Forget everything you think you know about military school

When I tell someone I work At Fork Union Military Academy one of the first questions they ask is, "So, you deal with a lot of kids with behavior problems, right?" Probably one of the most frustrating thing about working at a military school is the misconception that they are for "troubled teens." Movies, TV and threats from our own parents have all served to reinforce this perception of boarding school as a dumping ground for "bad kids."

I think the main reason people look at our school is that they feel the environment their son is currently being educated in is not working for him. There are a variety of areas of concerns: academic, social/peer groups, athletic, and the list goes on. Let's be realistic. No one will pay for something if they can get the same quality item for free. If you do the math, it stands to reason that anyone looking at a boarding school option probably has a complex reason. Family counseling and/or individual behavioral therapy can adjust troublesome behavior. Relatively inexpensive and quite effective.

In the case of military boarding school, while there may be some basic behavior concerns, they tend to fall into what I would consider the normal teenager behavioral category. He won't clean his room. He does not do his homework consistently. He skips class or is late. He likes to argue. I don't like his choice of friends. All he wants to do is play video games.

The list goes on, but none of the reasons I hear make me think the kids are on the road to a life of crime. Instead, I believe the motivation is that parents understand that getting into the right college with the right tools is a tough proposition, and they want to do everything in their power to make sure their kids are pointed in the right direction and have every opportunity to become successful.