Gulf Coast Military Academy

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Gulf Coast Military Academy (GCMA) was a military-style school which was located in Gulfport, Mississippi. It was founded in by. The school closed in 1951 and the grounds were purchased by the federal government.

The Gulf Coast Military Academy grounds became US Air Force property from 1951 to 1972 and became known as Annex 3 of Keesler AFB located in nearby Biloxi, MS. The former Academy facilities were initially used as the Technical Training Headquarters for Keesler AFB. The facilities were then used for technical training from 1958 until 1972. Officer training was conducted in electronics for communications, ground electronics (radar), and weapons controller assignments. Many of the former academy buildings were used for classrooms, administration, and storage. The large oak trees from the Academy days remained. Air Force buses drove to and from Keesler AFB on a daily schedule using US Highway 90 along the gulf coast. In 1972 the former Academy grounds and facilities were transferred to the US Navy. The Navy Home was moved to the former Academy grounds. Later the Navy Home was redesignated as part of the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH). In 2005, the facilities were damaged by Hurricane Katrina and all the residents of the home were moved to other locations. The AFRH facilities may be demolished due to residual hurricane water damage to the infrastructure and resulting mold in the buildings. Future plans are pending, but rebuilding the AFRH on the Gulf Coast may be considered risky.