Posted on 05/20/2012 6:28:09 PM PDT by Tennessean4Bush
Anyone who has been to military high school or sent a child to one, I'd like your opinion/thoughts.
My son will be entering his junior year in high school this fall. He has not fared well at all at the local public high school. Grades are bad, and he has not been able to make any friends much to speak of. He is a good kid, never a problem for us.
He has always wanted to make a career out of the military, in particular would love to go to the AF academy, or take some path where he could fly planes. He does okay on standardized tests, but he lacks the focus to get things turned in and keep up in class.
I have been looking at 3 schools in particular that are not too far from Knoxville: Camden Military School in SC, Fork Union Military School in VA, and Fishburne Military School in VA.
Fishburne is the most intriguing from the standpoint of being accepted to one of the academies for college. Apparently, they have a JROTC program with distinction and can nominate a cadet to an academy (as opposed to getting a Senator or someone to nominate you). Anyone who can shed some light on how big a deal that is your input will be appreciated.
Each one seems to have its strong points. I am leaning toward Fishburne but Mrs. T4B is leaning toward Fork Union.
My son is actually looking forward to it, believe it or not. I think he likes the military aspect of it all. Plus I think he will excel with the focus and motivation they have a way of pulling out of young men.
Again, any input will be appreciated. We are really out of our element on this one. I never served in the military, and never went to anything but a public school for that matter.
Thanks in advance. I just know that whenever there is anything about anything posted on FR there always are quite a few Freepers who happen to be experts, and hoping that proves to be the case here.
I attended Allen Military Academy (ROTC) from 1978 until 1982.
Changed my life, I carry the lessons learned still today.
My son’s friend went to a military school in junior high. He liked it. It probably depends a lot on the boy’s disposition and the school itself.
Did you end up going to college?
Georgia Military Academy. 1956 thru 58.
Just do it. Having the base of a year or two serves one well for a lifetime no matter the direction chosen.
Kemper, Boonesville, Mo. High School and JC. It wasn’t co-
ed when I attended “67, 68, but has a rich tradition.
They are now welcoming gay men out of the closet to do their dance in the military. It is an authortarian enviornment and if he gets a gay man in authority over him, I don’t know anymore. You have observed how tolerant gay men are of Christians/students who reject their sexual activity?
Homos are very sexually aggressive towards young men, especially when they have authority over them. A study came out BEFORE they began integrating homosexual sex into the military, but after the Left starting shoving it into our culture, and a surprisingly high number of men said they have been raped in the military. That is only going to get more aggressive.
Also the military is harassing Christians because they have given offically politically correct preferences to Muslims and gays. Both these groups hate Christians. You need to investigate all this. They are breaking new ground here.
Yes. The program was favored and weighed heavily toward acceptance.
The downside is that a feller can get fed up with "Corps" and such if exposed too early.
Might even cause rebellion and bad decisions.
Just something to think about.
I read it on the internet somewhere. ;-)
Look at RANDOLPH-MACON in Ashland.
One of the few academies to have a Junior Air Force Rotc Program.
Attending a military academy was a great experience for me. It changed my attitude on self determination and gave me a grounded respect for achievement and discipline. The habits I learned in my teen years trained me in advance for my service in the Army.
I should add that RMA has a Flight Training Program with two Cessna 172’s they own, and a good local Civil Air Patrol Squadron.
Hi There. I’m a Fork Union Military Academy (FUMA) alumni. I graduated in 1987. It was one of the best experiences of my life. The staff there are second to none and there is no comparison what-so-ever to public schools. Of course I have a bias (especially when it comes to FUMA vs. Fishburne). FUMA is due to open brand new, state of the art barracks this fall which look incredible. I can sum the place up with four words - FUMA changed my life.
i sent my son to the airforce academy in melbourne florida. i could only afford one year. not a typical military school. you cant find a better place if you have the money. regimented but fair . so much to do including learning how to fly.
I’ve been as well as some friends of mine.
It is the answer for many kids these days.
Of late I know of a young man very troubled with drugs, his father is going to prison for drug rackets. The temptations available to him were too much.
He went to the local troubled teen Thunderbird Academy. He’s now finishing his first year at Texas A&M. It was truly a miracle. The structure and accountability just hit the right chord.
I guess it depends on the school but if he wants out of public school that, on it’s own, is a warning sign not to ignore.
I went to an all boys catholic military school and graduated in 1991. Was it a great experience? Yes. Will it work miracles? Depends. Some advantages were the small class sizes, everyone knew everyone. This is good and bad. You get pigeon hooded pretty quickly. The military aspect JROTC, was great. Many of my classmates went on to ROTC and later to serve. The early exposure taught them (and me) a ton about discipline, respect, and the politics of life (Let’s just say if your parents had money, it may be easier for you). . Much like real life.
I went to Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, PA back in the 70’s. It’s deep in Yankee territory and was expensive back then as it is now. I think it’s as good as they come. Stormin Norman Schwarzkopf went there. Last I knew lots of grads were going on to one of the national service academies.
I went to a private (Church Based - non denominational) that was probably borderline military> Since I served in the military for over 5 1/2 years (USAF)I can safely say that Wasatch Academy was just about as close to Military as a school can get and not be called a Military Academy.
When I took basic training I had all the skills and attitudes it took to excel - and I did.
I breezed through basic training and the T.I.’s (Training Instructors / Drill Instructors) picked on me almost exclusively because they knew that I could take everything they dished out and I was the perfect subject because I had already experienced most of what they threw at me.
One other kid got the same treatment. His parents were missionaries in China. That should say something about how he was brought up also.
Some Military Schools do get (or let) thing get out of hand. Primarily between student cadets. It is not necessarily the instructors you have to worry about but rather the (other / more senior) students.
My brother was a Castle Heights and Kemper.
I attended Fork Union Military Academy and went on to the Naval Academy and a 25 year career in the Navy. Fork Union changed my life period. Everything I have done is built on that foundation. I just had my 35th reunion at FUMA and a half dozen of my teachers were still there! As with all things it is what you put into it but it is a fine Military school and will give your son the focus and discipline her needs.
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