Colonel's Cadence Blog
MMA's JROTC Senior Army Instructor: LTC Layman
Woodstock, VA (Massanutten Military Academy) - Meet Massanutten's JROTC Senior Army Instructor LTC Lester Layman. LTC Layman is a native of Augusta County, Virginia and a 1989 graduate of the United States Military Academy. He served as an Armor Officer for 20 years, during which time he deployed to Bosnia for a year as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and two years to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Upon retiring from the Army in 2009, LTC Layman tried actually retiring and soon ran out of projects. Living in close proximity to a military boarding and day school, he decided to use his knowledge to help educate the next generation and give them life lessons that they would not have to repeat. He started working at MMA in January 2010 and has served as the Senior Army Instructor since June 2010. In addition to being the SAI, LTC Layman serves as the Commandant in charge of Cadet Life and the Chief of Staff in charge of the Admissions and Business offices. During his time at MMA, he has coached football, rifle, and lacrosse.
LTC Layman values honor and integrity above all else. As leaders, we expect cadets to make mistakes, the important thing is to own the mistake, accept the consequences, and learn from it. His favorite part of being a JROTC instructor is being in the classroom. He tries to tie the curriculum to life lessons and the real world, not just examples in the book. His goal remains to prepare every cadet for success in their future, regardless of the path they choose.
LTC Layman also has a Master’s in Business Administration – Aviation and a Master’s in Military Art and Science. His favorite quote is: “I didn’t fight my way to the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian."
Massanutten focuses on character development, leadership and service to help your student develop to their fullest potential. Located just a few hours away from Virginia Beach, our military boarding and day school provides structure to guide your teen on their individual path to success. If your student is interested in continuing their education at an institution focused on hand-on, experiential learning with small classes, please call our Admissions Department at 540-459-2167 Option 1 or inquire here.
Upon retiring from the Army in 2009, LTC Layman tried actually retiring and soon ran out of projects. Living in close proximity to a military boarding and day school, he decided to use his knowledge to help educate the next generation and give them life lessons that they would not have to repeat. He started working at MMA in January 2010 and has served as the Senior Army Instructor since June 2010. In addition to being the SAI, LTC Layman serves as the Commandant in charge of Cadet Life and the Chief of Staff in charge of the Admissions and Business offices. During his time at MMA, he has coached football, rifle, and lacrosse.
LTC Layman values honor and integrity above all else. As leaders, we expect cadets to make mistakes, the important thing is to own the mistake, accept the consequences, and learn from it. His favorite part of being a JROTC instructor is being in the classroom. He tries to tie the curriculum to life lessons and the real world, not just examples in the book. His goal remains to prepare every cadet for success in their future, regardless of the path they choose.
LTC Layman also has a Master’s in Business Administration – Aviation and a Master’s in Military Art and Science. His favorite quote is: “I didn’t fight my way to the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian."
Massanutten focuses on character development, leadership and service to help your student develop to their fullest potential. Located just a few hours away from Virginia Beach, our military boarding and day school provides structure to guide your teen on their individual path to success. If your student is interested in continuing their education at an institution focused on hand-on, experiential learning with small classes, please call our Admissions Department at 540-459-2167 Option 1 or inquire here.
You know your child can do more but is not getting the attention needed in their current environment to reach their full potential. We know that choosing the right school for your child can be difficult because each child is so unique. We believe students should experience school as it should be, a place where children are educated in an environment that leads them to thrive and encourages their maximum potential.
Massanutten Military Academy is a co-educational, non-profit military boarding and day school in Virginia for students in 8th-12th grades with postgraduate studies. We welcome all faiths and live by our motto: Non Nobis Solum (Not For Ourselves Alone).
Massanutten Military Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.
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