1. What exactly is the Corps of Cadets? The Corps of Cadets is a 130-year-old nationally recognized Leadership Training Program where students are immersed in a hands-on environment that immediately begins to teach critical life skills such as personal accountability, time management, proper communication techniques, discipline, attention to detail, and leadership skills through practice. We teach these things through daily participation in activities within a military structure and chain of command. The Corps of Cadets will look like a military organization and conduct military drills, but this is all in an effort to create a team and begin to work on the foundations of studying and advancing each cadet's knowledge of leadership practice. We do not recruit for the military and over 95% of our cadets will choose a career path that does not include military service. Quite simply - the Corps of Cadets is a program that holds students accountable to be the absolute best versions of themselves that they can be in order to leave this place and accomplish anything they choose to pursue well beyond their time at TMI and college.

2. If I join the Corps will this interfere with my ability to take AP courses, participate in athletics, or be in other clubs and organizations on campus? The Corps does not take away from your ability to participate in any programs, clubs, organizations, or sports while at TMI; in fact, we believe that we enhance each area of TMI through the participation of Cadets throughout all aspects of life on campus. No matter where you look on the campus of TMI you will more than likely find a Cadet serving as a class leader, club organizer, team captain, or as a lead in any of our arts programs.

3. How does a new student join the Corps? Any upper school student (9-12th grade) interested in joining the Corps of Cadets MUST sign up for the Leadership Education and Training class with the registrar's office. This is the JROTC curriculum for our high school members where we teach them the necessary skills to be successful in the Corps. This is usually the first way that we find out that a student is coming to us. Upper School students should contact Chief Warrant Officer 3 Casey Reed (c.reed@tmi-sa.org) in order to begin the process of signing up for the Corps. Middle School students interested in joining the Corps must contact Major Joseph Claburn (j.claburn@tmi-sa.org).

4. What is the uniform requirement and cost associated with the Corps? All uniforms associated with the Corps are issued by the Corps so there is no need to purchase anything before coming to TMI. In your welcome packet to TMI, there should have been an email to sign up for a specific uniform issue time the first week of August. It will take roughly an hour to put each new cadet through the uniform issuing process where they will either receive all of their items at that time or we may need to special order uniform items for them. The uniform issue has an upfront cost of roughly $450-650 depending on the number of items each family would like to receive. The "purchased clothing" are items that are yours to keep and the responsibility of the Cadet to take care of and have accountability throughout their day. These purchased clothing are most of the dress uniform items. TMI will also be charging each cadet a yearly rental fee of $75 for the use of the OCP camo uniforms which includes boots, trousers, a blouse, a cap, and all of the patches associated with that uniform. In the event that the uniform is damaged or ruined, the cadet will simply bring it to us and we will issue another item for replacement. These borrowed uniforms will be turned back into TMI at the end of the year prior to final exams. All charges will be submitted to the TMI business office and attached to the account of each student so there will be no need to bring a check with you on the day of uniform fitting. The point of contact within the Corps for all uniform questions is the Commandant, Major Joseph Claburn.

5. What is the uniform requirement for the Corps at TMI? Cadets are required to be in uniform every day of the week. Monday is the formal dress day for the school, so Cadets will wear their "modified" dress uniform with the white shirt and tie, blue pants, dress shoes, solid black socks, and service cap. On Tuesday and Thursday, the Corps will wear their camo OCP uniforms. On Wednesday, the high school Cadets will wear their JROTC Class B uniform which consists of the blue pants, gray shirt, and gray JROTC beret, while the Middle School Cadets are dressed in the TMI Casual student uniform with either the TMI polo or the Corps polo. Fridays are a TMI Casual day for the entire Corps which will be in compliance with the TMI student dress code consisting of a TMI or Corps polo. Proper haircuts and shaving will be enforced daily. Haircuts for male students must be neatly maintained, cannot extend past the eyebrows or the collar of the shirt, must be off of the ears and have a tapered appearance, should not be longer than 4 inches, and cannot interfere with the wearing of the cadet headgear. 

6. What is the time commitment to being a member of the Corps of Cadets? The Corps will have daily formations in the morning from 9:35-9:55 a.m. during the school day. We will also have one mandatory formation a week starting at 7:15 a.m. on Wednesdays for an hour to work on big items associated with our program such as competitions, drills, and preparing for parades. To be a member of a "Special Team," such as the Raider Team, Orienteering Team, Rifle Team, Color Guard, Honor Guard, Saber Guard, Pipe and Drum Band, etc., will require additional morning practice time with most practices beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Due to most high school students participating in varsity sports in the afternoon following school, the Corps does not have any required formations or practices after the school day. The sign-up time for participation in the Special Teams typically takes place during the first or second week of school. 

7. Are there any early morning meetings during the school year? Yes, early morning formation is every Wednesday at 7:15 am. There are a few Pass In Reviews that will require some early morning meetings.