The MMA Legacy: Father and Son

For Jorge-Alberto Yarte-Sada, Class of 1989, Missouri Military Academy (MMA) was a life-changing experience, instilling in him the knowledge, characteristics and values that have helped him find success throughout his personal and professional life.

Today, he shares those lessons and experiences with his son — Gorka-Aitor Yarte-Zertuche, Class of 2023.

Jorge-Alberto Yarte-Sada '89 stands with his son, Gorka-Aitor Yarte-Zertuche '23, outside Missouri Military Academy in 2019.

MMA Story — Past, Present and Future

In 1987, Jorge-Alberto Yarte-Sada enrolled at MMA. As a cadet, he was a member of the soccer, swimming, rifle and cross-country teams. His first year as an MMA cadet, he took on the vice leadership position for the cadet military police. By the time he graduated in 1989, he had also served as cadet sergeant first class and was the proud recipient of the Master Sergeant Billy Crawford Memorial Award.

Clip taken from TAPS 1989.

In 2017 — 28 years later — his son, Gorka-Aitor Yarte-Zertuche, enrolled in MMA’s summer programs: Summer Academy and Confidence Camp. Then, the following year, he attended Leadership Camp. Realizing the potential benefit MMA could have on the second-generation Yarte, the family contacted the admissions office to apply for full academic enrollment.

“Our destiny and family fate changed when we received a letter from MMA Admissions Office, formally inviting Gorka-Aitor Yarte-Zertuche to attend MMA and join the 130^th Corps of Cadets in the 2018-2019 academic year,” Yarte-Sada says. “The letter expressed that given the great maturity, ability to adapt and leadership that he demonstrated during the summer programs … MMA was prepared to offer him a place in the eighth grade class.”

“Both my son and I were overwhelmed with grand joy when we received that letter,” Yarte-Sada adds. “Without hesitating, and given this grand opportunity, we immediately convinced his mother (which was not an easy task) and decided to enroll him for the 2018-2019 academic year.”

Yarte-Sada '89 stands with Yarte-Zertuche '23 at the Fall Family Weekend Passing Through Ceremony in 2018.

Today, Cadet Yarte-Zertuche is the cadet battalion executive officer, senior class vice president, commander of the Fusileer Drill Team and soccer team captain. He is also a member of the basketball and tennis teams. His notable cadet achievements include the following:

• Won first place in national drill competitions in 2019, 2020 and 2021. He also finished in the top 10 out of 400 cadets drilling in Armed and Unarmed Individual Drill Knockout Competition at the national competition in Daytona, Florida. 
• Placed fourth in the state for tennis. His team also holds the record for most tennis wins in MMA history.
• Received the Jackling Introduction to Engineering STEM Summer Camp scholarship.
• Awarded the Richard White Improvement Award for showing the greatest all-around improvement since his enrollment at MMA. He has also received the Jerome G. Harris Award for Most Soldierly Cadet in middle school, the Babe Ruth Sportsmanship Award and the Dr. Gregory “Doc” McDonald Memorial Award for always conducting himself with honor and more.

Cadet Yarte-Zertuche will graduate in May 2023. He plans to attend a four-year college and major in agribusiness and minor in business administration.

“MMA has unlocked his full potential and maximized his opportunities in life,” Yarte-Sada says. “I am already very proud of my son. I am confident that he will make us all feel proud as an MMA ambassador wherever he may pursue his personal and professional life.”

Yarte-Zertuche leads Cadets Edwards, Thumbi, Morais, and Zhou at the 2022 Homecoming military review and Fusileers demonstration. 

Continuing the Commitment

His son isn’t the only way Yarte-Sada keeps his MMA legacy alive — he is also a member of the MMA Alumni Association Board of Directors and several alumni association committees, serves as class agent for the Class of 1989 and acts as an alumni ambassador.

According to Yarte-Sada, giving back and helping grow the Academy as an alum is akin to fulfilling a mission with great intrinsic reward.  

“I wish to help my school, and I want to inspire more families to consider MMA for their sons,” he says. “I will pursue this commitment as a proud MMA alumni and ambassador, sharing MMA´s core values and rich traditions worldwide. By serving, supporting and sharing, we benefit from dividends that nourish our MMA soul. We are able to express our enthusiasm when promoting MMA because we are completely convinced and inspired with the 360° Education offered at MMA and the brotherhood and camaraderie that emerges within and beyond the institution through the MMA alumni.”

Yarte-Zertuche '23, standing with Yarte-Sada '89, receives his legacy pin from President Richard V. Geraci at the 2019 Homecoming Alumni Awards and Donor Recognition Banquet. 

Sharing a Legacy and Life Lessons

Every parent wants what is best for their child, and for Yarte-Sada, that means an MMA education. Sharing the MMA experience has helped him pass on the defining values and lessons he found most important throughout life — lessons that originate from MMA and continue to be reinforced. He expresses that MMA helped him become the man he is today, and he is proud to see his son reach his full potential under MMA’s guidance as well.

“Undoubtedly, attending MMA was the best years of my youth,” Yarte-Sada says. “The special time invested at MMA shaped and molded the very person that I am and represent today … It is a blessing and a privilege to be able to share my experiences with my son.”

“[Sharing MMA] brings sound memories and knowledge from the past while connecting with the present and a promising future for both of us…” he adds. “MMA has unlocked [Gorka-Aitor Yarte-Zertuche]’s full potential and maximized his opportunities in life.”

Yarte-Zertuche '23, standing with President Geraci, is recognized for winning the 2022 Homecoming Alumni vs. Cadets Drilldown.