Most military schools start accepting students after they have reached the age of 12, or the sixth grade. But, there are a few grade schools that accept students from the age of 7 to 12. These schools include the Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad, CA; Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, VA; and Fork Union Military Academy in Fork Union, VA. The Army and Navy Academy and Fork Union are both all-boys schools, while Hargrave is a Baptist Christian school. The cost of these military schools can vary, but there are loans and scholarships available. In some cases, your health insurance might help offset the tuition if attending a military school is considered residential treatment for your child.
One of the top reasons why parents enroll their children in military grade school is to teach them discipline. Many parents believe that violent video games and new technologies are teaching kids to be disrespectful and undisciplined. Military grade schools aim to fix this problem by providing more structure in children's lives. This is accomplished by teaching them to respect their superiors and stick to a daily routine. Some military grade schools require their students to be in uniform and in formation by 6:00 a.m. sharp. This is followed by a strict daily routine with scheduled meal and relaxation times.
Military grade schools also focus on doing good to "people, God and country." They operate on the belief that children are never too young to learn the value of doing good service for the benefit of others. This helps reinforce the value of service and always doing the right thing no matter the situation.
Military grade schools focus on helping children learn how to work together for a common goal. Formations, physical exercise and drills are all done together as a team. This helps reinforce the value of teamwork and its importance in becoming a productive citizen.