Inside NMMI

Inside the New Mexico Military Institute, a Roswell New Mexico enigma: a time-honed trainer of America’s best and a bit of a local mystery. When cadets first arrive at NMMI, whether they’re entering high school or junior college, they’re known as RATs—recruits at training. Much of a RAT’s time is devoted to studying the New Cadet Required Knowledge and Skills Qualification Book, a pocket-size book detailing the chain of command, bugle calls, and the established POD, or plan of the day. After 21 days, RATs “turn,” or become “new cadets” for the remainder of the year, then “yearlings” for the second year, and then they finally achieve the coveted status of “old cadets.”

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Filename: New Mexico Military Institute10.jpg
Copyright: www.sstjohnphoto.com Steven St. John 2016
Image Size: 5472x3648 / 1.9MB; NMMI Inside the New Mexico Military Institute Roswell New Mexico cadets first high school junior college RATs recruits at training New Cadet Required Knowledge and Skills Qualification Book chain of command
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Inside the New Mexico Military Institute, a Roswell New Mexico enigma: a time-honed trainer of America’s best and a bit of a local mystery. When cadets first arrive at NMMI, whether they’re entering high school or junior college, they’re known as RATs—recruits at training. Much of a RAT’s time is devoted to studying the New Cadet Required Knowledge and Skills Qualification Book, a pocket-size book detailing the chain of command, bugle calls, and the established POD, or plan of the day. After 21 days, RATs “turn,” or become “new cadets” for the remainder of the year, then “yearlings” for the second year, and then they finally achieve the coveted status of “old cadets.”