Southeastern Military Academy

http://www.sema.us.com/

Quick Facts

Type:

All-male college-preparatory military

Religious Affiliation:

Non-denominational

Yearly Tuition:

$25,200 (Boarding)

Year Founded:	1984	Average Class Size:
Application Deadline:	None	Teacher - Student Ratio:

Southeastern Military Academy (SEMA), previously Victory Forge Military Academy, is a private, non-denominational, all-male military-style boarding school located in Southwest Biltmore Street, Port St. Lucie, Florida, United States.

The academy was originally founded in 1984 as Victory Children's Home, a children’s home and orphanage by Reverend William Brink, also operated Brinkhaven Homes for Youth in Ohio. In 1992, Reverend Brink was convicted for sexual abuse and, as a result, lost control of Victory Children's Home to a local board of trustees led by his son-in-law Alan Weierman. In a move to further distance the school from its founder and the allegations, the school’s name was changed to Treasure Coast Victory Children's Home and papers were filed to have the school incorporated in Florida. In 2009, Weierman reorganized the school into a non-profit organization and changed the name to Southeastern Military Academy.

As a college-preparatory school, Southeastern Military Academy has built a reputation as a rigorous boot camp school. The school has adopted the state Department of Juvenile Justice policies in terms of restraining students, employing restraints to “secure juveniles that pose a threat of running away” as opposed to using them as punishment. This aspect became subject to public and the DCF’s (Department of Children and Families) scrutiny when, in 2008, a Port St. Lucie police officer encountered a 16-year-old runaway being restrained with shackles. Later that year, the state prosecutors and the police concluded that no criminal violations had occurred in Southeastern Military Academy.

Due to its rigid training and discipline, Southeastern Military Academy is distinguished as a highly viable and sometimes the only alternative for struggling teens that need behavioral re-direction in a military style environment.

Alan Weierman is the current commander of Southeastern Military Academy. He holds a Ph.D. in specialized business, a Masters Degree in counseling and Psychology, and is a certified Behavioral Analyst. For 29 years, Weierman has worked in the field of child care and youth services and was a Vice Chairman of the Human Rights Advocacy Committee as well as the Statewide Human Rights Council. Weierman is a member of the American Council of Social Workers.