New York Military Academy - Review #1

Organization and Adminstration at the Academy was key in a Military Academy setting. Through a strong military environment that existed during my attendance, I was fortunate to learn diciplines that extended throughout my life and careers. A key element was gaining the knowledge on how to budget time and resources in a very competitive, structured experience.

Specifically, I learned time management, personal dicipline, and the concept of respect and responsibility, for yourself and others. NYMA has moulded and shaped lives for many years and hopefully will continue to do so for future cadets.

During my first two years at the academy and through my life, I jokingly said "I don't know what I did to piss my parents off to send me to a Military school!" But the realization of the benefits and their intentions provided me a life changing experience.I honestly have no concept of what attending a non military school would be like. As far as advice, imagine you are 12, 13 years old and its a "Full Metal Jacket" experience. It was very tough but it certainly builds character.

It was a "school of distinction." Completing your studies and going on to further your involvement with college, with military service, or your chosen career after NYMA was a "feather in your cap" that you were well prepared for after graduation.

Although the school currently still provides a military experience to a certain extent, it is much more relaxed than during my attendance.

I enjoyed the small classes, dedicated instructors on all levels, academically and militarily as we were an Honor School, JROTC at the time.

All sports, varsity, junior varsity, intramural, were competitive and against challenging compeditors. The school had football, soccer, tennis, cross country, track, swimming, basketball, golf, baseball, and wrestling. Team sports provided the opportunity to learn teamwork, while individual sports allowed you to excel based on your abilities.

The school had an exceptional band, which actually produced and distributed a phonograph record, of military compositions. They were also a key part of the weekly parades that occured every Sunday, as well as their involvement in the NYC Columbus Day parade. A yearly production that was entitled "Yea Furlough" was staged with themes from leading Broadway productions by the cadets.

I was fortunate to take a course in Art History. The instructor was formerly the editor of a popular NY magazine that targeted the food and art scene in NYC. He hosted trips to art related points in the NYC metropolitan area, such as the Cloisters, Metropolitan Museum of Art, etc. But as he was a "foodie" we also had the opportunity to enjoy spots in NYC that were exceptionally good and certainly off the beaten path as in Little Italy and Chinatown in NYC.

Our living accomodations were simple, I lived in Jones Barracks, which was a brick and mortar fortress. It afforded housing for six military companies A,B,C,D, E, and the Band, approximately 205 cadets. Each room had a bed, dresser, desk and sink, showers and toilets were located in the basement of each company unit and were open with no partitions or curtains. Jones Barracks was for mostly grades 9-12. There were other dorms for lower grades.In this living environment you really had the opportunity to learn about, know and bond with other cadets.

At the time of my enrollment, seating targeted your company affiliation, if you were in Company E, you were seated with peers from Company E. An officer of your company sat at the head of the tables, each table had about 10 seats. Food was served by cadets who were in the mess hall detachment, and it was family style. Prior to each meal, companies would be in formation and march into the mess hall, we would remain standing at our table till we recieved the order to sit, immediately prior to that order, grace was said. After the meal, orders and information for the day were read usually after first mess or breakfast.

Campus was closed and access to the surrounding town and off campus activities was limited to weekends if you were accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Occasionally, we would host a dance with a woman's boarding school that was proximate to the location. There were no female cadets enrolled during my years at NYMA. Social life was quite limited.