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Former units and assignments are indicated in italics. Im still considered persona non grata, Lord said. Info. The restprivate, religiously chartered, or state-runattracted a more eclectic student body, ranging from aspiring officers to troubled adolescents whose parents felt they could use some discipline. ET. This prompted the schools lawyer to warn that firing him would amount to a retaliatory discharge based on Woods efforts to uncover serious breakdowns in how abuse allegations were dealt with. The presentation claimed that five classmates had either tried to kill themselves or had spoken to leadership about doing so that school year. We cant compete with Main Line boarding schools with sleek furniture and IT thats state of the art. 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. And he said it will launch a Valley Forge-branded online school next year. The gyms, the pools have suffered because of money problems.. 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. 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. Valley Forge Military Academy & College's Post Valley Forge Military Academy & College 7,013 followers 4y It has formed a partnership that will license the schools name to a leadership academy in Doha, Qatar. 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. To close budget gaps, they chopped haphazardly, deferring major maintenance projects, gutting academic programs, and laying off dedicated employees. Lord also provided intense guidance to misbehaving cadets and booted a handful whose behavior had become threatening. I resigned, said Lord, adding that he offered to stay in 2019 for the remainder of the fiscal year. Like most American boarding schools, academics at the academy and college are demanding and highly competitive, and there is a mandatory two-hour nightly "study hall" period from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm in the students' barracks. 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. The program's hallmark is a personalized curriculum to ensure each cadet is fully prepared for the rigorous academic, physical fitness, moral-ethical issues, and leadership challenges. 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.. A combat-tested, exceptional leader. It works closely with each of the federal academies. Courses 218 View detail Preview site "I" Company had been named "I" Troop for all college cadets wishing to participate in equitation. Weeks earlier, the school's top brass had elevated . One student stabbed a classmate with scissors; another bashed his peer with a baseball batneither met serious repercussions. Bossert and another former TAC told me Rivera sometimes slow-walked investigationsincluding one that involved a rape. 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. Even the famously reclusive Salinger would eventually open up about his ambivalence toward the Forge. Schumacher had arrived on campus in 2019, excited by the Forges time-honored traditions and drawn to its curricula on counterterrorism and cybersecurity. During a subsequent congressional inquiry, New York Rep. Edmund Driggsdescribed the academys hazing culture as detestable, disgraceful, dishonourable, [and] disreputable.. 680 Following. 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. Fred Gerber 1962-1966. But it also seeks to serve as a parallel administration in exile. Our graduates have an impactful role in the world one that requires discipline, sacrifice, and acceptance that inward focus is limiting and outward focus beyond self is what can make a difference in and for the world. Yet Lord felt micromanaged by the trustees, including board chair John English, who served briefly in the Marines before founding a consulting firm. The college styles cadet uniforms after the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. The school has lost money in six of the last 10 years, according to its tax returns. #1. 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 still-pending complaint warns of a propensity among TACs for cadet allegations to be covered up and interfered with. Wood also alleges that his attempts to investigate claims were repeatedly met with implicit threats by top officials, including William Gallagher, a retired Army colonel who held various senior roles. Salinger, and . who served as Bandmaster and Director of Music from September 1949 to June 1976. Lawlessness is commonplace. 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. Some graduate as commissioned military officers, but all are subject to the customs and courtesies of military life, as well as its trials and traumas. Artillery made their debut in the corps (as E Battery) in 1939, formerly in the machine gun role. We educate the whole person and develop leaders for a global society. Subsequently, the school was known as Valley Forge Military Academy and Junior College. They were given uniforms, borrowed from their real life counterparts at the school and given authentic military haircuts. These concerns were echoed in an audit undertaken on behalf of a board member by the Healey Education Foundation, which warned that Valley Forge is not going to survive by looking backwards. A draft report, leaked to the press in 2019 and cited in a lawsuit that was later dismissed, noted that enrollment had declined 40 percent in the previous five years, and the school was nearly $7 million in debt. 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. He focused on positive reinforcement, using military challenge coins to reward good behavior. Valley Forge Military College Cadets wear a Royal Military Academy Sandhurst style uniform. During the years of highest enrollment, in the 1960s and 1970s, Cadets of the Middle School were assigned to the "H" Company. The school serves as Honor Guard to the British Royal Family on State Visits to Philadelphia. That was before the pandemic. Additional clients, Ryan says, are preparing complaints that stem from the Forges intentional ignorance.. One former administrator went so far as to call him a creepo, noting that female cadets often complained to her about Riveras behavior. When the schools official alumni association board of directors again challenged the trustees on multiple issues in 2019, the trustees simply disbanded the alumni group. 196 reviews. I never really felt like they were following financial aid procedures, one former staffer recalled. Like most military academies, its a nonprofit run by a board of more than a dozen trustees and theyre responsible for strategic vision, Rottman said. Going to close soon. Once a citadel of leadership, Valley Forge today is basically a sleepaway camp for troubled kids with very little supervision, says graduate Ray Bossert, a retired Army colonel and former TAC. The mistreatment amplified my anger issues, Sheng said, and led him to abuse others in turn. Nearly 4,000 parents and alumni signed a petition imploring the board of trustees to work out their differences with Lord so that he could be reinstated. It was, Toughen the fuck up! The Forge wasnt adequately communicating with students about the Pell program, and multiple cadets said they never received money they were promised. Pennsylvania Military Charter School at Valley Forge is a tuition-free public charter school coming to the Wayne area in the fall of 2026! Major for the London District, "a bespoke position in the British Army," he says. As he sped off, he began crying. Court activity on March 12: Valley Forge Military Academy and College vs Roman E. Yang. We keep hoping these guys would go away, Helgeson said. 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. Valley Forge has long billed itself as the kind of institution that breaks young people down in order to build them back better. Established in 1928, Valley Forge Military Academy & College is an international leadership institute comprised of a middle school and college preparatory high school for boys and a co-ed two-year college, each accredited by the Middle States Commission. One of the boys spoke at graduation, and the young lady who had been assaulted had to sit there and listen, Wood said. A senior at Valley Forge Military Academy, Boyuan Wang is a Gold Star Honor Roll Student, Company Commander of E Battery, a member of the National Honor Society and a member of VFMA's team for . 23% of employees would recommend working at Valley Forge Military Academy to a friend and 26% have a positive outlook for the business . The Healey report excoriated the board, saying it had not executed its fiduciary responsibility to the school by accumulating $7 million in debt and running a deficit. 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. But the kind of torment Valley Forge kids were subjected to, trauma that can leave psychological wounds as deep as those borne by soldiers on a battlefield, is impossible to justify. Theres been little to no investment. 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. Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights. It follows in the traditional military school format with army traditions. A recent post on a private Instagram account titled Valley Forge Sucks shows two cops peering into a schoolroom, with the caption: Normal day at the Forge., Valley Forge administrators declined to respond to detailed questions about the concerns raised in this story, or to make named staffers, administrators, or trustees available for interviews. One can reasonably argue that the military must instill compliance and cohesion in its combat units. The Valley Forge Corps of Cadets, entirely student-run, is the only American military organization maintaining British rank, drill, customs, and ceremonies. Another one recalls Rivera flirting with her repeatedly and saying she reminded him of his wife. Rafael Garcia 1979-1983. The near constant meddling made the work untenable, said Lord. "Check in was slow, the parking lot was dark but the room was quiet and comfortable. According to internal documents, police records, legal complaints, and interviews with more than 50 sources close to the school, including current and former cadets, parents, staff, and board members, campus leaders have allowed an environment of neglect, abuse, and impunity to fester. Days later, hundreds of alumni arrived from around the country for a tense meeting with school officials at Mellon Hall, a stately building with a checkerboard-tiled ballroom. He didnt just kick somebody out, a former trustee told me. We keep hoping these guys would go away, said current president Stuart Helgeson. Valley Forge is one of roughly 40 accredited . Then they fired me., Following Lords dismissal, trustee Maj. Gen. Jessica Wright, a former undersecretaryat the U.S. Department of Defense, quit the board in support of Lord. 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). Therese Dougherty, who oversaw student activities and the schools summer camp for McGeorges successors, filed a gender discrimination lawsuit in 2013 contending that administrators treated her in a condescending and demeaning manner and showed favoritism toward male employees. Woods complaint cites parental concerns about supervision and abuse dating as far back as 1997. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily newsletter and follow the news that matters. According to Cadets on Campus, a history of military schools, Thayer defended his commandant, Captain John Bliss, after Bliss brutally assaulted a cadet. Subscribe today and get a full year of Mother Jones for just $14.95. Anonymous Employee in Wayne, PA. It was a brush off the shoulder kind of thing, he said. Levi French 1993-1997. GLOBE Observer Website. He was succeeded as Chaplain by Colonel[clarification needed] John E. Steele Jr., Valley Forge Military Academy and College. Academy extracurriculars include a drill team, a rifle team, a regimental band, a Boy Scout troop, a Civil Air Patrol unit, and numerous events like International Day, STEM challenges, and service projects.. All cadets attend religious services at The Alumni Memorial Chapel of St. Cornelius the Centurion on Sunday morning as a part of the Character Education program. In a contemporaneous memo to the Department of Education, Wood wrote that his efforts to investigate a sexual assault complaint involving two male cadets were impeded by Gallagher, who demanded Wood cease his work. Enrollment peaked after World War II, but by the end of the Vietnam War, 65 percent of the institutions had closed their doors. Initially, General Baker devised an American Revolutionary War motif for the school. Basic ECP eligibility and entrance requirements include a minimum cumulative high school Grading in education grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale (2.5 for scholarship); a minimum SAT score of 850 (Math and Verbal sections only); pass a Department of Defense Medical Examination (arranged by Army ROTC); pass the Army height/weight and physical fitness standards; have U.S. citizenship (original naturalization document issued by INS or state-issued birth certificate); and be between 17 and 27 years of age and of good moral character. By signing up, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use, and to receive messages from Mother Jones and our partners. In 2004, a 17-year-old cadet was charged with stalking, involuntary deviate intercoursea category of felony crimes ranging from forced oral and anal sex to other forced nonvaginal penetrationand sexual assault against a fellow student, prompting two other cadets to come forward with related allegations against him. While ours is a military-style of education, these Five Cornerstones transcend the military with application to all individuals seeking something more. 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. The school doesnt want to deal with sexual harassment, a female cadet wrote, and students guilty of sexual misconduct saw their behaviors pushed under the rug., Another former cadet who attended around the same time told me she was drugged at an off-campus party and then sexually assaulted by a male Forge cadet while unconscious. McMaster, Catcher in the Rye author J.D. Condition. Entrusting students in leadership roles was all well and good, but a dearth of healthy adult oversight and accountability had contributed to a culture replete with assaults, verbal abuse, hazing, and sexual violence that had resulted in police visits, lawsuits, and a cold war pitting recalcitrant trustees and administrators against reform-minded parents, alumni, and cadets. Grades 8-12 compete in the High School eSports League. Perhaps the schools most formidable foe these days is Stewart Ryan, the Philadelphia-based lawyer who prosecuted Bill Cosby. Nestled 20 miles north of Philadelphia, the private institution teaches middle school, high school, and junior college students. Wayne, Pennsylvania vfmac.edu Joined December 2009. Lord felt confident he could tackle the Forges cultural issues. Ira Epstein 1965-1969. (Before the design of the school "pips", cadet officers wore the British "pips" design with the crowns.) Priced at roughly $45,000 for tuition, room and board, it is the last military academy in Pennsylvania. 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. Students are immersed in a unique educational experience centered Five Cornerstones . The remainder of the school Army traditions counterterrorism and cybersecurity to its curricula on and! Up for the London District, & quot ; Check in was slow, the private teaches! 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