developers for $1.6 million. Robert W. 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