2024-25 Furlough Travel Form

Important Furlough Travel Information

Please read the following information very carefully prior to making your travel arrangements and submitting the furlough form.

If you cannot meet the designated pick-up times, need to request an extension of your cadet’s stay on campus or have any questions about airport travel or picking up your cadet, please contact Deputy Commandant for Support, Security and Transportation James Poettker '08 via email at transportation@missourimilitaryacademy.com or by phone at 573.581.1776 ext. 429.

Departure & Arrival Policy

MMA sets furlough leave and return days/times according to our academic calendar to best support cadet learning. Early departures or late returns can disrupt your cadet's class time, often interrupting key testing and require additional resources from the academic and commandant offices. This includes transportation, making up missed work or tests and more.

To address these challenges, a $300 fee for early departures and late arrivals will be assessed to his account when appropriate, excluding excused absences. Excused absences include family bereavement, health issues or unexpected emergency medical situations. The commandant will review requests for excused absences.

See full travel schedule details for each furlough below.

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.

Families may not use a private transportation service for their cadets. This includes Uber, Lyft, taxis, limousines or any other private transportation service.

Flights must be booked with departures between 12 noon and 6 p.m to ensure your cadet's safe and timely arrival at the airport. No early morning flight departures are permitted.

Furlough Fees Policy

There is no charge for pick up or drop off of cadets on campus by an authorized person. Please note the following fees for MMA chaperoned transportation to a designated airport or shuttle:

$60 MMA transportation fee to/from campus and Kingdom City (to MoExpress Shuttle).
$100 transportation fee to the St. Louis Lambert Airport.
$80 transportation fee to Columbia Regional Airport.
$30 transportation fee to the Mexico Airport.

Of note, airlines may require you to pay a special charge for an unaccompanied juvenile. Please refer to your airline's policy on this fee. To avoid delays, please provide MMA with a copy of your paid receipt for this service.

An extra charge of $100 will be charged to your QM account for an MMA chaperone to escort your cadet to his gate or to pick him up from his gate.

Furlough Departure & Return Schedule

Thanksgiving Furlough Schedule

This is not a mandatory leave – if desired, cadets may remain on campus during Thanksgiving furlough.

Leaving Campus:

Cadets may sign out with their parents after classes end on Tuesday, November 26.

Transportation to the St. Louis airport will depart at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 27. Buses will arrive at the airport at approximately 10:00 a.m. Flights should be scheduled for departure after 12:00 noon and before 6:00 p.m. Transportation to and from the Columbia Regional Airport and Mexico Airport will be coordinated with flight times on November 27.

Returning to Campus:

Cadets must return to campus on Sunday, December 1, between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Transportation from the St. Louis airport to MMA on Sunday, December 1 will depart at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. After that time, cadets must use the MoExpress Shuttle from St. Louis to Kingdom City.

MMA chaperones will not arrive at the airport until 10:00 a.m. If your cadet is under 15 years old or needs MMA chaperones to pick him up at his gate, please schedule flights to arrive after 10:00 a.m. and before 5:00 p.m. Transportation to and from the Columbia Regional Airport and Mexico Airport will be coordinated with flight times on December 1.

Winter Furlough Schedule

This is a mandatory leave. Residential halls are closed.

Leaving Campus:

Cadets may sign out with their parents after classes end on Friday, December 20.

Transportation to the St. Louis airport will depart at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 21. Buses will arrive at the airport at approximately 10:00 a.m. Flights should be scheduled for departure after 12:00 noon and before 6:00 p.m. Transportation to and from the Columbia Regional Airport and Mexico Airport will be coordinated with flight schedules on December 20.

Returning to Campus:

Cadets must return to campus on Sunday, January 5, between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Transportation from the St. Louis airport to MMA on Sunday, January 5 will depart at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. After that time, cadets must use the MoExpress Shuttle from St. Louis to Kingdom City.

Spring Furlough Schedule

This is a mandatory leave. Residential halls are closed.

Leaving Campus:

Cadets may sign out with their parents after classes end on Friday, February 28.

Transportation to the St. Louis airport will depart at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 1. Buses will arrive at the airport at approximately 10:00 a.m. Flights should be scheduled for departure after 12:00 noon and before 6:00 p.m.Transportation to and from the Columbia Regional Airport and Mexico Airport will be coordinated with flight schedules on March 1.

Returning to Campus:

Cadets must return to campus on Sunday, March 9, between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Transportation from the St. Louis airport to MMA on Sunday, March 9 will depart at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. After that time, cadets must use the MoExpress Shuttle from St. Louis to Kingdom City.

End-of-Year Furlough

This is a mandatory leave.

Cadets may sign out with their parents after Final Formation on Saturday, May 17.

Transportation to the St. Louis airport will depart at 1:00 PM on Saturday, May 17. Buses will arrive at the airport at approximately 3:00 PM. Flights should be scheduled for departure after 5:00 PM.

Transportation to and from the Columbia Regional Airport and Mexico Airport will coordinate with flight schedules on May 17.