by Betty Arden Boellner Jones
and Mel Fenson

With the bugle call of reveille at dawn each day under vast blue New Mexico skies, New Mexico Military Institute, located in Roswell, New Mexico, continues its over 100 years tradition preparing the next generation of leaders for our nation. Founded in 1891 as the Goss Military Institute, through the efforts of Captain Joseph C. Lea and Colonel Robert S. Goss, it was patterned after the prestigious Virginia Military Institute. The Institute was created to train aspiring cavalry officers and continues today to train tomorrow's military leaders.

With challenging academics, an exceptional faculty and leadership preparation and character development programs which produce outstanding military leaders, NMMI includes a four year college preparatory program and a two year junior college. It is one of five Military Junior Colleges in the United States and remains the only state-supported co-educational college preparatory high school and junior college in the United States. Accredited by the North Central Association, NMMI became a coed institution in 1977 with a current twenty percent female enrollment.

Designed by architects, I.H. and William Rapp, NMMI's classic architecture, originally referred to by the designers as "Scottish Castle" style, is known as Military Gothic. Its distinctive features include crenelated parapet walls with corner towers and the distinctive yellow color of 1907 Kansas Buff Brick. NMMI is listed on the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties and nominated for the National Register of Historic Places. The campus hosts 21 major buildings situated on 300 acres. The buildings encompass classrooms, barracks, dining facilities, entertainment facilites, athletic fields and courts, a parade field, leadership confidence and reaction course fields, high and low rope courses, an indoor swimming pool and diving facility, and an 18-hole golf course.

The J. Penrod Toles Learning Center houses the Paul Horgan Library with 70,000 volumes, the Student Assistance Center and Writing Center. Currently under construction is a new Athletic Training facility that provides trained technicians and up-to-date medical technology equipment to handle student and sports medical needs. NMMI is wired with the most current technological facilities, including computer, audiovisual, video editing labs, and internet access. The Horgan Library hosts computers equipped with the latest software and hardware to help students study, learn computer skills and communicate via e-mail. Multimedia presentations, interactive testing and computer-aided learning are utilized to help cadets expand their intellectual horizons. In addition to academic resources, cadet life at NMMI provides the opportunity to participate in professional clubs, honor societies and activities, such as martial arts and fencing.

The NMMI Leadership Complex is comprised of the Daniels Leadership Center and the Yates Leadership Challenge Complex. The Yates complex challenges cadets with a ropes Course and a Leader Reaction Course and provides an environment in which cadets learn teamwork, leadership, problem solving and self-confidence.

Mens and womens Interscholastic and Intercollegiate athletics, including football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, cross-country, tennis and golf all play a big role at NMMI. NMMI’s black and red school colors are worn by the Jr. College team, the "Broncos," and the high school team, the 'Colts." A life-size bronze statue of a 'bucking Bronco' which depicts the spirit of NMMI is displayed in Bronco Plaza between the cadet barracks and the headquarters building.

Fitness is an integral part of the NMMI mission. The Godfrey Athletic Center offers excellent sports and training facilities for fitness, weight training, racquetball, volleyball, swimming, indoor soccer and basketball.

NMMI grants High School diplomas and Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees. Approximately 95 per cent of NMMI graduates go on to complete a four-year degree in other outstanding schools, such as Harvard, Stanford, Rice, Cornell, University of Texas, Arizona State University, Penn State, University of Colorado and the nation's Service Academies.

NMMI's ROTC Program offers college cadets the opportunity to receive a commission in the U.S. Army through a 2-year Early Commissioning Program. Cadets at the college level receive military training through the U.S Army Senior Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program. Cadets at the high school level receive training through the U.S. Army Junior ROTC program. Cadets may also pursue commissions in the U.S. Army , Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or Merchant Marines through NMMI’s Service Academy Preparatory Program.

NMMI graduates have applied their many leadership skills and fought for their country with courage and valor in two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Many of them have given their lives for their country in military action.

Within NMMI’s Regimental System, the Commandant of Cadets at New Mexico Military Institute, supervises and mentors the Corps of Cadets, which is organized as a regiment, based on the history and composition of a Cavalry Regiment. The Corps of Cadets consists of three squadrons of four troops each, and a Regimental Band and Headquarters Troop. Cadets drill under the supervision and training of their own troop leadership. Cadets are appointed to commissioned and non-commissioned cadet rank on the basis of demonstrated qualities of leadership and proficiency in academics, military studies, leadership, and physical fitness. The Regimental Commander is the highest-ranking cadet and commands the Corps of Cadets through a Regimental Staff. At the squadron and troop levels, cadet officers and their staffs share a major role in the administration, leadership, and training of the Corps of Cadets.

NMMI’s key mission - to produce leaders who are capable of critical thinking and sound analysis, who possess uncompromising character and are able to meet challenging physical demands - is accomplished through its Leadership Training Laboratory, the Corps of Cadets. As an institution of higher and secondary education, NMMI also has the goal of enabling individual development through challenging academic preparation in its structured learning environment. Serving the educational needs of an international student population, NMMI has an enrollment of approximately 900 students from 43 states, the District of Columbia and 13 foreign nations.

The motto at NMMI is: Duty, Honor, and Achievement. The Honor Code is explicit: "A cadet will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do."

Many NMMI graduates have gone on to achieve distinguished careers in every field of endeavor including business , industry, public service, education, the professions, and careers in the military. Among the many notable NMMI alumni are: Bill Daniels, a cable television pioneer, Sam Donaldson of ABC News, Conrad Hilton, founder of the Hilton Hotel chain, Paul Horgan, two-time Pultizer winning author, Peter Hurd, noted Southwest artist, and Roger Staubach, quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, and 27 General and Flag officers of the U.S. Armed Forces.