Valley Forge Military College

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Valley Forge Military College

Valley Forge Military College

Motto	Courage • Honor • Conquer
Type	Private military junior college
Established	1935 (1935)
President	Col. Stuart B. Helgeson, USMC (Ret.)
Location	Wayne, Radnor Township , Pennsylvania , United States
Campus	Suburban
Website	www.vfmcollege.edu

Valley Forge Military College (VFMC) is a private, coeducational, two-year military junior college located in Wayne, Pennsylvania. VFMC, known as the Military College of Pennsylvania™, offers thirteen undergraduate majors.

Students can choose among three distinct educational tracks:

- Citizen Leader Pathway — a civilian-focused option providing the structure and leadership development of military education for those pursuing leadership roles outside of uniformed service.

- Early Commissioning Program (ECP) — fast-track commissioning as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army after two years, with financial and training benefits.

- Military College Assistance Program (MCAP) — a Pennsylvania National Guard Early Commissioning Track offering similar accelerated leadership and commissioning pathways.

VFMC also serves veterans and service members through its Professional College Studies division—offering flexible, accelerated online degree and certificate programs.

The College was formerly part of Valley Forge Military Academy and College until 2023, when it became a separate institution with its own board of trustees and administration.

History

1935

Valley Forge Military College (VFMC) began as a two-year junior college pilot program within Valley Forge Military Academy during the 1935–36 academic year, when the first college-level cadets joined the Corps of Cadets. The institution adopted the designation of Valley Forge Military Academy and Junior College shortly thereafter.

Over the next decades, VFMC evolved into a fully independent institution, attaining recognition as a military junior college by the U.S. Department of Defense between the 1940s and 1960s.

2005

A notable milestone came in 2005, when the College admitted female students for the first time, marking its transition to a coeducational institution.

2007

In 2007, the Pennsylvania House unanimously adopted a resolution designating VFMC as the official military college of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. and is distinct as one of only a few institutions—specifically one in the Northeast—that offer the U.S. Army Early Commissioning Program (ECP), allowing cadets to become commissioned officers in just two years of study.

2023

In 2023, the College became a separate institution with its own governing board, president, staff, and operations. While still located on the same historic campus as the Academy, VFMC functions under completely independent governance.

Accreditation and Mission

VFMC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, with accreditation originally granted in 1954 and reaffirmed in 2022. A self-study evaluation is scheduled for 2028–2029.

Academics

VFMC offers thirteen Associate degrees across arts and sciences disciplines, structured around twelve core competencies such as leadership, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence.

It also operates a Professional College Studies division offering online degree programs tailored to adult learners, active-duty military personnel, and veterans.

ROTC and Early Commissioning Program (ECP)

The College participates in the U.S. Army ROTC and is one of only four institutions nationwide—and the only one in the Northeast—to offer the Early Commissioning Program (ECP), allowing students to commission as Second Lieutenants after two years of study.

Affiliations

VFMC’s Cybersecurity Certificate program is recognized by the NSA and DHS as a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense for Two-Year Colleges (CAE2Y), making it the only junior military college with such a distinction.

Notable alumni

Athletics

• George Deiderich – consensus All-American, professional football player, CFL (Montreal Alouettes, Ottawa Rough Riders)
• Chris Doleman – retired professional football player and Pro Football Hall of Famer
• Jeff Otah – professional football player, NFL (Carolina Panthers)
• Julian Peterson – professional football player, NFL (Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions)

Military

• Walter T. Lord – Major General, United States Army
• Harry J. "Jack" Mier Jr. – major general, Army National Guard of the United States (Retired), Former Adjutant General, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Former Commander, 157th Infantry Brigade
• Harry E. Miller Jr. – major general who commanded the 42nd Infantry Division
• Brendan W. O'Connor – Master Sergeant, United States Army: Distinguished Service Cross — Afghanistan
• Gustave F. Perna – General, United States Army: Commanding General of the United States Army Materiel Command.
• Kevin R. Wendel – major general, United States Army: Commander, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield Explosives Command, First Army Division East, First United States Army, Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan.

Politics

• Steve Chiongbian Solon – Governor of the province of Sarangani in the Philippines
• Bryan R. Lentz – Democratic politician: State Representative, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 161st Legislative District
• Bob Mensch – Republican state senator: Pennsylvania State Senate, 24th Senate District
• Westley W.O. Moore – United States Army: Rhodes Scholar, White House Fellow, author of The Other Wes Moore, youth advocate, Governor of Maryland
• Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha – King Simeon II of Bulgaria, and Prime Minister of Bulgaria from 2001 to 2005

External Links

• Official website

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