Washington Monument in
Mt. Vernon, Baltimore

Maryland is the 7th state of the United States of America. It is located in the East Coast of the country, in the Mid Atlantic region bordered by Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, West Virginia to the west, Pennsylvania to the north, and to south, across the Potomac River, by West Virginia and Virginia. Although it is one of the smallest states in the U.S., having an area of 12,406.68 square miles, Maryland has a wide variety of topography: from sandy dunes and seagrasses in the east, to low marshlands and bald cypress groves near the bay, to gently rolling landscape and oak forests in the Piedmont Region, then to pine groves in the mountains to the west. Hence, the state is nicknamed “America in Miniature”.

Although European contact with the territories that would become Maryland were recorded as early as the 14th century, Maryland was colonized by the British in 1632. The new colony was named after Queen Henrietta Maria, the Queen consort of England, Scotland, and Ireland as the wife of King Charles I. Throughout this period, the colony had clashed numerous times with the Susquehannock Indian tribes until a peace treaty was concluded in 1652. During the Revolutionary period, Maryland was not in favor at first with the idea of independence from Great Britain. However, in 1776, Maryland, along with the other thirteen colonies, became the first to declare independence. It was fully admitted into the Union in 1788 as the 7th state of the U.S.

During the American Revolutionary War, no significant battles have occurred in Maryland. However, the state played a major role in the affairs of the nation, being among the first to mobilize for the war, and having provided several large regiments to the war effort. Maryland’s regiments, regulars dubbed the Maryland Line, so impressed George Washington, leading him to bestow the title “Old Line State” on Maryland. Today, “The Old Line State” is Maryland official nickname.

Maryland also played a larger role in the events of the American Civil War. Due to its location, and the desire from both warring factions to sway support of its population to their cause, the state was instrumental in how the war ran its course. Several wars had been fought on its soil, including the largest and most significant Battle of Antietam, fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, resulted to a tactically inconclusive but strategic victory for the Union.

During World War I, several military bases such as Camp Meade (now Fort Meade), the Edgewood Arsenal and the Aberdeen Proving Ground were established in Maryland. The Maryland National Guard troops served as part of the 29th Division and were credited for their role during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. In World War II, the regiment took active part in the D-Day landings and fought their way across France and Germany.

Maryland Military Boarding Schools

Due to its significant role in several of the United States’ military affairs throughout history, Maryland has been an ideal location for military education. The state also has a high military presence, with more than 11 major military installations from the three branches of the military, making Maryland a prime place for military education.

Currently, Maryland has several military schools and programs offered by both public and private institutions. There are private military schools, college prep military schools, public elementary military schools, as well as military programs offered by state colleges. The United States Naval Academy is a federal service academy located in Annapolis, and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) is a federal medical school run by the U.S. federal government.

To find a military boarding school, just click on any of the links below.