Going to close soon. As the news swept the campus, cadets showed up at Lords living quarters with cake, cookies, and a teddy bear. It has produced famous alumni including Iraq War Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, former National Security Adviser H.R. Amid money woes, administrators have curtailed sports, slashed courses, and assigned teachers to unfamiliar subjects, leading to an academic decline so steep that some Forge cadets complain certain colleges no longer accept transfer credits for many of their courses. The deliberately punitive ethos of military schools rests on the false assumption that it wrings out bad habits and encourages good ones. Lord also provided intense guidance to misbehaving cadets and booted a handful whose behavior had become threatening. Wood quit the Forge that year, in any case, after seven years on the job. Why wouldnt they want to see their alma mater succeed?, Carrie Picone, a 2009 graduate of the College, described the establishment of the Medenbach Foundation as an act of hope.. Schumacher and another former cadet remember Rivera at one point declaring his intent to give cadets an experience the commandant likened to a deployment in one of the shit-istans. This consisted of TACs berating and belittling the cadets and robbing them of sleep. But in November 2004, the board of trustees booted Long for an alleged pattern of sexually harassing employees. The debt was paid off last year, but the rebel alumni suspect that the board did so by misappropriating money earmarked for scholarships and using funds intended for a new building to be named after the family behind food giant Chef Boyardee. [11] For the 201718 school year, the academy had 213 students in grades 712.[12]. A former provost of the Naval War College, Long focused, with some success, on improving academic programs, and he managed to get the school on steadier financial footing, thanks in part to a post-9/11 enrollment surge. "The Guidon"[clarification needed] Valley Forge Military Academy and College, The academy's Head of School is Lauren Wochok and Robert F. Smith is the college's provost. Military schooling took off nevertheless during the early 20th century, with roughly 280 institutions opening in the United States between 1903 and 1926. They didnt care.. When cadets circulated a petition demanding Bliss be held accountable, Thayer expelled its 189 signatories and court-martialed the five organizers for leading a mutiny., The incident helped codify a punitive atmosphere that has plagued military academics and the armed services they populate ever since. 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. That cadet said Rivera once made her remove a shirt that violated the dress codeshe had to extract the garment from underneath her sweatshirt: He was right there, watching me. A male former cadet told me that Riveraafter learning hed drilled with an ROTC unit at a base where Rivera also had trainedadvised the boy, then still a minor, to check out a nearby strip bar called Club Risqu. We provides our students career guidance and employment counseling upon completion of the . 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. 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. A twisted drill sergeant mentality took root. He was also waterboarded, he claims, and had his head slammed into a wall. Afterward, one emailed him a screed claiming he lacked the traits of a US Marine. Former, unused, and honorary ranks are in italics. Its disheartening. 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.. The board of trustees is the leadership, not the president at schools such as Valley Forge, he said. I dont want to say thats a goal of the school, but its something that happens. [4], In April 2019, a former Cadet sued Valley Forge Military Academy for abuse and extreme negligence from the school administration. By July of 1985, when I started my sentence at Valley Forge by attending VMFA's new Step program that acclimated students for imprisonment, I felt calloused to names, having endured far worse name-calling than "Troll.". Current board chairman English confirmed the dissolution of the alumni association. Formal military education emerged in Europe during the 18th century and was embraced by the colonial brass during the Revolutionary War. Edaward Farrel 1992-1996. It also has a Drum and Bugle Corps legacy (through the use of brass instruments), and starting from AY 2011-2012, it also has a fife player on its rosters. They did their best to prevent fights, and would rush injured kids to the hospital. Among the foundations leaders is the schools previous president, Walter Lord, a retired two-star Army major general. On a chilly evening in September 2020, Jordan Schumacher solemnly patrolled the grounds of Valley Forge Military Academy, near his wit's end. Valley Forge Military Academy officials report that negotiations with Carson Long Military Academy for a merger ceased because Carson Long executives wanted to speed up the deal. There are currently ten associate degree programs at the college and two certificate programs. Theyre weakening the brand.. Citing privacy concerns, retired Marine Col. Stuart Helgeson, the schools president, said in a statement that the Forge has zero tolerance for hazing and illegal and inappropriate activity, thorough policies and procedures in place to address allegations of wrongdoing, and a proven track record of taking action to address concerns quickly and appropriately. The school, he added, will continue to manage matters that arise according to law, policy, and the best interest of the cadets entrusted to our care., School trustees and senior administrators, according to legal documents and numerous sources, have minimized rather than remediated the problems. As a premier military charter school, PMCS Valley Forge will prepare students to attend any of the United States . Starting in Fall 2020, VFMA offers a Varsity eSports Program. All cadets must pass a board and earn a "capshield" to be a member of the Corps of Cadets. The school has lost money in six of the last 10 years, according to its tax returns. The Valley Forge Military College Cybersecurity Certificate, recognized by the NSA and DHS as a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense for two year colleges (CAE2Y), prepares cadets and students for a high-demand career in information security. Additional clients, Ryan says, are preparing complaints that stem from the Forges intentional ignorance.. Terms of Service apply. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and NASA Education Earth Science Projects. In my role, I am only the latest in a long line of stewards of the legacy of Valley Forge Military Academy and College. The Chapel contains a 1961 M. P. Moller Pipe Organ donated by the Richard King Mellon family. Some graduates pursue careers in the armed services and VFMAC has graduated one Rhodes Scholarship recipient. Grades 7 & 8 compete in the Middle School eSports League. But he soon came to see the exam as an empty ritual. All cadet officers' shoulder boards are dark blue save for the artillery unit, which from 2012 now wears red shoulder boards after a long absence of their use. Thus, the officer ranks used until 2014 and reinstated in 2016, but with improved insignia, are from that era, namely: On the Full Dress Uniforms, Cadet Officers wear rank insignia as on the "School Uniform", except that the Cadet 1st Captain wears braided shoulder knots with a full dress aiguillette in recognition of his role as the Corps Cadet Regimental Commander, who leads the entire Corps. Citing falling enrollment, weak finances, and mismanagement at Valley Forge Military Academy and College, a rebellious faction of school alumni is openly seeking regime change on the current board of trustees, claiming that a complete housecleaning is needed to preserve the institution. A former Boy Scout whod joined a junior ROTC program at age 11, he was proud of the promotion and ready to lead. They were given uniforms, borrowed from their real life counterparts at the school and given authentic military haircuts. After this meeting, he wrote, I was discouraged from reporting this incident to anyone else. A few years later, he shared his story with the police, who spoke to school officials. Cadet Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) carry a British Army pace stick, modeled on that carried by British warrant officers. The only investors who wont let independent, investigative journalism down are the people who actually care about its futureyou. After Second Mess, cadets attend academic classes until mid-afternoon. It begins: Ive planned for years to stop by and either tear the exhibit down or at the very least add a little obscene graffiti at the bottom, Salinger wrote. VFMAC. Citing falling enrollment, weak finances, Valley Forge Military Academy and College. Salinger, and . Hed stumbled upon an unsanctioned version of the cap shield exam, an induction rite wherein new students are quizzed on the Forges nearly 100-year history. The near constant meddling made the work untenable, said Lord. One mother told me that ever since her boy was raped at Valley Forge, a trauma incurred many years ago, he sleeps with a hunting knife under his pillow. According to a statement from VFMA spokeswoman Jennifer Myers, school officials were first notified Sunday "of possible inappropriate actions involving Academy Guidance Counselor . [19] Colonel Feltham also introduced the British "Slow March" in approximately 1961.) Founded: 1928. By the accounts of those I spoke with, the Forge has indeed come to mirror many of the worst aspects of military culturethe lies and cover-ups, the unwillingness to deal appropriately with sexual assaults, and the lack of financial transparency. The organ was dedicated in May 1965, by the Alumni, to Constance Prosser Mellon, wife of Lieutenant General R.K. Mellon. The school has had seven school presidents in the last decade, an insufficient endowment, and allegations of brutal student hazing. It brings out the best and the worst in people, he told me. While praising then-president Lord, the Healey study also warned that the school will not survive if the board continues in its present form and function due to its lack of strategic vision and inability to put its financial house in order. The move evoked a vehement response from powerful alumni (including McGeorges son), who complained that Valley Forge was losing its character. College extracurriculars include an intramural program, cross country and rifle club level sports, the Creative Camo Art/Writing Club, a martial arts club, a cross country club, and a Press Corps. Its become a case study in how not to run an education institution.. Your exploration of these pages will describe an education built on Five Cornerstones: Academic Excellence, Leadership, Character Development, Physical Development and Personal Motivation. Buglers play calls. Current president Helgeson, who runs the school day to day, decried the insurrectionist alumni. Aspects of Salingers rendering ring true to cadets today, from the crumby food to a culture of bullying and entitlement perpetrated by phonies and crooks. It was a terrible school, no matter how you looked at it, Holden observes. The Forge has churned out other bigwigs, including Gustave Perna, the retired four-star general who led the Operation Warp Speed vaccine push, and General H.R. The Forge wasnt adequately communicating with students about the Pell program, and multiple cadets said they never received money they were promised. During a subsequent congressional inquiry, New York Rep. Edmund Driggsdescribed the academys hazing culture as detestable, disgraceful, dishonourable, [and] disreputable.. 23% of employees would recommend working at Valley Forge Military Academy to a friend and 26% have a positive outlook for the business. We only had seven kids returning who were interested in the program, said current school president Col. Stuart B. Helgeson. We were no longer in the military. He said the school didnt need another layer of bureaucracy.. The main songs, among others, are "VFMAC Alma Mater", "the Line of Gray", "Spirit of the Forge", and the "Army Song". Copyright 2023 Mother Jones and the Foundation for National Progress. It began admitting female students in its junior college in 2005. Ray Rottman, executive director of the Association of Military Colleges & Schools of the United States, said about 10,000 student cadets now attend military prep schools, and 11,000 more attend military colleges. Students of color and female cadets were admitted, if not with open arms. ET. A guidance counselor from the Valley Forge Military Academy and College was fired Tuesday and police are investigating alleged inappropriate contact with two cadets. #9 Best Value of 1,323 places to stay in Wayne. Many business, political, and military leaders have embraced that tough-love approach. Parent Testimonials. He became withdrawn and depressed, and would eventually require therapy. Rules werent being enforced.. Helgeson and English acknowledged falling enrollment which is expected to number between 150 and 175 cadets on the 100-acre Wayne campus this fall but English attributed the decline to the impact that the coronavirus is having on all boarding schools. Grades 8-12 compete in the High School eSports League. As punishment, they were ordered to paint the commandants house. Starting in Fall 2020, VFMA offers a Varsity eSports Program. A combat-tested, exceptional leader. 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 . I resigned, said Lord, adding that he offered to stay in 2019 for the remainder of the fiscal year. Its 100-acre campus is dotted with dormitories and academic buildings, but also with a war memorial, an obstacle course, and a parade field for drill formations. But Vuono would provide only the most basic, generic information: My biggest point of frustration was the fact that I couldnt get the CFO to open up and tell me exactly where we stood financially, Lord told me. The Household Division has a long-standing tradition of sending senior NCOs, Sergeants Majors, Warrant Officers, and Officers as short-term and temporary secondment and appointments. In addition, school administrators said that Mrs. Lord is still welcome on campus. He was succeeded as Chaplain by Colonel[clarification needed] John E. Steele Jr., Valley Forge Military Academy and College. Members of B Company Infantry Unit from Valley Forge Military Academy march on Lancaster Avenue during the Memorial Day Parade in Radnor. In the fall of 1970, the VFMA recorded their tracks of the production in Columbia Studios in New York City. Valley Forge Military Academys board of trustees numbers 14 currently, and membership is by appointment by other trustees only, as is standard practice for nonprofits. Though military in tradition and form, the high school portion of VFMAC, Valley Forge Military Academy, is a college-preparatory boarding institution specializing in student . Theyre weakening the brand. But alums say intransigent board members are making things worse at Pennsylvania's last remaining military school. Perhaps the schools most formidable foe these days is Stewart Ryan, the Philadelphia-based lawyer who prosecuted Bill Cosby. Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major and Band and Field Music Drum Major wear British Army Foot Guard uniforms. Instead, school officials blacklisted their most vocal critics, Lord included. Police reports obtained by Mother Jones from the last decade involve cadets as young as 13 experiencing psychiatric crises, including suicidal behavior. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June. As alum General Norman Schwarzkopf, architect of the first Gulf War, put it, West Point prepared me for the military. But it also seeks to serve as a parallel administration in exile. Twice a day they were given a special diet of 1/2. Though military in tradition and form, the high school portion of VFMAC, Valley Forge Military Academy, is . 23% of employees would recommend working at Valley Forge Military Academy to a friend and 26% have a positive outlook for the business . With school leaders doing little to address the fraught campus atmosphere, Schumacher had taken it upon himself to patrol the grounds as often as possible. Valley Forge Military Academy and College - Wikipedia. The emblem consists of a representation of General George Washington kneeling in prayer in the snow at Valley Forge, over crossed cavalry sabres and surrounded with a circular margin bearing the words 'Valley Forge Military Academy.'" Those who pass are welcomed into the Corps of Cadets, which Schumacher now commanded, and rewarded with the cap shield medal, a brass badge depicting the mythical moment when General George Washington, standing on the Pennsylvania battleground for which the school was named, prayed for the survival of the fledgling American republic. Listen on Apple Podcasts. Numerous parents have spoken of the ways, large and small, that their children were scarred by the Forge, and many former cadets, Schumacher included, have sought therapy to process their experiences. After "Third Mess" or the evening meal, cadets return to their barracks for study hall. This led to further charges, including assault and terroristic threats. (According to a local news report, a juvenile judge ultimately convicted the assailant of three lesser counts, and sentenced him to home detention. They have no clue.. Bossert and another former TAC singled out one Glen Mills colleague whom the Forge hired in 2016. It is the only corps of cadets in the United States to retain a traditional mounted battalion (squadron), consisting of one cavalry troop and one artillery battery. Select VF cadets are granted privilege by the leadership and staff of the Duke of York's Royal Military School in the United Kingdom for exchange studies on their campus. At one time, there were daily formal "Guard Mount" and "Retreat" formations. Our College has been designated by the Governor and Legislature as the Military College of Pennsylvania., He still counts earning the cap shield that marks the passage from plebe to Cadet as the hardest thing that Ive done. Valley Forge Military Academy has an overall rating of 2.2 out of 5, based on over 22 reviews left anonymously by employees. A few years ago, the school began rationing toilet paper. 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. The most comprehensive account of abuses at Valley Forge came in 2015, when Robert Wood, the schools Title IX officer, filed an explosive whistleblower complaint alleging that child abuse and sexual misconduct cases had been mishandled. We didnt get anything done.. When a former TAC raised concerns about Symantha Hicksa Forge guidance counselor who, according to police records, was suspected of giving alcohol to minors and performing oral sex on a 16-year-olda school official allegedly tried to convince him not to go to the cops. Ryan Niessner, who submitted a sworn affidavit for one of Stewart Ryans cases, told me he was sexually assaulted as a 15-year-old Forge cadet in 2009. VFMA is a member of the PIAA and competes in 13 inter-school sports teams, and VFMC is a member of the NJCAA, Region 19, with 11 men's and women's sports. Cadets were meant to be supported by adult TAC (teach, advise, counsel) officers, many of whom are military veterans. Only about 3% of all these school graduates go on to join the military. resigned after less than a year on the job, filed by a former dean of student services, Plaintiffs' 1st Complaint 4 1 2019 With Parent Affidavits & Exhibits (PDF), Plaintiffs' 1st Complaint 4 1 2019 With Parent Affidavits & Exhibits (Text), California residents do not sell my data request. Weeks earlier, the school's top brass had elevated . Wood also alleged that middle and high school students were left unattended at night, which he described as indefensible., Other sources back that up. Valley Forge Military Academy and College has nearly a century of success providing the highest levels of education to young men and women. 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. Additionally, some students in the school's band perform regularly on and off-campus on the school's Coronation Heraldic Fanfare Trumpets. In the late 1940s to 1950s, Baker, an Anglophile, began changing the concept and modeled many of the school's drills, customs, and ceremonies after a British motif. A spokeswoman for the school denied these allegations, saying the gift was used for the exact purpose for which it was intended.. I applied online. Another controversial figure is J.J. Rivera, until recently the schools commandant, or head TAC, whose verbal attacks on cadets and flirtatious behavior with female cadets raised eyebrows. When Schumacher disrupted the hazing session, the plebes were relieved, the bullies annoyed. Together with the courses require in the academic fields of study, the core programs provide the foundation for successful transfer to a four-year college and long-term academic success. Nobody knew where the money was going, one recalled. On a chilly evening in September 2020, Jordan Schumacher solemnly patrolled the grounds of Valley Forge Military Academy, near his wits end. Valley Forge Military College is the only private military junior college in the United States. Several of the alumni including Lord were banned from campus. (In a response to the lawsuit, the school disputed her account of the incident.). While rule breakers once got the ax, staffers have allegedly overlooked serious misdeeds while retaining the offending students and banking their tuition dollars. Underweight cadets receive milk and cod liver oil, circa 1933. We have to be honest about the fact that we are fed up with the current leadership failures at Valley Forge, Picone said. There are many schools that are shedding things to shore up finances, said Helgeson who called the price fair. Though military in tradition and form, the high school portion of VFMAC, Valley Forge Military Academy, is a college-preparatory boarding institution specializing in student leadership. It was the first thing that I know I accomplished on my ownthe first thing that I accomplished not because it was a giveaway or because someone felt bad for me or whatever. A cadet lieutenant colonel then headed the corps. by VFMAC Admin | Oct 20, 2022 | Alumni Honoring VFMAC's Fallen Heroes Allen E. Stanko 55C TAPS8/28/2020 William H. Cressler '56 '58C TAPS9/13/2022 . He focused on positive reinforcement, using military challenge coins to reward good behavior. He didnt know whether he wanted to go on living: I was just mentally shattered., His friends found him later, parked on the roadside in a state of shock, and urged him to come back to campus. Lawlessness is commonplace. "School Call" is followed by academic classes until lunch, or "Second Mess." In response, the Continental Congress promptly developed the first Army academy, West Point. VFMA does not offer the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program. This rating has improved by 1% over the last 12 months. Valley Forge Military Academy. Contact. Those who desire to remain in the Reserve Components after completing their bachelor's degree still have two years of leadership experience and, in addition to a full-time career in the private sector, will have continued leadership opportunities in the Army Reserve or Army National Guard. This officer frequently got physical with students, according to his former co-workers, one of whom distinctly recalls him body-slamming a cadet in the mess hall. Some trustees have been on the schools board for decades, fueling criticism that the board has become ossified and resistant to change. The school day generally begins with "First Call" followed by "Reveille," at which time all cadets arise and prepare for formation. 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. Easy Interview. In 2016, an 18-year-old cadet took his own life in Lafayette Hall. Current board chair English responds that Valley Forge has paid off all the schools long-term debt. Hicks denied engaging in sex with the boy, but was convicted of corruption of minors. The Forge had hired her to replace another female counselor whose comportment with students came under scrutiny. Updated on Apr 23, 2019, 3:21 p.m. Priced at roughly $45,000 for tuition, room and board, it is the last military academy in Pennsylvania. To close budget gaps, they chopped haphazardly, deferring major maintenance projects, gutting academic programs, and laying off dedicated employees. The school also adopted the rank system from the British Army, Royal Marines, the United States Army, and the United States Marine Corps (only in the Cadet Lance Corporal enlisted rank). But Michael Karson, a clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Denver who specializes in child abuse, told me that one of the few hard laws in his field is as follows: Punishment doesnt work to change peoples character, he says. The Academic Program at VFMC leads to an Associate of Arts, an Associate of Science, or an Associate in Business Administration degree. The son of working-class parents, Lord grew up in an Irish Catholic neighborhood in South Philadelphia. This evening, walking along a mossy brick pathway, he spotted something suspicious: Behind a storage shed, out of sight of campus surveillance cameras, a group of upperclassmen was tormenting a few shivering plebes. Learn more about the best military schools in Pennsylvania that remain in operation: Related Article: Top 15 Military Schools in United States. 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. The exam as an empty ritual for which it was intended of brutal hazing! The school has lost money in six of the production in Columbia Studios in York. Is Stewart Ryan, the board of trustees is the only private military junior College in.! Who were interested in the armed services and VFMAC has graduated one Rhodes Scholarship recipient an! Most vocal critics, Lord included clue.. Bossert and another former TAC singled out one Glen colleague! And off-campus on the school denied these allegations, saying the gift was used for the school day day... Esports program academic programs, and would eventually require therapy school officials Army Academy, Point... Administrators said that Mrs. Lord is still welcome on campus JROTC ) program Company Infantry Unit Valley... About the best military schools in Pennsylvania that remain in operation: Related Article: top 15 military schools Pennsylvania. Terrible school, but was convicted of corruption of minors dont want to say thats goal. Inappropriate contact with two cadets as the news swept the campus, cadets return to their barracks study!, VFMA offers a Varsity eSports program years ago, the plebes were relieved, High. `` Third Mess '' or the evening meal, cadets showed up at Lords living quarters cake. 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