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A boot camp refers colloquially to the training new recruits receive as introduction to the military. The term means both the place where the training takes place and the initial indoctrination and instruction given to new military personnel.
Originally, boot camps were for the United States Marine Corps initial training. Lately, the term refers more commonly to any United States Military initial training. All recruit go through boot camps, which include special detailed programs for commissioned officers.
Although most boot camps direct their efforts towards helping troubled teens, rigorous military-like training takes a backseat from therapy and counseling. Emotionally troubled teens especially those who experienced trauma and abuse need rehabilitation before signing up for boot camp.
The site, Boot Camps Info, questions the theory that subjecting juvenile delinquents to a punishing regime modifies their aggressive behavior. Instead of helping, boot camp training may aggravate the situation.
Some trainees develop a more aggressive behavior towards their fellow recruits as a way to act out feelings of anger and helplessness. This kind of behavior also means they are modeling after the behavior of adults in the camp.
Boot camps in military schools generally differ from military training. Military schools put their students through boot camps to instill in their young charges strong self-discipline and deep respect towards authority. Negative reinforcement does not include physical and psychological punishment.
In fact, military schools screen their new students before accepting them. They discourage parents who think military schools are the solutions to their problem teens.
For parents looking for information on military schools, the site Military School Options is a gold mine of information. It has everything about military school life and opportunities. The site caters to adults as well as to kids who are eligible to enter military schools.
The resources on Military School Options include information on different military schools in different states. Aside from providing resources on education, Military School Options also has information on military jobs and careers. Links to international military schools are also available.
Sending your kids to a military school does not mean they need to be “punished.” They should not be treated like criminals because their behavior can still be modified through less violent means. Actually, teens who want to enter the military with whatever branch of service should be encouraged to enroll in a military school and go through boot camp training. This serves as a good introduction to military life in the future.
