LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas Military & First Responders Academy, or AMFRA, is the first tuition-free military and first responders academy in Arkansas.
On Saturday, the school had "AMFRA Fest" to celebrate its first full year as an institution.
The school's commandant, Lt. Col. Jason Smedley, described the event.
“The parents put together an amazing event for cadets, but also for the community,” Smedley said. “For them to just enjoy, celebrate this… and just have a good time for the summer.”
Smedley said one of the school’s biggest goals is preparing students— cadets—for whatever comes next.
“Whether that's college, whether that's a trade school, whether that's military or first responders, we want to make sure that they have the tools and resources necessary to succeed after high school,” Smedley said.
AMFRA Fest featured games, food trucks, tents from different military branches and first responders.
However, the event wasn’t just for fun; it also featured AMFRA signing an agreement with Arkansas Tech.
“That memorandum will provide opportunities for our students to take classes through Arkansas Tech,” AMFRA Chief Academic Officer Kevin Durand said. "It's going to expand the opportunities in the first responders and emergency management services that we're already providing for our cadets as we move into 11th and 12th grade classes."
Ultimately, Smedly said that the day celebrated the people who made the first year extraordinary.
“Most importantly, the cadets,” Smedley said. “Cadets are funny. They're full of energy. They're full of questions, and they want to see the world, and I want to be able to share as much as possible with them.”