[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 109 (Thursday, June 28, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E941]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CELEBRATING THE 176TH ANNIVERSARY OF MARION MILITARY INSTITUTE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 28, 2018

  Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 
Marion Military Institute on 176 years of service to our nation's Armed 
Forces. Located in the heart of Alabama's Black Belt, and only thirty 
minutes from my hometown of Selma, MMI is a pillar of the 7th 
Congressional District. Since its founding, MMI has achieved a national 
reputation for preparing young men and women for successful civilian 
and military careers.
   Marion Military Institute is one of only four military junior 
colleges in the United States, and is the nation's oldest military 
junior college, tracing its origin back to 1842 with the founding of 
Howard College in Marion, Alabama. MMI is also one of the first schools 
to establish a Student Government Association and a student honor 
system. Former President Howard Taft was the president of the board of 
trustees, and former president Woodrow Wilson was the keynote speaker 
of the convocation at MMI chapel in 1905. Marion Military Institute 
continued as a private high school and junior college until 2006, when 
the Alabama State Legislature incorporated the military institution 
into the Alabama Community College System.
   I was reminded of Marion Military Institute's legacy when I recently 
addressed the impressive Corps of 446 cadets. As our country's oldest 
military junior college, MMI has produced over 210 Generals and 
Admirals for our Armed Forces. I am also proud to say that there are 
348 men and women MMI graduates in all five Service Academies.
   College students across the nation attend MMI to establish a strong 
foundation for their careers and to take advantage of its leadership 
development opportunities. Marion Military Institute teaches students 
to never give up, to push forward, and to excel in all of life's 
pursuits.
   In the student body, about 40 percent of the cadets will pursue a 
civilian career and are enrolled in the Leadership Education Program. 
Others are working toward receiving an appointment to one of the five 
U.S. Service Academies. Unique to the four military junior colleges is 
the Early Commissioning Program, which provides an opportunity for 
qualified students to earn a commission as a Second Lieutenant after 
receiving their associate's degree to serve in either the National 
Guard or the U.S. Army Reserve. Students also can enter the U.S. Marine 
Corps Program that allows students to work and train with a Selection 
Officer. Lastly, students can enter the Air Force ROTC, a program that 
is designed to give men and women the opportunity to become Air Force 
officers while completing their degrees.
   This summer, I was also pleased to have a wonderful Marion Military 
Institute graduate named Jordan Ceasar intern in my Washington, D.C. 
office. Jordan learned about a new side of public service as he 
assisted constituents, studied the legislative process, and learned how 
to advocate for policy reforms.
   Marion Military Institute has a strong history of developing our 
country's future leaders for military, government, and community 
service, and I am thrilled to celebrate their 176th Anniversary. With 
college enrollment averaging an all-time high, I am sure Marion 
Military Institute will continue to be a pillar of the Black Belt and 
produce America's leaders for another 176 years.

                          ____________________