PMA marches toward opening its doors
Cadence fueled marches are only a small part of the activities the staff of Porterville Military Academy (PMA) is experiencing at Camp San Luis Obispo this week. As they navigated slowly through the serpentine barricades at the entrance to report to the gate at the base, they realized they were entering a different type of learning environment. Guards at the gate checked ID and they were cleared to enter this transformative week.
Teachers, secretaries and the principal Doug Ihmels learned to march in step and identify military rank by the insignia on uniforms, while prior service military staff learned collaborative brain-friendly classroom strategies to improve cadet retention of new material.
Corporal Wilson, an instructor at the BCTA Basic Cadet Training Academy, said “Both prior service military personnel as well as classroom teachers have joined forces to experience the expertise of the others in action.” The BCTA is a professional development course that prepares participants for the opportunity to teach cadets. The attendees are a co-mingling of teachers, as well as military and classified personnel.
Non-military personnel work alongside those still in uniform in a co-curricular endeavor that is unique from traditional classroom. Teachers get to glimpse the strategies used for centuries to prepare people for military life; conversely, military personnel get to see the research-based instruction driven by brain-based strategies.
Captain Archer said, “We teach cadets to lead from the front through leadership by example. The entire PMA staff from secretaries to principal and teachers to prior service personnel learned basic military skills that included drill and ceremony as well as military customs and courtesies.”
Prior service members navigated the Leadership Reaction Course (LRC) together with teachers and classified personnel to build confidence and teamwork. Teams devised ways to problem solve real-world scenarios on the obstacle-course that required ingenuity and cooperation of team members in order to survive and succeed.
One participant said, “The scenarios are intense. You’re staring at this wall twice your height and being told you’re a POW who’s trying to escape, but you have to cross the moat and get over that wall with only a short ladder and even a shorter rope. You’ll be shot if you’re caught and planes are bombing the area which has distracted the guards so hurry…go now!”
Principal Ihmels said, “I’m proud of our PMA teachers’ willingness to move out of their comfort zones and swim in the sea of their military counterparts’ expertise.” Teachers discovered their fatigue clad counterparts could be counted on to get them over the wall. Teachers began to realize that their prior service team members had experienced similar real-world scenarios and their respect grew.
Ingenuity and execution complemented each other, but when it didn’t the debriefing was about who had ideas they’d withheld and who hadn’t been willing to execute ideas that may have worked. After Action Reports required them to list three tactics they will sustain and three that need improvement. Adapting at a moment’s notice and adjusting to the new circumstances is part of the job.
SSG Zak Lara said, “The common misconception associated with the military, and military academies is that it’s going to be an in-your-face type of boot camp. What people fail to realize is that 90% of the staff on the military side will be non-commissioned officers (NCOS) who utilize mentorship as the primary tool in their toolbox. The goal is to inspire our cadets. We recognize their hardships immediately, put an arm around their shoulder, and say we are here to help.”
Military academies offer core courses from classroom teachers and cadet courses that prior service military personnel provide that focus on leadership. Lara advised, “To be a good leader is not enough. Be a significant leader and have a lifelong impact on those you lead.”
Dean of students, Noemi Reyes, said, “While all slots are already filled for seventh grade, there are still a few openings for 8th and 9th grade.” Check out their Facebook page which is regularly updated and includes videos of the PMA staff doing the obstacle course.