The high-school portion of VFMAC, Valley Forge Military Academy, is a college-preparatory boarding school specializing in student leadership.

It is one of only two corps of cadets in the United States to retain a traditional mounted battalion (squadron), consisting of one cavalry troop and one artillery battery.

Valley Forge Military Academy was founded in 1928 by Lieutenant General Milton G. Baker, Pennsylvania Guard (Retired).

[2] After a fire during the night of January 17–18, 1929 destroyed the original single-building campus, the former Devon Park Hotel, the academy was moved to its present site in Wayne, Pennsylvania, the former Saint Luke's School.

[3] The highest decoration in the institution, the Order of Anthony Wayne, was made in tribute to the heroism of the first Corps of Cadets on the night that the first campus burned down.

In the late 1940s to 1950s, Baker, an Anglophile, began changing the concept and modeled many of the school's drills, customs, and ceremonies after a British motif.

[11] However, discussions for the proposed joint venture ended when the two schools were unable to find mutually agreeable terms.

Pips are similar in design to the "Order of the Bath" rank stars worn by the British Army and the Royal Marines, except the three crowns have been replaced with an image of George Washington kneeling in the snow, from the painting "The Prayer at Valley Forge" by Henry Brueckner, and the motto "Tria Juncta In Uno" replaced with "Valley Forge Military Academy," as represented in the institutional coat of arms.

On chapel services, peaked caps with the arms are used with the full dress (formerly, these were on the first full dress blue uniforms), while the school service uniform and the BDU includes the side cap and/or the patrol caps which replaced in 2017 the use of the red (college) or blue (academy) military berets used by the corps, with green berets also formerly worn on certain occasions by the academy cadets, similar to US Army Green Berets and Royal Marine Commandos.

Select VF cadets are granted privilege by the leadership and staff of the Duke of York's Royal Military School in the United Kingdom for exchange studies on their campus.

The shield is of red and white vertical stripes with a blue field containing thirteen stars, one for each of the original states.

[13] The school day generally begins with "First Call" followed by "Reveille," at which time all cadets arise and prepare for formation.

After "Recall" from Study Hall comes the Break, at which time cadets use the telephone, shine shoes, and prepare for the next day.

New Cadets at Valley Forge Military Academy and College endure a 4-12 week adjustment period, known as "plebe training," upon entering the institution.

During this period, students are trained in the customs and traditions of the school, a modified version of British military drills, and ceremonies.

The conclusion of this period occurs when the students complete the traditional requirement of earning their "Capshield", the brass crest that adorns the uniform cap.

College cadets also participate in an annual intramural program of athletics events, academics, and creative challenges leading to the award of the Provost's Cup.

Academy extracurriculars include a drill team, a rifle team, a regimental band, a Boy Scout troop, a Civil Air Patrol unit, and numerous events like International Day, STEM challenges, and service projects.. All cadets attend religious services at The Alumni Memorial Chapel of St. Cornelius the Centurion on Sunday morning as a part of the Character Education program.

The service, which General Baker developed, is rooted in the Episcopal or Anglican "Book of Common Prayer" and is Christian in nature.

It is, however, non-sectarian in practice, as the address, which focuses on character and leadership, is given by the distinguished military, civil, and academic leaders.

Brigadier General Alfred A. Sanelli, Class of 1939, B.A., M.A., Pennsylvania Guard (Retired) [Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army (Retired)] (1921–2005), was the long-serving Chaplain and Director of Character Education, after serving as Dean of the academy, Dean of the college, Professor of Military Science, and in other staff positions over many years.

He was succeeded as Chaplain by Colonel[clarification needed] John E. Steele Jr., Valley Forge Military Academy and College.

The unique complement of trumpets is regularly used to perform at the academy's weekly chapel services and is frequently booked for domestic and abroad off-campus events.

After the rousing performance, Ormandy heralded the cadets as the "Philadelphia Orchestra of Military Bands" and was inspired to produce an updated recording of the overture.

Bandmaster is Warrant Officer (II) Phil Evans, Royal Marines Band Service (Retired).

It continues the long heritage of US military field music through the years of the nation's existence and its armed forces.

It also has a Drum and Bugle Corps legacy (through the use of brass instruments), and starting from AY 2011-2012, it also has a fife player on its rosters.

Many of its young stars, including Hutton, Sean Penn, and Tom Cruise, participated in 45 days of orientation with the students of the academy to learn to drill properly as cadets.

[21] While most of the actors enjoyed and excelled at their orientation, Cruise opted to leave the training for the comforts of a nearby hotel until filming began, reportedly to isolate himself and "get into the mindset" of his psychopathic character, Cadet Captain David Shawn.

A note in the end credits says the events in the film are not meant to reflect "the educational philosophy or teachings" of then-Valley Forge Military Academy and Junior College.