North Carolina State Military Academy

Oak Ridge Military Academy

Oak Ridge, NC

Adopted in 1991.

The General Assembly of 1991 adopted the Oak Ridge Military Academy as the offical State Military Academy (Session Laws 1991, c. 728).

Mission is to motivate and develop young people to become good and productive citizens. We strive to develop responsible leaders while making them aware of their rights, responsibilities and privileges as American citizens. The JROTC program uses classroom instruction, outdoor adventure activities, and exciting extracurricular activities to develop the cadet's confidence, leadership skills, values, and sense of community service. Cadets participate in drill and ceremony three times per week, the rappel tower, firing range, or obstacle course weekly, and the below extracurricular activities of their choice.

Timeline

• 1850 - Oak Ridge Male Institute was conceived on April 7th by 43 local citizens who, being desirous of promoting the cause of education, contributed a total of $629 and appointed five trustees to bring the Institute to fruition.

• 1852 - The founding year of Oak Ridge Male Institute. Within two years the name was changed to Oak Ridge Institute and females were admitted. Girls attended Oak Ridge Institute until 1929.

• 1861-1866 - The school was closed because of the Civil War. Scores of eligible aged students (probably about 100) enlisted or were conscripted into Southern units. (These units included the Guilford Guards, Stonewall Boys, Wilkes Guards, 11th Regiment of N.C. Volunteers, Madison Greys, Confederate Guards, Troublesome Boys, Guilford Men, 21st Regiment, 57th Regiment, 48th Regiment, 22nd Regiment, 45th Regiment, 29th Regiment, and many other regiments of N.C. troops).

• 1917 - The school became military and the boys uniformed under the supervision of the War Department. The school trained and graduated men who served in World War I.

• 1926 - Oak Ridge was designated a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps unit.

• 1929 - The name was changed to Oak Ridge Military Institute and limited to males only.

• 1932 - A two-year junior college was established and continued until 1966.

• 1946 - A monument on campus and various tributes memorialized the 42 ORMI alumni who lost their lives in World War II.

• 1971 - Girls were admitted again and the name was changed to Oak Ridge Academy.

• 1981 - The name changed again to its present name, Oak Ridge Military Academy. Both boys and girls are now uniformed.

• 1991 - Oak Ridge was named the "Official Military Academy of North Carolina" by the State Legislature.

• 1996 - Oak Ridge Military Academy Drill Team won the National Drill Team Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida.

• 2002 - The Academy celebrated its sesquicentennial anniversary.

Contact Information
Marie Lowrey Armstrong
Archivist
336.643.4131
 
Oak Ridge Military Academy
Post Office Box 498
Oak Ridge, North Carolina 27310
Phone: 336.643.4131
Fax: 336.643.1797