At Ease! A Military School Primer for Parents

It’s unlikely that most people would connect the dots between actor Lorenzo Lamas, author JD Salinger, and racing legend Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Even more difficult to tie together are Donald Trump, former New York Yankee’s owner George Steinbrenner, and baby food mogul Daniel Gerber. In fact, all six of these seemingly different people have one key thing in common that, most likely, contributed to their success in their respective professions: all attended a military school.

For many parents, the term “military school” elicits images of uncooperative children in barracks waiting to be transformed into rule-abiding, respectable young adults. In fact, today’s military schools are much different from those in our grandparent’s day. One main difference is that many of these schools are now coeducational and feature a college-preparatory curriculum.

“Military academies today focus on college preparation,” says Gretchen Herbst, Director of Admission at Admiral Farragut Academy in Florida. “Our goal is to educate students to become well-rounded, self-confident, independent thinkers ready to succeed in college.”

Max Brooks, Director of Admission at St. John’s Military School in Kansas feels that military schools offer many benefits to adolescents.

“I believe today’s military school environment is much more supportive, encouraging, understanding, and nurturing,” says Brooks. “This is representative of the lessons in leadership that the schools are striving to impart.”

Another common misperception is that students attending military schools are doing so as a first step towards joining the military. The reality is that few students actually continue in military service upon graduation from these schools, dispelling the myth that all military schools exist to churn out the next batch of service men and women. Why, then, would a student choose to study in one of these academies if they don't have hopes of flying jets and steering ships?

According to Cristhina Starke, Director of International Admission at Wentworth Military Academy in Missouri, families choose military schools for many different reasons, including a desire to develop leadership skills and improve self-esteem.

“I have seen many students gain self-control and mature in ways that often times exceed the expectations of their parents and even themselves,” says Starke. “The military approach places a larger emphasis on teamwork which gives them the foundation necessary to excel in any field they might pursue.”

For those students with a genuine desire to pursue a military career, these schools can certainly serve as an appropriate stepping stone towards that goal.

“There is certainly no obligation, nor any suggestion for that matter, that graduates enlist in military service upon graduation from our school,” says Brooks. “However, a military school background can serve graduates with additional opportunities and benefits for those interested in a military career.”

In addition to the college preparatory curriculum offered by these schools, many offer a significant amount of extracurricular activities and leadership opportunities for their students. Since most military schools feature a boarding component, students have the opportunity to gain independence and learn responsibility.

“Beyond learning leadership skills, students experience a vast array of sports, electives, and community projects,” says Herbst. “This all takes place in a diverse setting among dedicated faculty and staff, many of whom live on campus.”

Though military schools have changed dramatically, the focus of most has remained the same: educating young people and encouraging development of leadership abilities, self-esteem, and responsibility. The type of student who would be best served by a military school is no longer a rebellious, aggressive, and self-destructive adolescent.

According to Brooks, “A military school is the correct choice for a young person that may be squandering potential, requiring additional levels of structure and discipline to uncover their innate abilities.”

Starke echoes these sentiments and believes families value the experience provided to their children by military schools.

“Many parents and former students have shared with me how grateful they are for the changes they have seen in their children's lives,” says Starke. “The structure and discipline that they received at our school has become ingrained in the students.”