San Diego Army and Navy Academy
Encyclopedia
The Army and Navy Academy is an all boys, college preparatory boarding school for boys in grades 7-12 in Carlsbad, California
. It complements its program with a West-Point style, JROTC program.
on November 23, 1910. It was originally located in the Pacific Beach
neighborhood of San Diego, California
. The original building was part of the abandoned Balboa Hotel. In 1936 the Academy property was purchased by John Brown University
and became the Brown Military Academy. It was the largest military academy on the West Coast
at the time and was the fifth largest high school in the nation. After the death of John Brown, the university's founder, the Brown Military Academy property was sold to developers. The last graduating class at the Pacific Beach Campus was in 1958. The school moved to a new campus in Glendora, California
, at the site of a former girls boarding school, also run by John Brown University. The Glendora campus operated until 1967 when the property was sold to Azusa Pacific College.
When Brown Military Academy moved to Glendora, investors were recruited by the former Headmaster, Louis Bitterlin, to open San Diego Military Academy on 17 acres (68,796.6 m²) in Solana Beach, California
. The school was sold for over $1 million in 1977. Santa Fe Christian School now operates on the site.
In 1936, Davis and some of the staff moved to Carlsbad, California, where they opened the Davis Military Academy. DMA was renamed San Diego Army and Navy Academy, and in 1944 "San Diego" was dropped from the name giving it its present name Army and Navy Academy. The Academy was most notably led by Col. (Hon.) William Currier Atkinson, who served as the Academy's president for fifty years.
The Academy's president is Brigadier General (Ret.) Stephen M. Bliss.
The Academy is organized into an Upper School (9-12) and a Middle School(7-8). Each school is autonomous and is run by its own school head. The upper school has a college preparatory curriculum which is aligned with the requirements for entry into the University of California
system.
The Academy's program is based on five pillars: Academics; Athletics; Leadership; Character Development; Residential Life activities, including student government and clubs. Within this framework, Cadets are developed in all areas so that upon their graduation, they will be prepared to live lives of service and excellence.
Additionally, ANA has three separate detachments (mini-companies.) The high school Honor Guard Company consisting of the Davis Guard Drill team and the high school Color Guard is a part of Headquarters; as is, the Day Student Detachment consisting of all of the day students in the battalion. The middle school Honor Guard detachment consisting of the Stoll’s Guard Drill Team and middle school Color Guard are officially a part of Echo Company.
The logical progression for rank and duty position is as follows: (However, in special cases where cadets show a high aptitude for leadership, they may be advanced at a quicker rate.)
In order to achieve Junior duty positions and the rank associated with them, a cadet must successfully complete the Senior Non-commissioned Officers’ Course held in late August of every year.
In order to achieve Senior duty positions and the rank associated with them, a cadet must successfully complete the Officer Candidate Course (OCC) held in March and April of every year.
, the National Association of Independent Schools
, and the California Association of Independent Schools.
Carlsbad, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Carlsbad had a population of 105,328. The population density was 2,693.1 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Carlsbad was 87,205 White, 1,379 African American, 514 Native American, 7,460 Asian, 198 Pacific Islander, 4,189 from other...
. It complements its program with a West-Point style, JROTC program.
History
The academy was founded by Thomas A. DavisThomas A. Davis
Colonel Thomas Alderson Davis was the founder of two military schools in the United States.-Early life and education:Davis was born in Virginia and graduated from the University of Tennessee...
on November 23, 1910. It was originally located in the Pacific Beach
Pacific Beach, San Diego, California
Pacific Beach is a neighborhood of San Diego, bounded by La Jolla to the north, Mission Beach and Mission Bay to the south, Interstate 5 to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. While largely populated by young people, surfers, and college students, the population is becoming older, more...
neighborhood of San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. The original building was part of the abandoned Balboa Hotel. In 1936 the Academy property was purchased by John Brown University
John Brown University
The main campus in Northwest Arkansas has been the site of the university since it was founded in 1919. JBU has 2,183 students as of the 2011-2012 school year, 1,279 of which are traditional undergraduates. Of these, 878 live on campus. The Graduate School has 468 students...
and became the Brown Military Academy. It was the largest military academy on the West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
at the time and was the fifth largest high school in the nation. After the death of John Brown, the university's founder, the Brown Military Academy property was sold to developers. The last graduating class at the Pacific Beach Campus was in 1958. The school moved to a new campus in Glendora, California
Glendora, California
Glendora is a municipality in Los Angeles County, California, United States, east of downtown Los Angeles. As of the 2010 census, the population of Glendora was 50,073....
, at the site of a former girls boarding school, also run by John Brown University. The Glendora campus operated until 1967 when the property was sold to Azusa Pacific College.
When Brown Military Academy moved to Glendora, investors were recruited by the former Headmaster, Louis Bitterlin, to open San Diego Military Academy on 17 acres (68,796.6 m²) in Solana Beach, California
Solana Beach, California
Solana Beach is a city in San Diego County, California. The population was 12,867 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Solana Beach is located at ....
. The school was sold for over $1 million in 1977. Santa Fe Christian School now operates on the site.
In 1936, Davis and some of the staff moved to Carlsbad, California, where they opened the Davis Military Academy. DMA was renamed San Diego Army and Navy Academy, and in 1944 "San Diego" was dropped from the name giving it its present name Army and Navy Academy. The Academy was most notably led by Col. (Hon.) William Currier Atkinson, who served as the Academy's president for fifty years.
Organization
The Army and Navy Academy is governed by a Board of Trustees, who are unpaid volunteers made up mostly of alumni of the school, parents, past parents and interested local business men and women. Currently, the Officers of the Corporation are:- Jack Wyatt '63, Chairman of the Board
- Larry Cochran '70, Secretary
- Warren L. "Bud" Metzger, Treasurer
The Academy's president is Brigadier General (Ret.) Stephen M. Bliss.
The Academy is organized into an Upper School (9-12) and a Middle School(7-8). Each school is autonomous and is run by its own school head. The upper school has a college preparatory curriculum which is aligned with the requirements for entry into the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
system.
School Type
Army and Navy Academy is boarding school with more than 90% of the students in residence during the school year. The Academy typically will have students from 15 states and 10 foreign countries. Cadets are allowed to go home most weekends.The Academy's program is based on five pillars: Academics; Athletics; Leadership; Character Development; Residential Life activities, including student government and clubs. Within this framework, Cadets are developed in all areas so that upon their graduation, they will be prepared to live lives of service and excellence.
Military Aspects
The Army and Navy Academy in conjunction with the U. S. Army JROTC program is designed to teach high school students the value of citizenship, leadership, service to the community, personal responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment, while instilling self-esteem, teamwork, and self-discipline.Companies
The Corps of Cadets consists of an army-style Battalion divided into seven companies. Headquarters, Band, Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta are high school companies. Echo is the middle school company.Additionally, ANA has three separate detachments (mini-companies.) The high school Honor Guard Company consisting of the Davis Guard Drill team and the high school Color Guard is a part of Headquarters; as is, the Day Student Detachment consisting of all of the day students in the battalion. The middle school Honor Guard detachment consisting of the Stoll’s Guard Drill Team and middle school Color Guard are officially a part of Echo Company.
Rank
The rank structure of ANA is similar to that of the United States Army, the only changes being the exclusion of the rank of specialist and the replacement of Private E-1 with Basic Cadet. New cadets (Plebes) and those stripped of their rank have no insignia.The logical progression for rank and duty position is as follows: (However, in special cases where cadets show a high aptitude for leadership, they may be advanced at a quicker rate.)
| Class | Duty Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Freshman | Cadet | Cadet Private to Cadet Corporal (possible Sergeant) |
| Sophomore | Team Leader or Squad Leader | Cadet Sergeant to Cadet Staff Sergeant |
| Junior | Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, Staff NCO,*in special cases, in the event that a junior does specifically well in the Officer Candidate Course, they are permitted to fill in the job of a platoon leader or any other second lieutenant position and attain that rank. | Cadet Staff Sergeant, Cadet Sergeant, First Class, Cadet Master Sergeant, and Cadet First Sergeant |
| Senior | All high leadership positions | Officer, Second Lieutenant through Lieutenant Colonel, Major, and Command Sergeant Major. |
In order to achieve Junior duty positions and the rank associated with them, a cadet must successfully complete the Senior Non-commissioned Officers’ Course held in late August of every year.
In order to achieve Senior duty positions and the rank associated with them, a cadet must successfully complete the Officer Candidate Course (OCC) held in March and April of every year.
Affiliations
The Army and Navy Academy is a member of The Association of Boarding Schools, the Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United StatesAssociation of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States
The Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States is a nonprofit service organization of schools with military programs approved by the Department of Defense and which maintain good standing in their regional accrediting organizations...
, the National Association of Independent Schools
National Association of Independent Schools
The National Association of Independent Schools is a U.S.-based membership organization for private, nonprofit, K-12 schools. Founded in 1963, NAIS represents independent schools and associations in the United States, including day, boarding, and day/boarding schools; elementary and secondary...
, and the California Association of Independent Schools.
Notable alumni
- Robert WalkerRobert Walker-Creative arts:*Robert Walker , American actor*Robert Walker , English portrait painter*Rob Walker , Australian poet*Robert Joseph Walker , Australian Aboriginal poet*Robert W...
- Jack VanceJack VanceJohn Holbrook Vance is an American mystery, fantasy and science fiction author. Most of his work has been published under the name Jack Vance. Vance has published 11 mysteries as John Holbrook Vance and 3 as Ellery Queen...
, 1943 - William W. CrouchWilliam W. CrouchGeneral William Wright Crouch is a retired United States Army four star general, and former Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army.-Military career:...
, 1959, United States Army - Matt Hensley, Professional Skateboarder and member of Flogging MollyFlogging MollyFlogging Molly is a seven-piece Irish-descendant band from Los Angeles, California, that is currently signed to their own record label, Borstal Beat Records.-Early years:...
- Michael James Lazar, actor (attended from 1998–2001)