Cadet Gavin Sawyer commands the Camden Military Academy color guard. The six cadet color guard carries the American flag, Camden Military Academy flag, Carlisle Military flag, and the South Carolina state flag. The tradition of presenting these colors at ceremonies dates to the beginning of our country.
A trip to Camden Military Academy helped me understand what an all-male military academy does to build a stable foundation for a young man’s character. Our preconception of a military academy where parents “drop off” troubled sons and hope for the best doesn’t do justice to South Carolina’s sole military academy. Using morals, discipline, and the encouragement to succeed in life, CMA helps a cadet become a light to others.
Camden Military Academy traces its ties back to the Carlisle Military Academy, established in Bamberg in 1892. Army Col. John F. Risher was headmaster of the school from 1928 until the academy closed its doors in 1977. Risher decided in 1978 to buy property in Camden on the grounds of the former Southern Aviation School, adjacent to Woodward Field. More than 6,000 pilots from the United States and Britain trained at this location during World War II. Barracks built at the time to house pilots today serve as barracks for cadets at CMA. Colonel Risher’s son served as the headmaster from 1978 to 1995.
Camden Military Academy is the official military academy of South Carolina. The all-male, private academy teaches cadets from grades seven through 12, with an average enrollment of 270 students at a time. Students from 39 states and eight foreign countries attend CMA. The academy is affiliated with the United States Army, and all cadets train as members of the U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. Approximately 10 percent of graduating cadets enroll at The Citadel, considered the big brother of CMA. Officers from nearby Fort Jackson also contribute to the academy, serving as teachers and advisors, and providing encouragement to the cadets to become leaders.
A large building block for a successful cadet is academics. Using a controlled environment with lots of structure, a cadet learns to prepare for life beyond the academy. With a teacher-student ratio of 1-to-12, every cadet has the opportunity to study and learn under the tutorage of Army veterans in different fields of study. Teachers assign daily homework and follow up with a required study hall in the evening.
Camden Military Academy is known for a winning attitude and results on athletic fields, with the academy fielding teams from 13 varsity sports. If a cadet wants to play a certain sport, he is on the team and will play according to his abilities. Athletics give cadets team and leadership skills for building character. Most coaches are also teachers at the academy.
The academy uses the facilities of nearby Woodward Field to train cadets in aviation, and many cadets express their interest in becoming military pilots after graduating from college. Cadets also assist with aviation duties by training under the Civil Air Patrol and working closely with Fort Jackson, which hosts a Civil Air Control Camp during the summer.
I arrived early the morning of my visit to the academy and enjoyed the early morning light as well as a visit to Cline Chapel on campus. Suddenly at 8 a.m., the campus awoke as cadence calls and instructions from squad commanders filled the air. I felt the electricity of the academy and watched as several small groups broke off from the squad and practiced drill positions and formations, all under the watchful eye of Army military veterans who teach and assist at the academy. All discipline at the academy comes from adults and is taught before being enforced — cadets cannot discipline other cadets. Cadets start their academic day at 9 a.m., gather for lunch at noon, and continue academics until 3:20 p.m. After supper, mandatory study hall starts at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m. Lights are out at 10 p.m.
Col. Eric Boland was a coach, teacher, and athletic director before serving as the current headmaster at Camden Military Academy. Colonel Boland, who won more than 30 championships between football and basketball, is proud of the structure CMA provides each cadet. “We touch a lot of lives and save a lot of souls.”
Boland and the enrollment staff work closely with parents and cadets, ensuring each cadet is aware of what enrolling in CMA involves. “We ask each cadet if they want to attend the academy, and 99 percent say yes.” Rules and regulations are established, and the cadet learns the consequences of his actions — good or bad. Boland has an open-door policy with all cadets and believes the same truths and paths hold true throughout a cadet’s time at CMA. “We help and direct a cadet to work on building their character and make them better Christians,” Boland says.
Graduation days are especially personal to Colonel Boland. “I make eye contact with each cadet and make sure to point out positive actions in the journeys of each. We have lots of teary eyes from both cadets and parents, and seeing the change in each cadet on graduation day always lifts me.”
Colonel Boland reflects on the pride of the CMA alumni within the local community. “We have military officers, lawyers, doctors, athletes, and leaders of the community visit us after graduating, and they tell us how grateful they are for the experience of attending CMA. Our cadets are like brothers; they have each other’s back. It’s great to see a former cadet bring his son for an enrollment interview.” And thus, the tradition continues from father to son to future generations.
