Quasi-military programs are seeking to strike a balance between service and civilian life for their students. Programs like the National Guard’s Youth ChalleNGe Program hope to provide an innovative style of discipline to change the narrative for students with a history of failure in traditional programs. Similar to charter schools, these programs are surrounded by controversy from parents and educators who liken these programs to a “military invasion,” despite the marked successes rates experienced by students.
The Atlantic reported that regardless of the controversy behind these methods, it seems that quiet learning environments, rigorous structure, and healthy habits create a path of success for students in quasi-military programs.
According to the valedictorian of this year’s graduating class at Grizzly Youth Academy in California, “Instead of pursuing a law degree, law enforcement would be pursuing me.”