Willamette Leadership Academy (WLA) is a public charter military academy in Lane County, Oregon, United States. WLA prepares students to become leaders and to live fulfilled lives as respectful and responsible citizens.
History and Academics
The Willamette Leadership Academy is a 501 c 3 non-profit organization. WLA is accredited through the NAAS and Oregon Dept of Education. All teachers are highly qualified and certified.
PYCO originally opened Willamette Leadership Academy but as of 2021, WLA is independent of PYCO. In 2012, the charter was taken up by Springfield Public Schools and all grades moved to the former Goshen Elementary building in Eugene. In 2013, grades 6–8 split off, and the newly created Battalion 2 moved into the old Mohawk Elementary building in Springfield. In 2021, both battalions merged once again into the Goshen building. WLA no longer owns the Mohawk location.
Willamette Leadership Academy currently serves multiple counties with students attending from Drain to Lebanon and Walterville to Veneta. WLA employs approximately 40 staff members.
WLA is located at 34020 B Street, Eugene, OR 97405.
Staff
At WLA, there are many staff members dedicated to keeping the education environment a good one. Unlike most schools, WLA employs staff members known as Staff NCOs. An NCO stands for Non-Commissioned Officer in the military. All NCOs at WLA are former or current members of at least one branch of the United States Armed Forces. By cadets (students), they are referred to as "MSG" (Master Sergeant), "1SG" (First Sergeant, "SGM" (Sergeant Major), etc.
The teachers who teach academic classes are known as Officers. By cadets, they are referred to as sir or ma'am. Their ranks include Second Lieutenant (2LT), First Lieutenant (1LT), Captain (CPT), Major (MAJ), Lieutenant Colonel (LTC), Colonel (COL), and General (GEN).
There are also Special Education teachers who are known as WOs (Warrant Officers). These are ranks that fall somewhere in between NCO ranks and Officer ranks.
The current principal of WLA is Colonel Kate Klontz. The School's administration team on campus includes the following staff members: General Nunez, LTC Migliaccio, CSM Brainard, and Master Gunnery Sergeant.
Cadet Ranks
The following is a list of cadet ranks in order of lowest to highest. Cadet (CDT). This is the rank that every student who joins the school starts as. Private (PVT). This is a rank that is normally achieved upon completion of WLA's Basic Training which takes place in the first week of the school year. Private First Class (PFC). After approximately 3 months of having the rank of PVT, a cadet becomes eligible for promotion to PFC. The cadet must also show that they deserve the rank and the responsibilities that go alongside the new rank. Specialist (SPC). This rank is the last cadet rank before a cadet becomes a cadet NCO. A specialist has to take a test to prove that they know the program well enough to adhere to the rules and to correct other cadets when they step out of line. Additionally, in order to get Specialist you need to have all passing grades, pass a D&C (Drill and Ceremony) test, pass a PT (Physical Training) test, and have held at least 2 weeks of a leadership position. Corporal (CPL). CPL is a hard rank to achieve, and being promoted to this rank is a great honor and comes with a lot of responsibility. This is the first rank of cadet NCOs. When you reach this rank, you receive a tan cover (hat) in place of the green one required of almost all cadets. CPLs are given more freedom and responsibilities. Being a CPL means you are the eyes and ears of the adult NCOs. Sergeant (SGT). The rank above CPL. It's a lot like CPL, but you get a few more freedoms and responsibilities. In order to be promoted to this rank, you must undergo what is called a "Sergeant Board". You are asked questions to decide if you would make a good sergeant. Staff Sergeant (SSGT). A step up from Sergeant. There is usually only one Staff Sergeant at any given time, which means that the cadet is the highest-ranking cadet on post (on school grounds). Sergeant First Class (SFC). There have been very few SFCs in the history of WLA, and it is a very hard rank to achieve.
Staff Ranks
The following is a list of staff ranks in order of lowest to highest, starting with NCO ranks. Master Sergeant (MSG) First Sergeant (1SG) Sergeant Major (SGM) Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Additionally, there is one staff member on post who has a marine rank called "Master Gunnery Sergeant". This is the equivalent of SGM