Military Cadets for Teenagers

[NotworkSte 19]

I haven't come across anything like this yet since being here, and any websearch for cadets brings up things like ROTC.

Back in the UK I was in the ATC, and the Army and Navy had very well developed cadet organisations for teenagers as well.

I'm looking for something similar for my step daughter - but I don't know if there is an equivalent over here, found only CAP so far.

So, some questions:

1 - Is there an equivalent organisation(s) for teenagers over here attached to any of the miliary branches?

2 - If there is, has any one any experience of their adolescents being in it, or even better, have experience of it directly?

3 - I have looked into Police Explorers, but she's a tad young for that just now. Is that as good as it looks?

Lastly - If not, and she doesn't tidy her room, she's off to military school!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

How does she feel about it?

[NotworkSte 19]

How does she feel about it?

She'd love to get involved. But, the caveat there is, she loves hearing what I got up to over in the UK, which is why I'd like to know of there are similar organisations, what the differences are so I am not getting her hopes up.

She also feels as an approaching teen she has the right to choose not to tidy her room!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

She'd love to get involved. But, the caveat there is, she loves hearing what I got up to over in the UK, which is why I'd like to know of there are similar organisations, what the differences are so I am not getting her hopes up.

She also feels as an approaching teen she has the right to choose not to tidy her room!

She could join the Color Guard if her school has it, but I'm not sure getting her involved in one is going to solve your disciplinary issues.

As a parent, I'd recommend getting her involved in team sports, volunteering, extra curricular activities. Studies have shown that girls who have been active in team sports are more likely to have a successful career later in life. From my own experience as a parent, idle time is not good for kids nowadays. There are far too many things that could drag them down or hold them back from really growing and developing into well adjusted, mature adults. My 9 yr. old son is in martial arts and his promotions are based not only on his aptitude, but also how well he is listening to his parents, including keeping his room clean. Kids just need enough positive reinforcement coming from others beyond mom and dad. There's just too many negative influences out there in today's world that will swallow our kids up if they are exposed enough to it.

[NotworkSte 19]

Just to be clear, there are no disciplinary issues beyond what I would consider normal for a growing kid - military academy was a joke.

Unfortunately her school right now is very small and there is hardly anything in the way of extra curicular activities or team sports available there. This will hopefully change though when she gets to High School.

Martial arts is a good one you brought up, is something she was asking me about too. Most if this has been initiated by her wanting to get out of the house and "do something" so I guess I'm looking for some ideas. The reason I was looking at something quasi military is that in the UK we got to do a lot of what she is looking for:

- learning new skills

- helping out in the community

- participating in team sports

- going to camps and also camping, exciting stuff out of the norm for surburban liftstyle

- gaining a little more self confidence

Believe it or not, all these points have been raised by her talking to me. It's all come up in conversations over the past few weeks and has got me thinking a little.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Just to be clear, there are no disciplinary issues beyond what I would consider normal for a growing kid - military academy was a joke.

Unfortunately her school right now is very small and there is hardly anything in the way of extra curicular activities or team sports available there. This will hopefully change though when she gets to High School.

Martial arts is a good one you brought up, is something she was asking me about too. Most if this has been initiated by her wanting to get out of the house and "do something" so I guess I'm looking for some ideas. The reason I was looking at something quasi military is that in the UK we got to do a lot of what she is looking for:

- learning new skills

- helping out in the community

- participating in team sports

- going to camps and also camping, exciting stuff out of the norm for surburban liftstyle

- gaining a little more self confidence

Believe it or not, all these points have been raised by her talking to me. It's all come up in conversations over the past few weeks and has got me thinking a little.

Out here where I live, there is a volunteer organization where you can register online, then look at their calendar of events to see if there's anything she might be interested in. I have a daughter (now 20) that I took to one place where she was suppose to go pull weeds and she refused to get out of the car...lol. However, my son volunteered at a Ronald McDonald House and he really came away from it with a positive experience. There are all kinds of events - from helping at soup kitchens to painting over graffiti. Also, many of the colleges and universities look for students who have done a lot of volunteering in their community. My wife's niece got in to Stanford because she had things beyond academics and athletics.

Edited April 9, 2010 by Galt's gallstones

[Darnell 8,480]

Some Schools will have a 'JROTC' or 'Junior ROTC' detachment . Ask the school counselor if that's the case.

If you'd want to do something sideways, instead, investigate an 'Explorer Post' with the local Boy Scouts Regional Office in your area (ya, some posts allow girls to join, and fully participate). This isn't a military cadre organization, by any means.

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edit - I'm gleaning she's not high school age, yet. Explorers and JROTC are not an option yet, very age specific. Strongly suggest you look into the 'Girl Scout Troops ' in yer area, also (if yer not Catholic) look into 'Rainbow Girls' at yer local 'Eastern Star' lodge/conclave.

Good Luck !

Edited April 9, 2010 by Darnell