Camden Military Academy - Review #10

For one, we are a military boarding school. That means not only are we living at school 24/7, we are embroiled in a lifestyle of JROTC during our time at Camden Military. We also only go by a strictly college prepatory class schedule. our goal is to prepare our students for college by giving them classes they can handle and if they want, we also offer Dual Credit through USC Lancaster, giving students a chance to earn both college credit and high school credit.

The best thing that has happened to me while in boarding school was the day i had gotten accepted to the one school I was trying to go to after Camden. The Citadel. But I have changed a lot since my time as a freshman here at Camden Military. I have definitely grown much more mature in my time here. I have learned to think for both myself and others. I have learned to manage my time in a wise fashion. I have gained many accolades, many opportunities to serve and better my community. All through Camden Military.

I would not have done anything differently. Everything that I had done before this point, whether it be good or bad has shaped me to become the man i have become today. The best advice i can give anyone trying to come to a boarding school is that wherever you go, whether it be military school or a regular boarding school. It's entirely what you make of it. You can make it good, have a good time and do the right thing, or you could fail, get in trouble, be miserable and do the wrong thing. It is entirely up to you.

I like the Brotherhood that this place provides, each of us are connected through the same experiences that the other goes through and that makes a very strong bond. One that cannot be shaken off that easily. For example, my old roommate and I have been friends ever since we met each other four years ago. We have been through good times and bad times together and we will always have each others backs no matter what.

For those of you that are incoming too Camden Military Academy, be prepared for the culture shock that awaits you. And I mean that in the best of ways, when you get here you won't have mommy and daddy to take care of you. You are your own man here and we expect that you do your stuff right. Follow orders and do what they tell you to do and how to do it.

I enjoyed the size of the classes, there's usually only about 10 max in one class. This promotes the teachers to actually pay attention to their kids in each class. To focus on their strengths and weaknesses, not just ignore them all together. The teachers have a good relationship with the cadets because the cadets aren't afraid of coming up to them with things they don't understand, and the two of them work it out together.The class diversity is also very good seeing as we have classes that are grade specific, and classes that have students from all different grades. The cadets are also allowed to switch out of a class and go to another subject that's still a part of the same core area such as switching out of U.S. history and going to world History. Granted that needs to be done more in the beginning of the year but they provide you with enough time to choose which classes you would like to take.

The Athletics program at our school is fantastic. We offer over 12 different sports all tailored for different cadets who prefer different things. What i like most about it is the fact that we have a no cut policy but do not require our students to join a sport or a club. Even though it may benefit them in the long run they themselves need to be the one's who decide that.

Our Art and theater programs are not one of the main focuses of this school. We do not create actors. Simply put, we provide them with the basis of art appreciation and theater arts but we do not push it as much as other schools may. To us, taking the regular college preparatory classes are priority. We do offer a music appreciation and band class that are instructed by a wonderful Band teacher and the different departments often come together to make a number of plays each year for the corps of cadets.

We have many Extra curricular activities here at Camden Military. We have Key Club, Civil Air Patrol, Boy scouts, Cadet Ambassadors, Junior Leadership, Fife and Drum corps, Debate team,Color Guard, Cannon Detail, and the Blackjack Drill team.

Dorm Life at Camden is a very interesting one, We live in a barracks with about 60 other guys day in and day out, we wake up at 6 A.M. clean our rooms and then clean the barracks. The barracks is what you make of it. You've got one roommate and the two of you have your own desk, you have your own bed, and the two of you have to make sure that your stuff is neat, organized and clean enough that the two of you can pass the daily inspection done by the TAC officer. I like that it keeps you on your toes, the fact that you know you're going to get in trouble if your room is trash is something that will motivate anyone to discipline themselves enough to get the job done, instilling in them the will to do the right thing.

The dining hall at Camden Military is much better than public school lunches from the reports my friends have given me over the years. We eat as a Battalion, having a formation before we eat and after we eat. When we actually get into the dining hall we sit down at tables that sit either eight guys or sixteen. We say a prayer and then sit down and eat, the food is served family style so what that means is there are multiple bowls placed on each table, each containing food and the cadets grab out their portion. Each meal is at the same time every day unless we have a sleep in, in which they will still provide a meal for those who still wish to eat.

The town around Camden Military is aware of our presence but seeing as we have kids from all over the country and the world. We do not have many kids who go out based on many different factors. However we do provide many different opportunities for cadets who would wish to go out, they just have to get it approved by the Headmaster, the commandant, and their individual TAC officers to clear it and make sure that they will make the right decisions.

My social life is different. Me personally i am very much so an introvert. I don't mind people but i prefer being with myself rather than being with people. That being said i always have about five or six friends who I am extremely close with. However at Camden Military we are all closely connected, even the people that you're not gonna like, you will know them on a very close level because you all are going through the same thing together.