Your Guide to Arriving Ready

You've been accepted. The countdown has begun. Now what?

This guide is for you—the incoming cadet—not your parents. It covers the three things that will determine how well you transition: your physical readiness, your social approach, and your understanding of why military school does things the way it does.

Read it before you arrive. Come back to it when things get hard. The students who prepare do better. Period.

Part 1: Getting Physically Ready

Why Fitness Matters Before You Arrive

Military schools will develop your fitness over time. But arriving in reasonable physical condition makes everything easier:

• Reduced injury risk. Jumping into intensive PT when you're out of shape leads to injuries.
• Faster adaptation. Physical demands feel manageable instead of overwhelming.
• Better first impressions. Cadre and peers notice who's prepared.
• Mental confidence. Knowing you can handle the physical part reduces overall anxiety.

Typical Physical Expectations

Most military schools assess fitness through:

• Running (1-mile or 1.5-mile timed runs)
• Push-ups (max in 1-2 minutes)
• Sit-ups or crunches (max in 1-2 minutes)
• Pull-ups or flexed-arm hang

Standards vary by age and gender. Contact your school for specific benchmarks.

Running Preparation

Running is often the most challenging area for new cadets. If you can only prepare one thing, prepare this.

8-Week Running Program:

Tips:

• Don't skip rest days—recovery prevents injury
• Run outside, not just on treadmills
• Practice running in the morning if your school has early PT

Upper Body Strength

Push-ups and pull-ups require consistent training.

Push-Up Progression:

• Start with modified (knee) push-ups if needed
• Practice daily, adding 1-2 reps each session
• Work toward 20+ standard push-ups by enrollment
• Focus on proper form: straight back, full extension

Pull-Up Progression:

• Begin with dead hangs (just holding the bar)
• Practice negatives (jump up, lower slowly)
• Use resistance bands for assisted pull-ups
• Aim for 5+ pull-ups by enrollment

Core Strength

A strong core prevents injury and improves everything:

• Planks: Work toward holding 2 minutes
• Sit-ups: Practice proper form to avoid neck strain
• Flutter kicks and leg raises: Build endurance

Mental Preparation

Physical training is also mental training.

Every time you push through when you want to quit, you're building the mental muscle you'll need at military school. Every morning you wake up early to run when you'd rather sleep, you're practicing the discipline you'll use every day.

The physical preparation isn't just about your body. It's about proving to yourself that you can do hard things.

Part 2: The Philosophy of Small Things

Why You'll Spend Time on "Pointless" Tasks

You're about to spend a lot of time on things that seem pointless. Shining shoes. Making beds with hospital corners. Folding shirts into perfect rectangles. Standing at attention while someone inspects your belt buckle.

And you're going to wonder: Why does any of this matter?

Here's the answer, and it's worth understanding before you arrive.

How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything

This is the core principle behind every seemingly pointless task at military school.

When you shine your shoes with care, you're practicing attention to detail. When you make your bed perfectly, you're practicing doing things right the first time. When you fold your uniform precisely, you're practicing self-discipline.

These habits transfer. The cadet who can't be bothered to shine their shoes properly probably can't be bothered to double-check their homework. The one who makes their bed with precision will probably proofread their college essay.

Small things reveal character. That's why they matter.

Pride in Standards

There's something that happens when you commit to doing something well—even something small. You start to take pride in it.

That pride becomes part of your identity. You become someone who does things right. Someone who meets standards. Someone who doesn't cut corners.

This identity shift is more valuable than any specific skill you'll learn.

The Team Dimension

When everyone shines their shoes, the unit looks sharp. When one person doesn't, it shows.

Military schools are teaching you that your individual effort affects the whole. Your sloppy shoes aren't just your problem—they're your squad's problem. Your company's problem.

This is preparation for life. Your performance always affects others.

The Practical Guide to Shoe Shining

Since you're going to be doing this a lot, you might as well do it well.

What You'll Need:

• Black polish (Kiwi is the standard)
• Shine brush
• Soft cloth (old t-shirt works)
• Small container of water

The Basic Shine:

1. Remove laces—easier access and keeps them clean
2. Wipe off dirt—start with a clean surface
3. Apply polish—small amount on cloth, circular motions
4. Let it set—few minutes for polish to penetrate
5. Buff—brisk strokes with the brush
6. Repeat—two or three layers makes a real difference

The Mirror Shine (For Inspections):

1. Start with a basic shine—foundation matters
2. Use water—dip cloth in water, wring almost dry
3. Apply thin polish layers—tiny amounts, circular motions
4. Build layers—ten, twenty, even more thin layers
5. Patience—a true mirror shine takes time
6. Final buff—soft cloth, gentle strokes

Pro Tips:

• Break in new shoes with saddle soap before polishing
• Store shoes with shoe trees to maintain shape
• Keep a shine kit in your locker, ready to go
• Practice at home before you arrive
• Watch YouTube tutorials for technique

The Other "Pointless" Tasks

Making Your Bed

The purpose: Starting your day with an accomplishment. Discipline before you're even fully awake.

The skill: Every day, first thing, you complete a task correctly. This builds the habit of execution.

The transfer: You'll carry this into college, your career, your life.

Uniform Inspections

The purpose: Teaching you that appearance matters. Details matter. Standards matter.

The skill: Presenting yourself well. Attention to the small things others notice.

The transfer: Job interviews. Professional settings. First impressions.

Room Organization

The purpose: Order in your environment creates order in your mind.

The skill: Maintaining systems. Keeping track of belongings. Living with others.

The transfer: Roommates in college. Shared spaces everywhere.

Drill and Ceremonies

The purpose: Moving as one unit. Trusting the person next to you. Collective precision.

The skill: Coordination. Following instructions exactly. Being part of something larger.

The transfer: Teamwork. Group projects. Any organization.

The Mindset Shift

From Resentment to Purpose: At first, you'll resent these tasks. "This is stupid. Why does this matter?" The shift happens when you start asking a different question: "How can I do this excellently?"

From Compliance to Ownership: At first, you do it because they make you. Eventually, you do it because you choose to. Because you take pride in it. Because it's who you are.

From Individual to Team: At first, you're shining your shoes. Eventually, you're representing your squad, your company, your school.

Part 3: Finding Your Tribe

You Need People

Military school is hard. The schedule is demanding. The standards are high. The homesickness is real.

You will not make it alone.

The cadets who thrive aren't the toughest or the smartest. They're the ones who find their people. A group who has their back. A tribe.

Your priority, right after surviving the first week: Find your crew.

The Subcultures of Military School

Every military school has its own ecosystem, but these groups show up almost everywhere:

The Drill Team

Who they are: The cadets who take military precision seriously. They compete in drill competitions, spending hours perfecting movements.

The vibe: Intense, disciplined, tight-knit. They have their own language of commands and movements.

Why join: If you want the deepest brotherhood on campus, this is often it. Shared suffering creates bonds. The drill team practices more than almost anyone—and that creates family.

The Band

Who they are: Musicians who play at parades, ceremonies, and events.

The vibe: Creative outlet within military structure. Less intense than drill team, still very bonded.

Why join: You get the best trips. Performances at football games, parades, community events. Music provides a mental break from the military grind.

The Athletes

Who they are: Varsity sport participants.

The vibe: Competitive, physical, team-oriented. Practice schedules create built-in friend groups.

Why join: If you're athletic, this is natural. Sports provide physical outlet, team identity, and school status.

The Academic Stars

Who they are: Cadets who go hard on academics. Debate team, Model UN, robotics.

The vibe: Intellectually competitive. Often more relaxed about military aspects.

Why join: If you're headed for a top college or service academy, this is your crowd.

The Honor Guard / Color Guard

Who they are: Elite ceremonial units that present flags, perform at special events.

The vibe: High visibility, high standards. Selected from top performers.

Why join: Prestige. You represent the school at important events.

The Faith Community

Who they are: Cadets who participate in religious services, chapel, faith-based groups.

The vibe: Supportive, reflective, values-centered.

Why join: If faith is important to you, this provides spiritual grounding in a demanding environment.

How to Choose

Follow Your Existing Interests: Already play an instrument? The band is obvious. Already an athlete? Try out for teams. Have religious faith? Find the chapel community.

Try Something New: Military school is a fresh start. Nobody knows you here. This is your chance to become someone different. Always wanted to try wrestling? Now's the time.

Consider the Bonding Intensity:

• High bonding: Drill team, sports teams, Honor Guard
• Medium bonding: Band, academic teams
• Flexible bonding: Faith groups, clubs

If you want tight brotherhood, choose groups that suffer together.

Join Fast: Don't wait until you "figure out" the school. Join something in the first week or two. The cadets who wait too long end up isolated during the hardest period.

The Social Math

You'll have multiple circles:

• Your roommate: Forced proximity, may or may not click
• Your squad/platoon: Military unit, built-in group
• Your activity: Drill team, band, sport—chosen affinity
• Your class: Academic peers

The best situation is having support in multiple circles. If your roommate situation is hard, you have your team. If your squad is tough, you have band friends.

Don't put all your social eggs in one basket.

Making It Work

Show Up Consistently: The bond comes from shared time. If you join the drill team, don't skip practice. Half-in doesn't create brotherhood.

Be Useful: Help your teammates. Carry equipment. Be reliable. The person who always shows up becomes essential.

Embrace the Suffering: The hard practices, the early mornings, the grueling competitions—this is what creates bonds. Don't complain. Embrace it.

Find the Senior Who Cares: In every group, there's usually a senior cadet who actually wants to mentor new people. Find that person. Learn from them.

Give It Time: You won't feel like you belong in week one. Maybe not week four. But if you keep showing up—you'll wake up one day and realize these people are your family.

The Worst Approaches

Isolation: Staying in your room. Not joining anything. Waiting for people to come to you. Military school rewards initiative.

Cynicism: Mocking the drill team. Making fun of the band. Acting too cool for activities. The cynics end up lonely. The participants end up bonded.

Transactional thinking: "What will this do for my resume?" That's not why you join. You join for the people, the experience, the belonging.

Part 4: Your Pre-Arrival Checklist

Physical Preparation (Start 8-12 Weeks Before)

• [ ] Can run 1.5 miles without stopping
• [ ] Can do 20+ push-ups with proper form
• [ ] Can do 5+ pull-ups (or working toward it)
• [ ] Can hold a plank for 2 minutes
• [ ] Have been training outdoors in similar climate
• [ ] Consulted a doctor before beginning training

Skills Practice (Start 2-4 Weeks Before)

• [ ] Can shine shoes to a high gloss
• [ ] Can make bed with tight hospital corners
• [ ] Can fold a shirt into a perfect rectangle
• [ ] Can stand at attention for 2+ minutes
• [ ] Have practiced these skills daily

Mental Preparation

• [ ] Understand why "pointless" tasks matter
• [ ] Ready to find a group immediately
• [ ] Prepared to embrace discomfort, not fight it
• [ ] Know that the first weeks will be hard—and that's okay

Mindset Goals

Arrive with these commitments:

1. I will do small things excellently. Not because I have to, but because it builds who I'm becoming.

2. I will find my tribe fast. Join something in week one. Commit fully.

3. I will embrace the hard parts. They're not obstacles to success—they ARE the success.

4. I will not isolate. When I want to hide in my room, I'll seek out my people instead.

5. I will give it time. I won't judge the whole experience by week three. I'll push through to the other side.

The Promise

If you arrive physically prepared, you'll handle PT without breaking.

If you understand why the small things matter, you won't waste energy resenting them.

If you find your tribe, you'll have people to get through the hard days with.

This is how you thrive at military school. Not by being the toughest or the smartest—but by being prepared, purposeful, and connected.

You've got this.

Next Steps

Parents: Learn about the emotional journey of the first semester. Explore cadet daily life to understand what your student will experience.

Students: Read our letter to future cadets—real talk about what's coming, written directly to you.