Teen Boot Camps - Traditional Military Boot Camps VS. Commercialized Teen Boot Camps

Traditional military boot camps are vastly different from what we refer to as "commercialized" teen boot camps, the type of boot camps that profess to change struggling teenagers. When cadets elect to join the military, boot camp is an expected condition to fulfill before the trainee is permitted to go on to other courses or be stationed at an actual military installation. When the trainees arrive at boot camp, although they have been told stories that are simply not true, most of them accept the fact that there will be a six-week course that will require a great deal of discipline and an alteration of attitudes. Why? Because the military cannot function with people who refuse to take orders. This would endanger the life of the solider and those he or she serve with.

In addition, those desiring to pursue their military careers and serve their country tend to be much more mature, more motivated, and possess a better mindset for boot camp than those teens held at a teen boot camps against their will.

With today's commercialized teen boot camps, the expectations are quite different. These type of teen boot camps face many challenges. For example, teen boot camps are usually short-term programs.

Therefore, the teen realizes that he or she is bound to get released back into society in the near future and will often just do what it takes to get by. As result, there are few cases were long-term solutions are achieved at the short term teen boot camps.