MMI 175 yea
The entire Marion Military Institute Corps of Cadets, faculty and staff celebrates “Marion Made Day” on October 4, 2017 in honor of college founder Colonel J.T. Murfee.
America’s oldest military junior college marches in By Alvin Benn
M
arion Military Institute accomplished through the years, is celebrating its 175th but MMI has its own reasons for anniversary this year such a lengthy existence. with numerous events planned In addition to its academic to commemorate one of Amerachievements, it’s also known ica’s most historic educational for military programs that have facilities. educated hundreds of future It will never rival West Point generals and admirals to help or Annapolis because of its size, protect America. The list of but it has left indelible marks as MMI graduates is extensive, MMI continues into its third with every branch of the milcentury of excellence during MMI cadets from around the country learn to work together in a peer itary represented. Many have leadership environment. times of war and peace. paid the supreme price in deMMI is America’s oldest milfense of their country. itary junior college with an origin dating back to 1842 — two But there is no military obligation in attending MMI; about 40 decades after Alabama became a state. That’s quite a pedigree to percent of the cadets are not pursuing a military career. The civilpromote. ian track students come to MMI to gain peer leadership experiUniversities across America are rightly proud of what they have ence, earn an associate’s degree, prepare to transfer to a four-year 12 MARCH 2017
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