Sarasota Military Academy Eagles

Sarasota Military Academy was started in 2002 with the vision of being the only type of its kind in the country...a PUBLIC Charter High School, where every student would be enrolled in the Junior ROTC program (an elective in most High Schools). At SMA, the primary focus of a quality education is accentuated by the involvement of the academy's cadets, as THEY are involved in the day to day facilitation of the running of the mighty "Eagle Regiment". NOT a military prep school, NOT a boarding school, NOT a "second chance" school... SMA can be best characterized as a Public High School operating under the military model through teamwork and leadership from within the corps of cadets.  Our academy is CADET LED, beginning with our formation every morning of the school year, at 7:10am, where every student (and faculty) are aligned outside to salute the flag as it's raised for the first time each morning, followed immediately by the Pledge of Allegiance. The heart of the JROTC program are the extra curricular sports/activities of the Rifle, Drill, JLAB and Raider teams, each with rigorous academic standards that rival (exceeding almost all) any program, and a history of excellence at the district, state and national levels of competition! It's no wonder that some of the best and brightest that SMA has to offer also hold the title(s) of Drill, Rifle & Raider team member!

Three things... 

1) Cadet Led. 

2) Teamwork. 

3) Family.

The SMA Raider team is ran by the teams cadet leadership.  Of course the coaches facilitate any/all administrative/financial/scheduling/logistical needs, but the team leadership runs the team. The team leadership is made up of a Raider Commander, First Sergeant, Executive Officer/Admin Officer (S-1/3). They are our 'Raider Company" leadership. Right along beside them are the "Team Leaders"... for the "Boy Team", "Girl Team" and "Mixed (Co-ed) Team", along with their assistant team leaders. The cadets on this team work together to plan/schedule practices, competition, camp-outs, trips, award nights, and a myriad of other items. The coaches mentor and facilitate, but the leadership LEADS the team. The leaders at every level have an immense responsibility, not only for the success of a particular season, but more importantly, for the success of the future of the Raider Company, as every young eager member of the team is constantly being guided by their peers and are being prepared to one day assume their own pivotal role as a leader of their posterity.

Because of this cadet led, teamwork environment, the members of this team are more like a family. More so than any other team (from their own mouths) they have EVER been on before. They are willing to go the furthest distance, climb the highest mountain (literally), crawl through the deepest mudpit, and when they are at their darkest, deepest point of exhaustion, they push on...not to win, but for their brother and sister right there beside them.