Embarking on a military career is not as easy as it looks. Enlisting in the army is not enough to push you up the ranks of commissioned officers. A vital requirement would be to finish a college degree with elective courses in military training.

A soldier who already had military experience, especially in combat, and has shown potential to become a military leader is often recommended for this kind of promotion. On one hand, college students, or even high school students, who do not have military experience yet, but are interested in building a career with the military, are encouraged to enroll in military courses to augment their normal college curriculum.

All these courses are offered at a Senior Military College, specifically under a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program. The ROTC Program is any enlisted personnel’s or cadet’s one-way ticket to becoming a commissioned officer. As long as an ROTC Program graduate is at the top of the graduating class, he or she is eligible to be commissioned as a ranking officer in the military.

In the United States, there are six major Senior Military Colleges, which include:

* North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega, Georgia
* Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont
* Texas A & M University in College Station, Texas
* The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina
* Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia

Each of these Senior Military Colleges offers four-year courses of military training, formation and military experience. They have a Corps of Cadets and are specifically recognized under 10 USC 2111(a).

The Fort Miles handbook on Military Discipline and Courtesy takes a light look on introducing discipline. Military discipline, as the average civilian or fresh recruit understands it, consists of harsh punishments or reprimands for violations of rules and regulations.

However, military discipline does not necessarily equate to punishment all the time. It means trainees learn to follow the rules and place the welfare of their unit or team above their personal welfare and security. The punishments act as negative reinforcement to effect changes in behavior.

Discipline in any context expects prompt obedience of subordinates. Similarly, trainees practice military discipline by obeying the orders of the commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers. At the same time, their officers encouraged them to avoid asking questions and simply obey.

Military discipline teaches that even when no one is around, trainees continue to carry out their orders to the very best of their abilities. This behavior emphasizes personal culpability in following through one’s duties.

If you have learned all these things, and prompt obedience becomes second nature to you, then you have acquired military discipline. It builds personal character that hinges on strong social values, such as honor, personal integrity and courage.
Military discipline is “a state of training, resulting in orderly conduct.” Military personnel achieve this state when they graduate from training. They bring this over to their years of service, and even when they retire. Most of the time, discipline cannot be separated from a person’s character.

Military discipline saves lives and wins battles. Chief Master Sergeant Loyd W. McBride quotes General George Patton in his article for Air University Review. The famous general told his commanders that if they did not enforce and maintain perfect discipline, then they were potential murderers.

When we apply these definitions of military discipline to disciplining troubled teens, we can see the benefits they can reap from developing the right amount of self-control. Self-control coupled with developing good strong values eliminates their self-destructive impulses.

The head of the U.S. Military Academy thinks it’s time to replace the “men” and “sons” in West Point’s two most beloved songs with more gender-neutral lyrics.

Lt. Gen. Franklin “Buster” Hagenbeck, superintendent of the nation’s oldest military academy, told a congressional oversight committee Wednesday that with more than 3,000 women graduating from West Point since 1976, the change is long overdue.

During a presentation Wednesday to the academy’s Board of Visitors meeting in Washington, Hagenbeck said he wants to change the words to the military academy’s alma mater and its companion piece, “The Corps.” Both songs date back about a century.

In “The Corps,” the proposals include changing “The men” to “The ranks,” and “We sons” to “The Corps.”

The superintendent said the changes aren’t being pushed by female cadets, but it’s a commonsense move considering the role women play in today’s military.

“When are they going to be recognized for what they’re doing?” he said.

Hagenbeck said he got the idea for the revision two years ago at a ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of women being admitted to West Point. He listened as the female alums sang lyrics from the songs that included, “We sons of today, we salute you.”

Hagenbeck has spent the last few months discussing the possible changes with alumni, Army brass and cadets. He said he’ll make the final decision, possibly after graduation ceremonies on May 31 and before the Class of 2012 arrives this summer.

The academy’s Board of Visitors, made up of presidential appointees and members of Congress, voted unanimously to back whatever decision he makes. Three New York congressman — John McHugh, Maurice Hinchey and John Hall — are board members.

Francis Marion Military Academy is looking for a few good teenagers – specifically, boys and girls who will enter ninth and 10th grades in August.
The students must be drug-free if they hope to enroll at the new charter school, which opens Aug. 18. Monday marked the first day of enrollment for the academy, which will be the second of its kind – behind Sarasota Military Academy – in Florida. Officials hope to have 100 ninth- and 10th-graders when school opens.

The school is the brainchild of members of the Ocala-Silver Springs Rotary Club, who spent nearly three years seeking a charter. Morrey Deen, a former Ocala police chief, and Skip Archibald, a former superintendent of schools, spearheaded the quest.