GMC News

GMC Proudly Serves as a U.S. Military Service Academy Preparatory School

GMC Proudly Serves as a U.S. Military Service Academy Preparatory School

Georgia Military College is committed to providing character development, leadership skills, rigorous academic courses, and a strict physical fitness program to best prepare students for a service academy through our Corps of Cadets Service Academy Preparatory Program. Led by our President, Lieutenant General William B. Caldwell IV, U.S. Army (Retired), a 1976 graduate of the United States Military Academy, GMC’s Academy Prep Program has rapidly expanded over the last decade.

Each academic year, U.S. Service Academy hopefuls come to GMC for a year of preparation before attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, or the U.S. Naval Academy. As a certified Prep School for these four U.S. Service Academies, Prep Students or as we call them “Scholars”, are selected by the academies to attend GMC with a partial scholarship with the intent they will gain an appointment for the following year.

The 10-month-long Service Academy Preparatory Program has maintained an impressive success rate, with over 92% of Service Academy Prep Scholars being granted an appointment to their desired Service Academy within the past three years. Instead of the typical maximum credit hours required each term, Prep Scholars must take a minimum of 18-24 credit hours in a rigorous program of studies that focus on STEM courses. GMC operates on a quarter system, so the workload requires time management and discipline – two of the many skills Scholars learn at GMC. They also endure a daily schedule of physical training, character and leadership development, and taking time to serve others through community service.

This past May, 56 scholars completed the GMC program, with 53 having received appointments from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and the U.S. Merchant Academy in Kings Point, New York.