Just like in every other US state, there are also military boarding schools in Maryland for children and youths. The military academies in Maryland consist of high schools and higher institutions that offer ROTC programs.
Maryland is a state in the United States and is the birthplace of the country’s national anthem. The state also has its share of military academies and other traditional institutions offering the ROTC programs. There are many excellent military boarding schools in Maryland that parents may consider sending their child to.
All of these military academies in Maryland have been listed and discussed in this blog post to give you a comprehensive view of what they represent, how they operate, and how you can apply for admission. You will also get to know which of these academies is suitable for your child.
Military academies offer a lot of benefits that typical high schools aren’t able to offer. Well, firstly some of them are public chartered which makes them tuition-free to attend. Everything from meals, tuition, linens and other fees are free. Also, these schools are boarding schools that allow students to completely dive into their academic lives.
Aside from focusing on students’ academic performance, these schools also develop and instill leadership and self-discipline qualities in students. They are also equipped with job skills and prepared for college so that they can follow the path they want and be successful at it.
Graduating from a military high school leaves a student with a set of expendable skills that they can utilize in real life and most importantly students are developed to become respectable, law-abiding citizens. Military high school graduates are easily accepted in colleges and this is because they easily tick off the boxes of their preferred college.
Graduates of military high schools have outstanding academic performance, they are involved in the community and voluntary work, they do extracurricular activities, are well-groomed for college, and are self-disciplined. With these qualities, it is really hard for colleges not to accept them. In fact, the acceptance rate of these students is usually around 90-100%.
So, if you haven’t considered sending your child to a military academy, you may want to start doing so now. This post on military boarding schools in Maryland should be of great help in making your decision and facilitating your child’s admission.
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Admission Requirements Into Military Boarding Schools in Maryland
As I mentioned earlier, there are many excellent military boarding schools in Maryland with different admission requirements. Why these requirements to get admitted may vary, there are also general ones which have been provided below.
- Applicants must be within the required age range that the military academy or program accepts.
- Must be a resident of Maryland and a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident
- Applicant should be free of felony charges and no pending court proceedings
- Physical and mental capability to participate in the program
- Should be free from the use of illegal drugs or other substances
- Complete then submit all supporting documents such as application form, transcripts from other schools attended, recommendation and reference letters, etc. as required by your preferred school.
- Pay the application fee, if required
How Much Does Military School Cost in Maryland?
Typically, public chartered military schools cost zero fees to attend while the private ones can be costly to attend. This also applies to the military academies in Maryland. At the college level, that is when you are in college and enroll in an ROTC program, you can study for free (scholarship) or get reduced tuition. But in this case, you will become enlisted into the military immediately after your graduation.
Must I Become A Soldier If I Attend A Military Boarding School in Maryland?
When you graduate from a military boarding school in Maryland, which is typically high school, you can go on to pursue any career interest you are interested including applying for college. You mustn’t become a soldier because you graduated from a military boarding school.
What Is The Age Requirement For Military School In Maryland?
The military boarding schools in Maryland accept students from grades K-12 but only students in grades 8 or 9 through 12 – depending on the school – get to be boarders while the others have to be day students.
For the military programs provided in college like the ROTC then the applicant must be at least 17 years old to apply.
Military Boarding Schools in Maryland
The military boarding schools in Maryland are:
- Loyola University AROTC
- Bowie State University AROTC
- The United States Naval Academy
- John’s College High School
- Morgan State University AROTC
1. Loyola University AROTC
Loyola University is a private Jesuit college located in Baltimore, Maryland, and offers a wide range of academic degree programs in various disciplines. The institution houses a comprehensive Army Reserve Training Office Corps (AROTC) unit known as the Greyhound Battalion which prepares college graduates turned cadets for their military leadership careers.
To join the AROTC at Loyola University you will have to apply for admission at the school into one of their academic degree programs, either to pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree. When you have been offered admission you then make another application for your interest to join the AROTC unit. You have to make two different applications, one for admission into the university and the other to join the corps.
You also have to meet both requirements in order to get accepted. As a cadet, you must meet physical fitness goals, participate in leadership courses and various field and training exercises. When you graduate from your academic program you will be commissioned into the Army as Second Lieutenant and use your profession to serve the nation.
2. Bowie State University AROTC
Bowie State University is among the oldest universities in the US dating as far back as 1865 which is also its founding date. It is a historically black university, public, and located in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Now, just like Loyola University, Bowie State University also provides an Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (AROTC) program.
The unit here is the Bulldog Battalion and also serves, not only students of BSU but also, students from the University of Maryland, Prince George’s Community College, and Anne Arundel Community College. The AROTC program teaches students management and leadership skills to help them achieve success in any career path that they may follow.
The AROTC also provides other training opportunities including rappelling, land navigation, marksmanship, swimming, color guard, and nursing. Also, those who meet certain criteria can get scholarships that can cover two to four years of their schooling. The scholarship will pay for tuition and fees, room and board, books, and a monthly stipend of $300 to $500 per month.
3. The United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, and established in 1845. The academy is the second oldest of the five U.S service academies and was established to educate officers for commissioning primarily into the U.S Navy and Marine Corps.
When you attend this academy you are signing up to either join the U.S Navy or the U.S Marine Corps. Students at the Naval academy who are referred to as Midshipman go through four years of training. This training focuses on moral education, academic and professional education, and physical training.
The academy has academic departments that are divided into three: Engineering and Weapons or Division I, Mathematics and Science or Division II, and Humanities and Social Sciences or Division III. Respect, responsibility, and integrity are instilled in graduates coupled with rigorous year-round physical training, and a demanding academic curriculum to produce capable leaders in the U.S Navy.
4. St. John’s College High School
This is a catholic high school established in 1851 and houses the oldest Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps in the United States. The school is co-ed, independent, and a college preparatory in the Lasallian tradition.
The JROTC program instills leadership, cadet culture, character, and health and wellness in boys and girls who decide to join the program. Joining the program does not make students become military officers and can do whatever they wish after high school. However, the program gives them a distinct advantage when applying to service academies and also for college scholarships.
5. Morgan State University AROTC
Morgan State University or MSU is a public research university in Baltimore, Maryland established in 1867. It offers a wide range of academic programs in various disciplines leading to bachelor, master’s, and doctorate degrees. MSU houses an Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (AROTC) unit known as the Bear Battalion.
The program, just like typical ROTC programs offered in colleges, allows students to pursue academic degree programs of their choosing while also training to become U.S Army officers. In choosing an academic program, you have to choose something that can be utilized in the military like a profession in the health care or engineering section.
You will need to apply for a program at the university, get accepted, and then make a separate application for the AROTC program. When you get accepted into the program, it becomes part of your curriculum which will shape you to become a leader and make your college experience even richer. At the end of both programs, you become a commissioned Army Officer of the United States.
As you may have noticed, there aren’t many military boarding schools in Maryland. They are mostly ROTC programs offered by colleges and universities which are for high school graduates who want to go to higher institutions and still pursue a career in the military service.
Follow the appropriate links to learn more about the institution of your choice and good luck in your applications.