Furlough Travel Forms

Furlough Information

About Each Furlough Form

For safety and tracking purposes, all boarding families must complete the furlough travel form for each furlough, regardless of your cadet’s travel plans. MMA chaperones, vehicle availability, and other travel arrangements must be planned for in advance. To ensure your cadet makes his shuttle and/or flight, please submit your form no later than two weeks prior to the furlough start date.

Arrival Form: All families, whether new or returning, must complete the Arrival Form prior to their cadet's arrival on campus. This form ensures we have accurate information to track your cadet’s initial arrival on campus.
Furlough Form (Standard): This form is mandatory for every regular furlough period (Thanksgiving, Winter, Spring, and End-of-Year) breaks. For safety and tracking purposes, all boarding families must complete this form for each furlough period, regardless if they are picking him up directly from campus.
General Leave Form: Use this form for any short-term leave outside of regular furloughs, such as college visits or other special leave requests. Doctors appointments do not need a General Leave form, as they are handled by the clinic.
Medication Furlough Form: This form is required if your cadet takes medication. It informs the clinic how you would like their medication handled during furlough periods.

Overview of Transportation Fees

There is no charge for cadets being picked up or dropped off on campus by a parent, guardian, or other authorized person.

For MMA-chaperoned transportation to or from a designated airport or shuttle, the following fees apply:

$65 MMA transportation fee to/from campus and Kingdom City (to MoExpress Shuttle).
$175 transportation fee to the St. Louis Lambert Airport.
$85 transportation fee to Columbia Regional Airport.
$35 transportation fee to the Mexico Airport.

Please note that many airlines charge a separate Unaccompanied Minor Fee for juvenile travelers. This fee is set by the airline and must be paid by the family. To avoid delays, please provide MMA with a copy of your paid receipt for this service.

If your cadet requires an MMA chaperone to escort him to the gate for departure or meet him at the gate upon arrival, a $120 fee will be charged to your QM account.

Early Departure or Late Return Furlough Fees

Missouri Military Academy sets designated departure and return dates for each furlough to align with our academic calendar. These dates are carefully chosen to support cadet learning and minimize disruption.

Early departures or late returns can interfere with classroom instruction, testing, and assignments. They also place additional demands on the Academic and Commandant offices, including transportation coordination, test makeups, and supervision.

To help manage these disruptions, a $325 fee will be charged to your cadet’s account for early departures or late returns, unless the absence is excused.

Excused absences include:

Family bereavement
Illness or injury
Emergency medical situations

All excused absence requests are subject to review by the Commandant’s Office.

Please review the full travel schedule for each furlough below when making your plans.

Unaccompanied Minor Information

If your cadet needs an MMA chaperone to take him to or from his gate, please schedule flights to arrive after 10 a.m. and before 5 p.m.

Notify the airport (or list within your purchased tickets) that Missouri Military Academy Employee will pick up your child.

For the Unaccompanied Minor Form that you will have to complete for the airline, please list James Poettker as the primary contact and “Any Missouri Military Academy employee with a school ID" as the secondary contact.

Please include both points of contact to ensure a smooth transition at the airport. This allows any available staff member to pick up your son upon arrival, as specific staff assignments for airport transportation are determined closer to the travel date.

Please note that an additional $120 will be assessed to your cadet's account for this service. Check with your airline provider to see about their unaccompanied minor policies and fees, as well. Click here for more information about each airline’s unaccompanied minor policies.

Returning to Campus from St. Louis Airport

If arriving at Terminal 1, they must wait for the MMA bus near the welcome table at Terminal 1 baggage claim until faculty chaperones arrive to escort them.
If arriving at Terminal 2, they should make their way to Terminal 1 baggage claim. The Airport Shuttle will depart from Terminal 2 and cadets will exit at the 1st stop that is Terminal 1.

Buses will depart from the airport to MMA at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. MMA chaperones and banners will be stationed throughout the airport (e.g., baggage claim and near other restaurants) to assist cadets and guide them to the welcome table. If previously arranged, chaperones will also meet cadets traveling as minors directly at their flight gate.

Using MoX Shuttle Service from St. Louis Airport

MoX is a shuttle bus service that provides transportation from Kingdom City to the St. Louis Airport. You can visit their website or contact them at info@moexpress.com.
If you choose to use MoX, MMA will transport your cadet to the MoX shuttle location in Kingdom City (about 20 minutes away). Please include all MoX travel information in your furlough form.
Please note, there will be a $65 MMA transportation fee to/from campus and Kingdom City.

Acceptable Travel Methods

Cadets may travel in the following ways:

Pick up/drop off on campus by an authorized person.
MMA chaperoned transportation to a specified airport (St. Louis, Columbia, or Mexico, MO)
MoExpress Shuttle service. To learn more or schedule a MoExpress Shuttle, click here.

Private transportation services (e.g., Uber, Lyft, taxis, limousines, or similar) are not permitted for cadet travel.

To ensure proper supervision and timely arrival, all departing flights must be scheduled between 12:00 noon and 6:00 p.m. Early morning departures are not allowed.

Travel Uniform Requirement

Check Personal Belongings

2025-26 Furlough Schedule

Thanksgiving Furlough Schedule

Thanksgiving furlough is optional. Cadets are not required to leave campus. If you choose, your cadet may remain on campus during the break.

Departing Campus:

Parent Pick Up: Parents and guardians may sign out cadets after classes end on Tuesday, November 25.
MMA Transportation to St. Louis Airport: MMA transportation to the St. Louis Airport (STL) will depart campus at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 26 and arrive at the airport around 10:00 a.m. Please schedule flights to depart between 12:00 noon and 6:00 p.m
MMA Transportation to Columbia Regional & Mexico Airports: Transportation will be coordinated based on flight times on Wednesday, November 26.

Returning to Campus:

Cadet Return Window: All cadets must return to campus on Sunday, November 30, between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
MMA Transportation from St. Louis Airport: MMA buses will depart St. Louis Airport at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 30. MMA chaperones will arrive at the STL Airport by 10:00 a.m. If your cadet is under 15 years old or needs gate escort by an MMA chaperone, schedule their arrival between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Flights arriving after 5:00 p.m. will require cadets to take the MoExpress Shuttle to Kingdom City.
MMA Transportation from Columbia Regional & Mexico Airports: Return transportation on Sunday, November 30 will be coordinated based on flight arrival times.

Winter Furlough Schedule

Winter furlough is a mandatory leave. This means that campus will be closed, and all cadets are required to depart campus.

Departing Campus:

Parent Pick Up: Cadets may be signed out by parents and guardians after final exams end on Friday, December 19.
MMA Transportation to St. Louis Airport: MMA transportation to the St. Louis Airport (STL) will depart campus on Saturday, December 20 and arrive at the airport around 10:00 a.m. Please schedule flights to depart between 12:00 noon and 6:00 p.m.
MMA Transportation to Columbia Regional & Mexico Airports: Transportation will be coordinated based on flight times on Saturday, December 20.

Returning to Campus:

Cadet Return Window: All cadets must return to campus on Sunday, January 4, between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
MMA Transportation from St. Louis Airport: MMA buses will depart St. Louis Airport at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 4. MMA chaperones will arrive at the STL Airport by 10:00 a.m. If your cadet is under 15 years old or needs gate escort by an MMA chaperone, schedule their arrival between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Flights arriving after 5:00 p.m. will require cadets to take the MoExpress Shuttle to Kingdom City.
MMA Transportation from Columbia Regional & Mexico Airports: Return transportation on Sunday, January 4 will be coordinated based on flight arrival times.

Spring Furlough Schedule

Spring furlough is a mandatory leave. This means that campus will be closed, and all cadets are required to depart campus.

Departing Campus:

Parent Pick Up: Cadets may be signed out by parents and guardians after exams on Friday, March 6.
MMA Transportation to St. Louis Airport: MMA transportation to the St. Louis Airport (STL) will depart campus on Saturday, March 7 and arrive at the airport around 10:00 a.m. Please schedule flights to depart between 12:00 noon and 6:00 p.m.
MMA Transportation to Columbia Regional & Mexico Airports: Transportation will be coordinated based on flight times on Saturday, March 7.

Returning to Campus:

Cadet Return Window: All cadets must return to campus on Sunday, March 15, between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
MMA Transportation from St. Louis Airport: MMA buses will depart St. Louis Airport at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 15. MMA chaperones will arrive at the STL Airport by 10:00 a.m. If your cadet is under 15 years old or needs gate escort by an MMA chaperone, schedule their arrival between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Flights arriving after 5:00 p.m. will require cadets to take the MoExpress Shuttle to Kingdom City.
MMA Transportation from Columbia Regional & Mexico Airports: Return transportation on Sunday, March 15 will be coordinated based on flight arrival times.

End-of-Year Departure

Parent Pick Up: Cadets may be signed out by parents and guardians after Final Formation on Saturday, May 16.

MMA Transportation to St. Louis Airport: MMA transportation to the St. Louis Airport (STL) will depart campus at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 16 and arrive at the airport around 3:00 p.m. Please schedule flights to depart after 5:00 p.m.

MMA Transportation to Columbia Regional & Mexico Airports: Transportation will be coordinated based on flight times on Saturday, May 16.

Advice on Supporting Your Cadet During Furlough

Watch the video below to hear advice from Dr. Victoria Snider, a psychologist, mother of a Missouri Military Academy alumnus and a member of our MMA Board of Trustees, who shares her insight on what to expect and how to best support your cadet when he comes home on furlough.

Enjoy the time at home with your cadets over the furlough, and remember that your sons' transformation and education at MMA is a process. Although you will see progress now, the true results and rewards happen when he reaches MMA graduation and continues his journey into college and beyond.

Our partnership is key to his success. Thank you for being part of the MMA family!