The faculty and students at Marion Military Institute like to say theirs isn’t just any school, it’s one of the best &045;&045; and now they have the results to prove it.

Recent performances by ROTC cadets from MMI at this year’s Army ROTC National Advanced Leadership Camp in Ft. Lewis, Wash., put the school at the top of the list.

According to Read, scores gained by MMI cadets in the physical fitness test as well as rifle marksmanship and day/night navigation greatly outscored cadets from rival military junior colleges in America.

Cadets from several schools across the nation spent six weeks at Ft. Lewis practicing military and leadership skills.

The camp is the second of two summer training sessions cadets must finish before attaining the rank of second lieutenant.

There are a total of 21 schools in the 8th Brigade, including MMI, The University of Alabama, Auburn University and LSU.

Griffith noted that all other schools in the 8th Brigade allow their cadets three years to prepare for the camp while MMI had only nine months.

MMI is the oldest military junior college in America. It is one of only five schools in the nation offering cadets the chance to earn a commission in the Army in two years.