The Civilian Benefits of a Military Education

By State Representative Bryan Lentz

(D-Delaware County)

In recent years, the focus on educating our young people has turned away from a so-called “classic liberal arts” education towards a “knowledge you can use” education.

It is true that in order to compete in the global economy our high school and college graduates need to be proficient in science and math and other vocational skills. It is equally important however, that our nation produce not only great scientists, but also great leaders.

Not all schools can rise to this challenge. There are a select number of institutions that focus on creating great leaders – chief among them are military schools.

There are only a few military schools in the country, but year after year they churn out great leaders – people like General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Admiral Gary Roughead (current Chief of Naval Operations), former U.S. Senator Warren Rudman and William Aichele, Chairman of Univest, to name a few. We are privileged to be the home of one of the preeminent military schools, Valley Forge Military Academy and Junior College.

Military schools prepare students to be leaders, in the military, in business or in their community and politics. They provide a demanding academic program similar to many private schools, but military schools go a step further in educating their cadets by teaching the qualities and habits that great leaders possess.

Character – Students who receive a military education develop discipline and a sense of duty. They learn the value of hard work and the discipline to meet critical deadlines, how to follow procedures, and how to develop programs without losing focus on the goal. They are taught that they have an obligation to serve or give something in return, whether it’s to their classmates, their school, their community and their country.

Integrity – The military mindset instills in cadets a sense of what is right and what is wrong. They are taught to tell the truth and to embrace fairness in everything they do. They are taught never to cheat and never to steal. To do the right thing when no one is watching.

Perseverance – The military training cadets receive teaches them to endure hardship, whether it’s marching at dawn or seeing a project through to the end, even in the face of difficult challenges.

Egalitarianism – Students in non-military schools informally rank themselves and their peers. Not always based on grades, but by the material items they own. The sneakers they wear, which iPod they own and what neighborhood they are from, each plays a role in creating a social hierarchy. At military schools, the pecking-order is not based on race, religion or socio-economic status. Cadets respect and honor each other, not for the logo on their shirt, but the rank they’ve earned.

In the Pennsylvania House of Representatives we recently approved a resolution designating Valley Forge Military College as the official military college of the Commonwealth.

“The Forge” deserves this designation for its proven record of producing great leaders over the past 80 years – more than 130 cadets have become Admirals and Generals and some of the most successful leaders in business are graduates of Valley Forge – but more importantly, for the great military education it continues to provide to the young men and women who will be the leaders of tomorrow.

Bryan Lentz is a State Representative from Delaware County.