Georgia Military Institute
Encyclopedia
The Georgia Military Institute (GMI) was established on 110 acre (0.4451546 km²) in Marietta, Georgia
, on July 1, 1851. It burned during the Civil War and was never rebuilt. The current GMI is a reactivation of the name for a Georgia National Guard
Officer Candidate School
(OCS) curriculum.
established its OCS Program at GMI. It is based at the Clay Army National Guard Center (formerly NAS Dobbins) in Marietta at the 122nd Regiment - Regional Training Institute or RTI. GMI/OCS is reflagged as Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 122nd RTI under the 78th Troop Command of the Georgia Army National Guard.
Current commissioning programs are available to Army National Guard soldiers in both a bi-annual Accelerated and annual Traditional program formats. A GMI graduate will receive both state and federally recognized Reserve Officer commission in the Georgia Army National Guard and US Army respectively. Coursework is accredited via Ft Benning's US Army OCS curriculum.
, on July 1, 1851. The campus consisted of 110 acre (0.4451546 km²).
Seven students started classes in July and twenty-eight men were in attendance by the end of the first year.
GMI operated regularly until the spring of 1864 when the cadets were formed into two companies and deployed to West Point, Georgia
, as a result of the Civil War.
During the course of the Civil War, superintendent Francis W. Capers sent cadets to use as drill instructors for CSA, and other cadets volunteered or were drafted. On May 14, 1864, GMI Cadets fought in the Battle of Resaca
and made contact with the 9th Illinois Mounted Infantry regiment
. After this single engagement, the cadets were pulled off the front line.
The empty campus was burned by Sherman
's troops on November 15, 1864. Following the Civil War, Georgia Military Institute was not rebuilt. In its place was founded North Georgia Agricultural College
in Dahlonega, Georgia, as the Military College of Georgia.
To honor the legacy of GMI, the Georgia Army National Guard
named its Officer Candidate School
after it in 1961. In 2008, GMI returned to Marietta.
Marietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
, on July 1, 1851. It burned during the Civil War and was never rebuilt. The current GMI is a reactivation of the name for a Georgia National Guard
Georgia National Guard
The Georgia National Guard is the National Guard of the U.S state of Georgia consists of the Georgia Army National Guard and the Georgia Air National Guard...
Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School or Officer Cadet School are institutions which train civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission as officers in the armed forces of a country....
(OCS) curriculum.
Mission
In January 2010, the Georgia Army National GuardGeorgia Army National Guard
The Georgia Army National Guard is the Army National Guard component of the Georgia National Guard, administratively part of the Georgia Department of Defense. It consists of more than 11,100 Citizen-Soldiers training in more than 79 hometown armories and regional facilities across the state...
established its OCS Program at GMI. It is based at the Clay Army National Guard Center (formerly NAS Dobbins) in Marietta at the 122nd Regiment - Regional Training Institute or RTI. GMI/OCS is reflagged as Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 122nd RTI under the 78th Troop Command of the Georgia Army National Guard.
Current commissioning programs are available to Army National Guard soldiers in both a bi-annual Accelerated and annual Traditional program formats. A GMI graduate will receive both state and federally recognized Reserve Officer commission in the Georgia Army National Guard and US Army respectively. Coursework is accredited via Ft Benning's US Army OCS curriculum.
History
GMI was established in Marietta, GeorgiaMarietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
, on July 1, 1851. The campus consisted of 110 acre (0.4451546 km²).
Seven students started classes in July and twenty-eight men were in attendance by the end of the first year.
GMI operated regularly until the spring of 1864 when the cadets were formed into two companies and deployed to West Point, Georgia
West Point, Georgia
West Point is a town in Troup County, with a small tail of the south end of town in Harris County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, this town had a total population of just 3,382 people...
, as a result of the Civil War.
During the course of the Civil War, superintendent Francis W. Capers sent cadets to use as drill instructors for CSA, and other cadets volunteered or were drafted. On May 14, 1864, GMI Cadets fought in the Battle of Resaca
Battle of Resaca
The Battle of Resaca was part of the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. The battle was waged in both Gordon and Whitfield counties, Georgia, from May 13 - 15, 1864. It ended inconclusively with the Confederate Army retreating. The engagement was fought between the Military Division of the...
and made contact with the 9th Illinois Mounted Infantry regiment
9th Illinois Mounted Infantry regiment
The 9th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was a mounted infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...
. After this single engagement, the cadets were pulled off the front line.
The empty campus was burned by Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
's troops on November 15, 1864. Following the Civil War, Georgia Military Institute was not rebuilt. In its place was founded North Georgia Agricultural College
North Georgia College and State University
North Georgia College & State University is a four-year public university located in Dahlonega, Lumpkin County, Georgia. Founded as North Georgia Agricultural College in 1873, it is the second oldest co-educational institution in the state. The university is renowned for its ROTC program, and is...
in Dahlonega, Georgia, as the Military College of Georgia.
To honor the legacy of GMI, the Georgia Army National Guard
Georgia Army National Guard
The Georgia Army National Guard is the Army National Guard component of the Georgia National Guard, administratively part of the Georgia Department of Defense. It consists of more than 11,100 Citizen-Soldiers training in more than 79 hometown armories and regional facilities across the state...
named its Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School or Officer Cadet School are institutions which train civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission as officers in the armed forces of a country....
after it in 1961. In 2008, GMI returned to Marietta.