Marion Military Institute to receive $34 million boost from federal government

Marion Military Institute (MMI) in Perry County will get $34 million from the federal government to build a math and science building. U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) praised the disbursement of the $34 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology to MMI to construct a Math and Science Building on its Perry County campus.

The new classroom space will enable MMI to expand its course offerings in computer science, cybersecurity, and information technology. This investment will also centralize all of MMI’s STEM classes and laboratories in a single state-of-the-art facility.

“Every Alabamian deserves the opportunity to live their American Dream, regardless of their zip code,” said Senator Britt. “Turning this dream into a reality starts with ensuring that each young person across our great state has access to a high-quality education. This targeted, strategic federal investment will not only provide a new facility for Marion Military Institute but will also allow the school to offer more courses to its students and better prepare them for the demands of a military or civilian career as they live out the institution’s mission of service.”

This targeted, strategic federal investment will not only provide a new facility for @MarionMilitary but will also allow students to take advantage of more course offerings and better prepare them for the demands of a military or civilian career.https://t.co/EmTe7vMpRK

— Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) August 30, 2023

Colonel David J. Mollohan, USMC (Ret.), is the President of MMI.

“We are excited at the prospect of this new building,” said Colonel Mollahan. “It will provide us the classroom and lab space and capabilities to expand course offerings in STEM. This will allow MMI to serve as both a leadership and STEM center of excellence.”

Former Senator Richard Shelby initially secured the funding for MMI.

Earlier this year, Senator Britt met with Colonel Mollahan and MMI leaders and received an update on the campus and MMI’s goals for the future.

MMI is a member of the Alabama Community College System. It is one of only four military junior colleges in the United States that can commission students as officers in the U.S. Army after two years of study. It is also home to one of the nation’s top Service Academy Programs, with more than 600 MMI cadets receiving Academy appointments in the last seven years. The school counts more than 216 generals and admirals among its alums.

MMI has an annual statewide economic impact of $25 million and supports 394 direct and indirect jobs.

MMI was founded in 1842 and is the nation’s oldest military junior college. The institution uses an immersive military environment and a focus on the intellectual, leadership, character, and physical development of a student to prepare them for a military or civilian career while living by the school’s motto of “Truth, Honor, Service.”

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), in conjunction with the offices of Sen. Britt and the Alabama delegation, recently concluded the first-ever U.S. Service Academy information session tour with a stop at Southern Union State Community College in Opelika.

“Our national security depends on strong leaders in the next generation who are willing to defend America at home and abroad,” said Sen. Tuberville. “It is encouraging to see so many students across our great state who are interested in answering this call to serve. The high attendance at each of our information sessions gives me hope for the future of our national defense and security. Nominating students for appointments to a U.S. Service Academy is one of my favorite things about being a senator, and I’m looking forward to the upcoming nominations for the Class of 2028.”

Many who get service academy appointments started their higher education at MMI. Many high school seniors who fail to get service academy appointments will instead go on to MMI and transfer to a service academy after their first or second year.

At one time, MMI also had a high school, but that was discontinued when MMI joined the Alabama Community College System.

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