Missouri Military Academy - Mexico, Missouri

carlos L.

Yo fui alumno en el año de 1994 yo tenía 14 años, para mí fue una muy mala experiencia, fui víctima de un bulling terrible al grado que en la clase de natación delante del profesor llegaron como 6 compañeros obviamente mucho mayores que yo y me despojaron de mi traje de baño y el profesor no hacía absolutamente nada y como está muchas más historias que viví ahí. Hoy tengo 45 años y la verdad cada ves que recuerdo mi estancia en MMA me enojo con migo mismo por haber permitido tanto abuso hacia mi persona y claro que si me afectó muchísimo phycologicamente y emocionalmente. Espero que en 2023 las cosas dentro de MMA ya sean diferentes.

Jaymie L. M.

My cadet decided he wanted to attend MMA in 8th grade because he wants to be an officer in the U.S. Army. The day he arrived at MMA he embraced the life of a Cadet and has since excelled in his leadership abilities, education, organization, relationships, physical fitness and is extremely goal driven. This can only be attributed to the environment and structure at MMA. He has said "I know now that my dreams are possible!" MMA makes dreams happen. Best decision ever made!

ZM N.

The Missouri Military Academy (MMA) has a long history of controversy and negligence that makes it an institution no parent should trust with their child’s safety and well-being. Beyond my personal experiences as the younger sibling of a graduate who was unfairly threatened with deportation and suspension, there are troubling accounts from other former students that reveal systemic failures at MMA.

One former student filed a lawsuit in 2022, alleging routine physical abuse between 2018 and 2021. The student described an annual tradition called “the purge,” where older students brutally assaulted younger ones, with the academy failing to intervene despite being fully aware of these practices. The trauma became so unbearable that the student attempted suicide to avoid returning to MMA. Despite the academy’s claims that these allegations are “wholly unfounded,” such stories highlight a deeply toxic culture that prioritizes its reputation over the safety and mental health of its students.

This is not an isolated case. In 2010, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled in favor of a former MMA teacher who was wrongfully terminated after urging the academy to report suspected child abuse. This decision underscores longstanding issues with how MMA handles internal misconduct and its lack of transparency.

When my brother was threatened with deportation simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time—accompanying students who shoplifted at Walmart—he was left feeling helpless and unsupported. He did nothing wrong, yet the academy chose to intimidate him rather than investigate the truth. This reflects a broader pattern at MMA: punishing the innocent, turning a blind eye to abuse, and isolating students from their families.

Don’t send your kids to MMA. The academy has proven time and again that it cannot provide a safe or just environment. Hazing, abuse, neglect, and intimidation are ingrained in its culture, and it silences students who try to speak up. Your child deserves better—a school that values fairness, accountability, and their overall well-being. MMA is not that place.

Random_Guy

The Missouri Military Academy (MMA) creates an environment where students feel compelled to lie to their parents, often out of fear or a sense of obligation to protect their family’s expectations. Parents pay a significant amount of money to send their children to this institution, believing it will instill discipline, leadership, and a promising future. However, the reality is far from what they’re led to believe.

As the younger sibling of one of MMA’s graduates, I’ve seen firsthand how the pressure to present a perfect image distorts the truth. Students are often too afraid to speak honestly about the harsh conditions, the hazing, or the emotional toll they endure. They know their parents want to hear success stories, not struggles, and they feel trapped in a system that rewards silence and compliance over seeking help or addressing the school’s glaring issues.

This culture of secrecy is fueled by the academy’s failure to create a safe and transparent environment. Instead of encouraging open communication between students and their families, MMA enforces strict rules and fosters isolation. Cadets who want to reach out for help are often discouraged or even prevented from doing so. Parents remain unaware of the emotional and physical toll their children are enduring because the academy has created an environment where honesty feels like betrayal.

Don’t send your kids there. The price you pay isn’t just financial—it’s your child’s mental and emotional well-being. No amount of discipline or prestige is worth subjecting a young person to an institution that prioritizes its reputation over its students’ safety. There are better alternatives that promote growth and leadership while maintaining accountability, compassion, and transparency. As someone who’s seen the impact this academy has on its students, I urge parents to look beyond the glossy brochures and consider the real cost of sending their children to MMA.

The Missouri Military Academy (MMA) not only fosters a toxic environment of hazing, isolation, and neglect but also imposes unjust and extreme punishments on students for situations beyond their control. My older brother, a graduate of MMA, experienced firsthand how the institution’s rigid and punitive culture can destroy a student’s sense of justice and security. He was threatened with deportation and suspension simply because he went to Walmart with a group of kids he wasn’t even friends with, and some of them decided to steal. He did nothing wrong—he didn’t participate in the theft or condone it—yet the academy treated him as though he were guilty by association.

This kind of overreach is not just unjust; it’s emblematic of MMA’s broader failure to nurture and protect its students. Instead of investigating the incident thoroughly or giving him the chance to explain himself, the administration opted for intimidation and threats. Imagine the fear and helplessness a young student feels when facing potential deportation over something they didn’t do, especially when they’re already far from home and their family.

This isn’t an isolated incident—it’s part of a larger pattern of mismanagement and abuse of power at MMA. Students are subjected to an oppressive atmosphere where they are punished for the actions of others, silenced when they try to speak up, and isolated from their parents to prevent them from sharing their struggles. MMA’s administration seems more interested in preserving its strict image than in fostering fairness, justice, or support for its students.

Don’t send your kids there. Stories like my brother’s reveal a deeply broken system where students can be victimized not only by their peers but by the very institution that’s supposed to guide and protect them. Parents deserve to know the truth about what happens behind the academy’s walls, and students deserve a safe, fair, and nurturing environment—not threats, intimidation, and injustice. If you value your child’s mental health, safety, and future, find a better place to support their growth and potential.

Lynne L.

I'm continually impressed with this school. My son feels very safe and cared about at this school. The communication from Administration is excellent. The offerings, in terms of academics, sports and off-campus excursions, are top notch and cadets can get dual credit with a local college. The galas and dances are wonderful (food, drinks, decor, entertainment, auction items). The men are good role models for the young, male cadets and I appreciate them encouraging my son in his leadership abilities. Highly recommend this environment for a young man to thrive!

Heather R.

MMA has been a great experience for my son. He was at a school at home where he was one of many kids and where he could easily just blend into the background and not be noticed or pushed. It was easy for him to become apathetic and not really care too much about anything. At MMA the class sizes are small enough that there is no where for him to hide. He has become fully engaged and is doing really well with the challenge. The structure that MMA has provided has been great for him and he has risen to every occasion to show us he is responsible and able to take care of himself. We are very happy with the program at MMA and would definitely recommend it to other parents looking for something more for their sons.

Elijah H.

Went when I was 16 for the summer as punishment from parents, hated it while I was there and missed it as soon as I left. They do military school right and if you’re looking for a place you can trust your kid to be at, this is it.

Dennis N.

Was only able to attend one year (1966-67),..probably the most beneficial year of my life. Learned so many things that helped me throughout my life. I can't say enough good about MMA.