Marine Military Academy The Marine Military Academy is a private college preparatory academy located in Harlingen , Texas , offering a college preparatory curriculum for boys in grades 8 – 12 plus one - year of post - graduate study . The school was founded in 1965 . Its traditions and ideals are inspired by the United States Marine Corps , but the school is not affiliated with the United States Marine Corps except through its Junior ROTC program . The academy is situated on the site of the former Harlingen Army Airfield , established in 1941 . After closing , the field was re - opened in 1952 as the Harlingen Air Force Base which closed in the early 1960s . Since opening its doors as the Marine Military Academy most of the original buildings have been replaced with modern facilities . The adjacent runways became the Valley International Airport . Academics . Courses offered include regular high school classes as well as honors courses , Advanced Placement authorized courses and dual enrollment courses for which college credit may be earned . Most courses are taught year - long . Cadets have required attendance at tutorials for if they are failing any classes . There are no make - ups for failed exams or missed homework assignments without acceptable reasons and mandatory Closed Call to Quarters ( time set aside each evening in the barracks for the completion of homework and studying for exams ) . The school has summer programs including a four - week adventure summer camp for boys 13 – 17 , as well as ESL classes for foreign students . Athletics . All cadets are required to participate in one of the offered extracurricular activities during the afternoon activity period which goes from approximately 4 : 00 – 5 : 30 P . M . The goal of the program is to provide all cadets an opportunity to participate in sports activities regardless of their skill level . Additional athletic activities conducted at the school include judo , boxing , rock climbing , cycling , PFT team , and drill . Beginning with the 2000 – 2001 school year , varsity sports began competing in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools ( T . A . P . P . S . ) for statewide honors . Also offered at the eighth grade level is the V . I . S . A . program ( Valley Independent School Association ) , with yearlong competition in various sports . As they are not permitted to participate in TAPPS competitive activities at until they reach grade nine , this program provides eighth graders the opportunity to participate in volleyball , basketball , soccer and track and field sports against other member private schools . Corps of cadets . The Marine Military Academy established one of the first Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers ' Training Corps ( MCJROTC ) in the nation . All cadets are members of the MCJROTC unit , unless they fail to qualify for full membership because of age or citizenship . In this case they receive the training as associate members . Cadets are assigned to one of five company barracks , supervised by a drill instructor and assistant drill instructor . Introductory training lasts for four weeks , during which new cadets are taught varied general military skills and knowledge . These include military rank structure , uniforms , close order drill . They also undergo training on rappelling , a confidence course , obstacle course and high ropes course . Introductory training , also called the plebe system , is supervised by cadet NCOs serving as cadet instructors , who are supervised by a cadet officer , usually the public affairs officer or executive officer of the company . A parade is held at the end of the training during which the plebes place the Eagle , Globe , and Anchor on their garrison cover to symbolize the transformation from plebe to cadet . Cadets come from various cultural backgrounds , including students from approximately forty - one states and eight foreign countries . Cadets from Mexico make up the largest complement of international students , but the school includes cadets from China . Rank structure . The cadet rank structure is based on the United States Marine Corps rank and billet system , with the addition of " Cadet " before the title . Eighth grade students cannot advance beyond Cadet Lance Corporal , and freshmen cannot exceed the rank of Cadet Corporal . However , eighth graders and freshmen more often serve as non - rates , those ranks up to c / Lance Corporal that are not non - commissioned officers . As a Sophomore , cadets may be promoted to an NCO rank . Juniors make up most of the Academy ' s staff NCOs . Seniors are generally promoted to officer rank . They hold positions of command responsibility , as Platoon Commanders , Company Executive Officers , Company Commanders , Battalion Executive Officers , and Battalion Commanders . There are also many other Battalion Staff and Company Staff positions available for seniors not in billets of command . Uniforms . The uniforms authorized for wear at the academy are parallel to that of the United States Marine Corps . During school days , the uniforms worn on weekdays are the Utility and Green " C " uniforms . Four days a week the prescribed uniform is Utility and on Fridays the Green " C " uniform is worn . During periods of exercise PT Gear is worn . The Dress Blue uniforms are often preserved for the Marine Corps Birthday Ball and periods of Leave . Raincoats and Letter jackets may also be worn when directed during cold or rainy weather . The Pistol belt can be worn in lieu of a Web belt when a cadet is in a " duty status " or , in certain situations , a cadet officer / noncommissioned officer . Cadet officers are also permitted to wear the Pistol belt while wearing the Dress Blue " A " and " B " uniforms . The blood stripe is no longer sewn into cadet Dress Blue pants . Cadets are required to wear the uniform of the day at all times while enrolled ( with the exception of leave ) at the academy . In certain situations , however , such as community service events and other extracurricular activities , civilian dress may be authorized . Usage . Since there are many varying cadet uniforms , certain events dictate which uniform is appropriate . For example , Dress Blue " A " is rarely worn . The school holds two specific events that require Blue " A " : the Marine Corps Birthday Ball and The HM Smith Foundation dinner . Both Dress Blue " A " and " B " may be worn to civilian occasions which dictate white tie or black tie . Green " C " ' s are issued at the QM during entrance intothe school for events off campus , including liberty on weekends and special leave . Controversy . The Academy has been the subject of some controversy regarding its supervision of cadets on campus . During the 1997 – 1998 school year , Cadet Gabriel Cortez was attacked while asleep , and had his throat cut by two other cadets . Other allegations of abuse and neglect were made during this period of controversy . Iwo Jima monument . The Iwo Jima monument , located on the Marine Military Academy grounds , is the original mold , a creation of Dr . Felix de Weldon , and was used for the casting of the monument erected at Arlington National Cemetery . After completion of the monument , this sculpture was placed in storage until the early 1980s when its creator donated it to the Marine Military Academy . Donations were collected to fund the transport and reassembly of the monument , which was supervised by Dr . de Weldon . On April 16 , 1982 , the monument was officially dedicated . The Marine Military Academy is also the final resting place of Corporal Harlon Block , formerly a resident of Weslaco , Texas , one of the Marines immortalized in the famous photo of the flag - raising on Iwo Jima from which the sculpture is modeled .