Fork Union Military Academy

Fork Union Military Academy
FUMA
Motto	Body, Mind, and Spirit
Established	1898
Type	All-male, Military, Private, Boarding, College preparatory
Affiliation	Baptist General Association of Virginia
President	RADM J. Scott Burhoe, USCG, Ret.
Dean	COL Bob Miller
Founder	Dr. William E. Hatcher
Chaplain	Rev. James Benson
Teaching staff	175
Students	350-400 in the Upper School, 80-100 in the Middle School
Location	4744 James Madison Highway, Fork Union, Virginia, United States
Campus	Rural, 500 acres (2 km²)
Colors	Blue and Red
Nickname	FUMA, The U
Mascot	Blue Devils
Yearbook	The Skirmisher
Website	http://www.forkunion.com /

Fork Union Military Academy is a private, military boarding school located in the town of Fork Union, Virginia. The school is more commonly known by its acronym FUMA (pronounced "foo-mah" as of late; "few-mah" in earlier times).

Fork Union is affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia and serves young men from around the United States and the world from grades six to twelve. The school is also noted for its post-graduate (PG) program, through which high school graduates can improve their athletic abilities and SAT scores in preparation for college. These PG students are often athletes seeking to qualify for Division I scholarships, which, in part, explains FUMA’s strong representation in college athletics and the NFL. The school has a regular academic session which runs from August to May and a four week summer session in July.

History

Located on a 1,300-acre (5.3 km²) campus in the rolling hills of central Virginia’s Piedmont region, Fork Union Military Academy was initially founded as Fork Union Academy in October 1898 by Dr. William E. Hatcher, a prominent local Baptist minister. The first class had nineteen boys and girls.

Fork Union’s first ever barracks

In 1902 the Academy took on a military structure to provide organization, discipline, and physical development for the boys of what was a rapidly growing school. In 1913, the Academy became an all-male institution and changed its name to Fork Union Military Academy. Also in 1913, the Academy began receiving support from the Baptist General Association of Virginia, which continues to this day.

The school has long been considered one of the leading military preparatory schools in the Southern United States. FUMA has historically had many benefactors that have helped keep it up and running, and evidence of this can be seen in the names of its buildings. For example, the Guy E. Beatty Library, the Estes Dining Center, Hatcher Hall, the Wicker Science Center, and the future Jacobson Hall.

Mission

The official mission of Fork Union Military Academy is to provide young men a college preparatory education in a residential, Christian environment. Using a military system, FUMA focuses on teaching responsibility, leadership, and discipline along with academics and athletics.

Military organization is used to structure the daily routine. While the academy currently has no direct relationship with any branch of the military, the school's system has been in place for more than 100 years.

The school offers a variety of sports, clubs and organizations for cadet participation during free time in the week and on weekends. Athletics and clubs are a popular diversion from the rigors of cadet life at Fork Union.

FUMA's crest shows a pair of crossed swords, a book and a star. These three symbols represent FUMA's leading principles and motto: body, mind, and spirit.

In addition to the Academy’s regular school session, a four-week, non-military summer session is offered in July including courses in English, History, Language, Mathematics, Science, and Leadership.

Education

Fork Union prides itself on preparing cadets for college. The school boasts a 100% acceptance rate to Colleges and Universities, and graduating classes are routinely awarded millions of dollars in scholarships. Both Standard and Advanced High School Diplomas are offered, as well as dual-enrollment classes through Piedmont Virginia Community College.

Organization

Fork Union is a non-profit organization that is governed by a Board of Trustees, many of whom are alumni and community leaders.

The school is fully accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools, and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, and the Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States.

The One Subject Plan

Fork Union follows a unique curriculum schedule in the Upper School (grades 9-12 and postgraduate) known as the One Subject Plan. As opposed to a conventional schedule with 6 to 8 classes per day or a block schedule, cadets at Fork Union take one subject at a time. The regular academic session is divided into five grading periods of about 7 weeks each. In each grading period, the cadets take one class. They are with the one teacher of that course all day, every day during that period. With FUMA’s low student to faculty ratio, this ensures that each teacher is usually responsible for about 10 to 17 students at a time. Fork Union states that this scheduling is beneficial for its cadets, as they are able to focus wholeheartedly on one subject at a time and benefit from the personal attention they receive from the teachers as a result of the schedule.

Supervised Study

A cadet studying during CQ

The other hallmark of education at Fork Union is a scheduled supervised study time each Sunday through Thursday evening. For approximately two hours each school night, all cadets are required to be at their desks in their rooms, studying. This study time is referred to as CQ, which is shorthand for the command "Call to Quarters."

Talking, eating, playing music, watching television, and visiting other cadets' rooms are prohibited during CQ. Faculty members share supervisory duties to make sure that all cadets observe these CQ restrictions and spend their time actively studying.

Cadets who need tutoring or help with specific assignments can make use of "Peer Study" sessions that allow cadets to work together in the library, under supervision. Cadets in honors or advanced placement courses are allowed additional evening study time to complete their more demanding assignments.

Fork Union maintains that the CQ study period “helps instill good study habits that are essential to learning and succeeding in the classroom, both [at Fork Union] and at college. Students learn what they can accomplish in their lives when they focus.”

Military Structure and Discipline

Fork Union Military Academy provides a structured military environment for its cadets. Military aspects of Fork Union’s system include the wearing of uniforms, a military-style organization of personnel, accountability for personal appearance and the state of one's room, ranks, and a chain of command.

The Corps and Companies

The Corps of Cadets is divided into two battalions, the Middle School and the Upper School. Middle School cadets are 6th grade through 8th grade. The Middle School battalion consists of two companies, Alpha and Bravo. The battalion is run by a cadre of cadet officers chosen because of their behavior and leadership potential. Both companies are housed in the Middle School Barracks. The Middle School cadets are generally isolated from Upper School cadets with separate chains of command, cadet officers, faculty, and facilities between the two schools.

Snead Hall, home of Alpha, Bravo, and Delta Companies

The Upper School consists of cadets from 9th grade through Postgraduate year. The Upper School cadets reside in two barracks. Snead Hall is home to Alpha, Bravo, and Delta Companies. Memorial Hall is home to Charlie and Echo Companies. There is also a drill team platoon, Retan Rifle(which exists for parades only), that performs in parades across Virginia. Members of the Upper School band march in parades on campus and around the state along with the Retan Rifles and Fork Union’s Bagpipe Corps. Cadet Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO’s) live as a part of each company. Each company is subdivided into two or more platoons, each with its own NCO’s and Officers. Platoons are subdivided into Squads led by NCO’s. Squad and Platoon leaders are accountable to the higher company leadership and to adult members of the Commandant’s Department, or Tactical Officers (TAC’s), who are assigned to each company to supervise the cadets. Cadets can hold many leadership positions ranging from squad leader (Sergeant or Staff Sergeant) to Battalion Commander.

Inspections

A large part of the military system at Fork Union revolves around inspection of the cadet’s rooms and personal appearance. Cadet’s rooms are inspected daily to ensure they make their beds in the “hospital corner” style, wax and buff their floors to a high shine, organize all clothing, shoes, and drawers in the room in a specific manner, keep all surfaces dusted and clean, clean any streaks on windows or mirrors, keep their uniforms clean and pressed, and their shoes well shined. Twice a week cadet’s personal appearance is inspected to guarantee a clean shave, clean uniform, and well shined shoes.

Punishment

Violations of rules have predictable consequences. The most frequent form of consequences is based on a demerit system that can result in "tours" of marching back and forth for 45 minutes (45 minutes equals one "tour"). These penalty tours are known as Extra Duty, or E.D., and are marched during the cadets free time in the week and over the weekend. If a cadet has pending tours over a weekend, they are ineligible to leave the campus for day passes or leaves. Each cadet is given a standard number of credits each month to offset potential demerit penalties, however once a cadet has exceeded these credits, each successive demerit is accompanied by a tour of E.D. Cadets with rank can give demerits to cadets of lower rank for offenses, but there is often an informal administrative process that includes several cadets of responsible rank and a faculty member. Infractions for study hall (CQ) violations and failure to complete homework are severe but do not negatively impact grades. For example, a cadet with a full set of credits who fails to turn in two consecutive homework assignments can quickly lose all his afternoon free time to marching tours for about half a week. A study hall infraction can also lead to loss of the ability to go home for a leave weekend. This is an incentive for cadets to complete their homework assignments. A cadet with an accumulation of excessive demerits can forfeit privileges, free time, and sometimes even visits home.

Cadets are not permitted to haze or physically abuse one another and violation of these rules can result in expulsion. The Academy has a zero tolerance policy on alcohol and drugs. Possession or use will result in expulsion.

Honor System

The Honor Code restricts cadets at Fork Union from lying, cheating, or stealing or the toleration of anyone that does. Any cadet found to have violated the Code or accused of a violation is sent to the Honor Council, a group of cadets elected by the Corps of Cadets. If the cadet is found guilty, the Council will offer a recommendation of the proper punishment to the Commandant, who ultimately makes the final decision on the appropriate response. Honor Code violations can result in expulsion. However, the Honor Council often recommends a demerit-based punishment.

Facilities

• Hatcher Hall – Administrative offices and liberal arts classrooms
• Wicker Science Building and Moretz Learning Center – Math and Science classrooms and Fork Union’s planetarium
• Vaughan Hall – Commandant’s Department
• Snead Hall – Barracks for Alpha, Bravo, and Delta Companies
• Memorial Hall – Barracks for Charlie and Echo Companies
• Wicker Chapel
• Veterans Memorial
• Guy E. Beatty Library – 21,000 book library
• Dorothy Estes Dining Hall
• Thomas Gymnasium – Home of the Prep and Varsity basketball teams
• Estes Athletic Complex - an 85,000-square-foot (7,900 m²) athletic center
• Fork Union Aquatic Center - home to the nationally-ranked Virginia Prep League and state champion swim team
• Jacobson Hall – The future 90,000-square-foot (8,400 m²), 250 room barracks which will replace both Snead and Memorial Halls at a cost of approximately $20 million. Ground was broken October 22, 2010.

Hatcher Hall

The Beatty Library

Jacobson Hall, the future barracks of the entire Upper School

The indoor track and basketball courts of the Estes Athletic Complex

The "enhanced interrogation" room

The Fork Union Aquatic Center

FUMA Athletics

Fork Union's Track and Field team is dominant in the state, winning 21 of the last 22 state titles

Varsity

There are only two postgraduate athletic programs at Fork Union. The PG football team is led by head coach John Shuman. The PG basketball program is coached by Fletcher Arritt, the subject of an upcoming documentary titled "The Passing Game."

Prep

The Prep teams fielding players from grades 9-12 include Football, Basketball, Baseball, Wrestling, Soccer, Cross Country, Track and Field, Orienteering, Shooting Sports, and Swimming and Diving. The school is most noted for its Football and Track programs. The Fork Union Outdoor Track team won 20 straight VISAA state championships in 2008. Many athletes have gone on from the academy to compete in collegiate athletic programs, and pursue careers on professional teams.

The Middle School fields its own sports teams including football, basketball, and intramural activities.

Clubs and organizations

There are many different clubs and organizations that cadets can participate in while attending Fork Union. Though new clubs are often started annually by new cadets to meet demand, the more permanent list of clubs includes:

• Scuba
• International Club
• Catholic Cadet Association
• Honor Council

• Debate Team
• Forensics
• Drama Club
• Woodworking
• IDEA Club

• Band
• Pep Band
• Bagpipe Corps
• Choir
• National Honor Society
• Chess Club

Notable alumni

• Ike Franklin Andrews, U.S. Congressman
• Harold Roe Bartle, Kansas City mayor, namesake of the Kansas City Chiefs and Alpha Phi Omega co-founder
• Major (Ret.) Hardy Z.(Zach) Bogue, US Army- Vietnam aviator (Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, 46 awards of the Air Medal, Purple Heart) and Civil War historian
• Kevin Plank - FUMA PG Class of 1991 football player is now founder and CEO of Under Armour
• Kevin Laue - He played at FUMA and in March 2009, he received a scholarship to play Division I basketball for Manhattan College.
• Dan Ruland - former professional basketball player
• Shammond Williams - professional basketball player

National Football League

Fork Union alumni have had great success in reaching the NFL

Over 70 players drafted or signed by teams, at least 30 players making their way into the starting lineup of a regular season game, 12 players who have been selected in the First Round of the NFL Draft since 1954, 7 players who have been selected to one or more Pro Bowl appearances, and at least 12 players on teams that played in Super Bowl games. The list includes:

• Vinny Testaverde - Winner of 1986 Heisman Trophy
• Eddie George - Winner of the 1995 Heisman Trophy at The Ohio State University. All-Pro running back in the NFL, mostly played with the Tennessee Titans.
• Plaxico Burress - Super Bowl Champion Wide Receiver
• John Hilton - FUMA Class of 1960 football player. He went on to be an All-Southern Conference tight end in 1964; member of the University of Richmond's Hall of Fame; played nine years in the NFL for the Detroit Lions (two years), Green Bay Packers (one year) Minnesota Vikings (half-year) and Washington Redskins (half-year) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (five years). In 1996, the Steelers named Hilton Most Valuable Offensive Player for his breaking a 25 year Steelers record of 46 catches made as a tight end.
• Gaines Adams - Former defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. Played college football for Clemson University. He died January 17, 2010.
• Anthony Castonzo, Indianapolis Colts 2011 NFL Draft 1st round pick
• Dexter Coakley – Pro Bowl Linebacker
• Robert Jones – Super Bowl champion Linebacker
• Saeed Basweidan – 1996 (Track & Field) 800m Olympian. Today he is COO of large government IT company in UAE
• Jacoby Ford
• Rickey Dudley
• Don Majkowski – Pro Bowl Quarterback
• Josh Morgan
• Chris Perry
• Mike Quick – 5x Pro Bowl Wide Receiver
• Sonny Randle – 4x Pro Bowl Wide Receiver
• Roman Oben – Super Bowl champion Offensive Tackle
• Darryl Blackstock
• Tyrone Davis
• Ernest Dixon
• John Dorsey
• Tyronne Drakeford
• Jim Druckenmiller
• Will Furrer
• Marques Hagans
• John Hilton
• James Jackson
• Brian Kozlowski
• Billy McMullen
• Steve Meilinger
• Tom Miller
• Ernest Wilford
• Jamaine Winborne

External links

• http://www.forkunion.com/
• http://www.youtube.com/user/ForkUnionMilitary
• http://www.garphoto.com/FUMA/index.html