Military school requirements are different from those of public or private schools. Military school requirements are more along the lines of a college prep school. This article covers some of the basic military school requirements, including the cadet creed.
Since military schools share with other college-preparatory schools a desire to send the greatest percentage of its students as is possible to the college of their choice, academic admission requirements exist for all military schools, whether public or private. But, public or private, military school requirements set them apart from other schools.
Basic Military School Requirements
Some military school requirements are similar to those of any other college preparatory school. For example, even for public military schools, there is an application process that begins, at minimum, the fall before admission is desired. This generally involves basic information about the potential cadet (the military school name for their students), a transcript, recommendations, a set essay, in which the student is often asked to explain why they’ve made the choice of the school in question. An interview is often required.
There are also some basic military school requirements that—while similar to other private schools—differ between public and private schools. While public military schools draw from their surrounding community, sometimes extending beyond a typical neighborhood school, but still serving students in their vicinity, private military schools often serve international students, who may comprise up to a third of its cadets, and there are other requirements that these students need to fulfill, in regards to passports, documentation, and other paperwork.
For public military schools, there is no tuition charge. For private military schools, there is also a financial aid process that may either be considered to be part of the admissions process or a parallel process. At private military schools—many of which have a religious affiliation, whether a specific denomination or non-denominational Christian—chapel and worship are a standard part of the routine and attendance is required. Such schools make it part of their core mission to make sure that their students’ spiritual needs are served.
Specialized Military School Requirements
There are some requirements that military schools share and that set them apart from all other schools, both public and private. Here are some key military school requirements:
• Cadet Creed—Students at military schools participate in mandatory JROTC, which may be allied to various branches of the Armed Forces. Because cadets will be expected to live up to the Cadet Creed, admissions to the program may probe the applicants and their record to make sure that they have good character. Students who have had disciplinary issues are not likely to be admitted. The Army version of the Cadet Creed reads as follows:
Cadet Creed
- I am an Army Junior ROTC Cadet.
- I will always conduct myself to bring credit to my family, country, school and the Corps of Cadets.
- I am loyal and patriotic.
- I am the future of the United States of America.
- I do not lie, cheat or steal and will always be accountable for my actions and deeds.
- I will always practice good citizenship and patriotism.
- I will work hard to improve my mind and strengthen my body.
- I will seek the mantle of leadership and stand prepared to uphold the Constitution and the American way of life.
- May God grant me the strength to always live by this creed.
• Wearing a Uniform—Order and discipline in the military school extends to dress. Not only must a uniform be worn (they are provided at no charge to public military school students and must be purchased by private military school students), but it must be worn in the correct way.
• Participating in a Hierarchical System with Military Atmosphere—Attending a military school, students will be required to participate in a military-style hierarchy and live in a military-style atmosphere.
Sources
https://www.usarmyjrotc.com/jrotc/dt/3_Creed/creed.html
