Military Schools – One Size Does Not Fit All
When you hear the words “military school”, many different images are conjured. Some see a campus enhanced with beautiful stone buildings, manicured lawns, and cadets proudly marching with perfectly tailored uniforms gleaming from all the spit and polish. Many of these young men and women are aspiring to future service in the armed services of their country.
Others see a compound, reminiscent of that seen on Hogan’s Heroes, where misbehaving inmates are sentenced to hard time for their past behavior, and angry drill instructors scream at a hopeless collection of trouble-makers. The later is more reminiscent of what today has become known as teen boot camps, where an intense regime of shock therapy and even abuse over a short period of time is designed to turn troubled teens around.
The truth is that both of these types of organizations exist, as does everything in between. This is why one size does not fit all when looking for a military school or academy.
In the United States, there are numerous military schools. In Canada, there is only one. You don’t need to search for too long on the internet to find them. But why are there so many and why are they so popular? Some have a long proud history dating back to before the Civil War. Students attend because of tradition; their father, and grand father, and great grand father attended. Some attend because they see it as a stepping stone to one of the federal service academies like West Point, Annapolis, or the Air Force Academy. Others see it as a structured environment within which their misbehaving youngster will learn their bad discipline and be transferred from a life of misfortune into become a contributing member of society.
There are military schools that cater to each of these groups. However, when these students with differing goals end up in the same school the outcome is often chaotic. Those who do not want to be there fight the system every step of the way. The others end up suffering as a result of these negative influences. In the end, neither group receives what they want, or what they need.
It is for these reasons that it is important to know what you are looking for in a military school, and why. Ask the right questions and tell your whole story to the admissions department before enrolling. This will help determine whether a particular school is right for your son or daughter, and whether your son or daughter is right for the school.
The moral of this story: Not all military schools and academies are alike. Be sure you understand the difference between what you want and what you (or your son or daughter) need, because these are not necessarily the same thing.
Tags: Academy, Army, Military School