Bataan Military Academy

Bataan Military Academy is a tuition-free, co-ed, college-prep public day high school. All Cadets are members of the [Navy Junior Reserve Officers Corp] the U.S. Navy’s youth organization. Bataan opened at the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year with freshmen and sophomores. Currently accepting students of high school grade levels (9-12), Bataan Military Academy (BMA), employs both teachers and military service members who are active duty, reservists or retired.

The Academy is named to commemorate the soldiers and sailors who were surrendered to Japanese forces on Luzon in 1942. During a forced removal to a POW camp, some 70,000 of these American and Philippine soldiers died during what later became known as the Bataan Death March. In remembrance of these brave men, many of whom were from New Mexico’s 200th Coastal Artillery, BMA Cadets participate in the annual 26 mile Bataan Death March Memorial Marathon held at the U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range near Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Campus

The campus is Located in Albuquerque, NM

Students

Students are selected by an interview with the principal and NSI. Courses include standard high-school curriculum.

Through the IDEAL New Mexico program, an online high school curriculum, Cadets are able to take additional courses, such as advanced mathematics and AP classes.

During the 2009-2010 school year, all incoming New Mexico high school freshmen are required to attend at least one advanced placement or dual-credit course during their high-school years. BMA is working with Central New Mexico Community College and the University of New Mexico to satisfy that goal.

Naval Science

U.S. Naval Science is a unique course offered by BMA. The course includes military history, traditions, uniform regulations, basic military regulations, military-related career exploration, how to identify and report sexual harassment, the military’s no drug/alcohol policies, and an emphasis on building leadership skills. The Cadet rank system is based on the following: Time in service, completion of course work available through U.S. Naval Science classes.

Physical Training

Bataan Cadets are required to PT every Wednesday according to the Navy PT standards. Student wills have to be able to do push ups, sit-ups, and a mile run.

Ethics

The U.S. Navy’s standards of "Honor, Courage and Commitment," are taught and implemented in Academy relationships. Ethics and morals are instilled every day through military drill and a military environment.

BMA follows an Honor Code which states, “Cadets do not lie, cheat or steal, and will not tolerate those who do.”

Extra Curricular

They include Basketball, color guard, rifle team, and a drill team.

Mascot: Heraldic Sea Lion

As World War II began, a U.S. submarine happened to be docked on the Philippine Island of Luzon. On the third day after the events at Pearl Harbor, Japanese air forces bombed the submarine. Several U.S. sailors died as most were on shore. Later, Japanese ground forces invaded the island and eventually captured American and Filipino troops leading to the events of the Death March. After the war and the return to the U.S., survivors of the Bataan Death March formed an organization named the Battling Bastards of Bataan. They selected the heraldry symbol of a sea lion to represent the organization. Dating to the year 400 AD, the sea lion represented the men who fought to protect the coastal waters. Bataan Military Academy proudly presents the sea lion as its mascot. Former Navy artist Jim Pearson of Albuquerque was commissioned to create a contemporary version of the sea lion. It is his conceptual version that is used by the Academy.

Military Life

As Cadets do not live at the Academy, discipline is reinforced by adult Instructors and Senior Cadets. Such discipline is crucial to maintaining the integrity and leadership-building qualities that are valued at the school.

Military Organization

Cadets are organized into platoons consisting of their Naval Science classes. (Typically in the same grade level) Platoon structure is as follows: Platoon Commander, Platoon Leading Petty Officer, Platoon Yeoman, Squad Leaders (1-4).

Battalion Command is as follows: Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, Administrative Officer, Operations Officer, Supply Officer, Safety Officer, Morale/Welfare/Recreation Officer, Training Officer, Public Affairs Officer, Command Chief.

NJROTC

The School uses the Uniforms and the rank structure of the NJROTC program. The rank structure is as Follows E-1 Seaman Recruit E-2 Seaman Apprentice E-3 Seaman E-4 Petty Officer Third Class E-5 Petty Officer Second Class E-6 Petty Officer First Class E-7 Chief Petty Officer E-8 Senior Chief Petty Officer E-9 Master Chief Petty Officer O-1 Ensign O-2 Lieutenant Junior Grade O-3 Lieutenant O-4 Lieutenant Commander O-5 Commander

References

• Albuquerque Tribune; 02 November 2006

Related Pages

• United States Naval Academy
• Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps
• Bataan Death March

External links

• Bataan Military Academy