My DD is in band and Cadet Corps, and loves it. Initially, she had no interest in anything military or going to a service academy so did not join freshman year thinking that's what Cadet Corps is. But several of her female friends (of different grade levels) had been in it and made such good impression on my DD that she decided to join sophomore year. She has loved everything about it - the CCLP teachers, the comradery among the Cadets, the life skills they learn (how to organize their schedule to be productive, how to create powerpoint documents, how to give speeches, etc.), leadership lessons, land navigation, CPR, and many other things. They went to an escape room as a field trip to learn how to work together as a team. They played paintball, flag football, PE, etc. They have high level military speakers come to talk to them. They had the helicopter that transports the president around town land on campus, ad the Cadets were able to check it out and ask the pilots questions. Overall, it's such a special and amazing program. My DD highly recommends it.

The SJC Band and Cadet programs are both amazing - I’d recommend trying to do both if you can.

Anonymous wrote:My DS is interested in Cadets for next school year as a freshman. For current parents, is it possible for students to participate in both Cadets and band all four years? Or will kids need to make a choice in later years between the two for their electives? Just trying to understand if students can realistically do both programs plus academic course load before he gets his heart set on Cadets.

Students can absolutely do both band and Cadets all four years but it requires a little adjustment of their schedule. Your DC’s academic advisor can help plan it all out.

Freshman year, the required social studies class will be taken in the summer (one month from late June - late July). All freshman band members are required to do Regimental band whether in Cadets or not. They meet during homeroom a couple times a week and practice for events like the GZ march on in the fall and their music trip in the spring. This year they play at Disney World!

For the other years, a class (usually social studies) gets bumped to the summer, or if your DC is doing well, they can take a fuller schedule and just not have study hall. They would still have homeroom everyday. Once certain requirements are fulfilled, like language or social studies, there is more flexibility in their schedule for electives. If your DC is in Scholars, it is still doable to be in both.

My DC loves band and loves Cadets and has continued to do both while still getting As in honor classes. The school allows for flexibility to make it work, but you have to be willing to make some adjustments on your end.

My DS is interested in Cadets for next school year as a freshman. For current parents, is it possible for students to participate in both Cadets and band all four years? Or will kids need to make a choice in later years between the two for their electives? Just trying to understand if students can realistically do both programs plus academic course load before he gets his heart set on Cadets.

I will chime in here to say that Benilde students do participate in Cadet Corps. Mine does not, but some of his buddies do it. That's their elective freshman year, instead of art/music/etc.

Thanks all!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is in Cadet Corps and lives it. She is not very sporty and is not considering a military academy or ROTC at present. It has helped her in many ways. Strong on leadership, and developing positive habits.

I do think it is difficult for students in Scholars to be in Cadet Corps, I think it is b/c they are in different homerooms.

Wishing your daughter a great freshman years at SJC!

Difficult for Scholars in what way? At the Scholars event several weeks ago, they spoke about Cadets as a common and doable program for Scholars.

See PP. they meant Benilde, not Scholars.

Adding that students can take 2 electives at SJC if your daughter wants to try Cadets and something else the first year to see what she likes. The required freshman social studies class is then bumped to the summer and only lasts a month.

Anonymous wrote:DD is in Cadet Corps and lives it. She is not very sporty and is not considering a military academy or ROTC at present. It has helped her in many ways. Strong on leadership, and developing positive habits.

I do think it is difficult for students in Scholars to be in Cadet Corps, I think it is b/c they are in different homerooms.

Wishing your daughter a great freshman years at SJC!

Difficult for Scholars in what way? At the Scholars event several weeks ago, they spoke about Cadets as a common and doable program for Scholars.

19:09 here and DC said the conflict was for students in Benhidle and Cadet Corps, sorry for the mistake!

My DC is in Scholars and Cadets and they have a mix of Scholars/non-Scholars and Cadets/non-Cadets in their homeroom. The mix hasn’t been an issue and has been a nice way to make different friends.

DD is in Cadet Corps and lives it. She is not very sporty and is not considering a military academy or ROTC at present. It has helped her in many ways. Strong on leadership, and developing positive habits.

I do think it is difficult for students in Scholars to be in Cadet Corps, I think it is b/c they are in different homerooms.

Wishing your daughter a great freshman years at SJC!

Students from all walks of life of life join and thrive in Cadets, including girls.

There are a lot of girls in Cadets. It is not super military oriented. Focus is on personal responsibility and leadership early on. Foreign policy stuff comes later. Only a handful of kids go on to serve in the military and the teachers (although having served in the military themselves) don’t push that agenda. A lot of girls are in leadership positions and the freshman year Cadet Corps teacher is a woman who served in the Navy and is awesome!

I do not have a daughter in Cadets, so I can’t answer from that perspective, but I do have a son who is not the most athletic (sorry kid!), and Cadets has been an amazing fit for him. I was hesitant to have him join, worried about an overly machismo atmosphere, but our experience has been the opposite and the program has been nothing but supportive and encouraging. The Cadets just had their annual Regimental Ball this past weekend, and the excitement was contagious!

I hope a girl parent can pop in with their perspective, but for my son and his close friends (both girls and boys) being a Cadet is something they are proud of.

My DD is considering course selection for freshman year. For those who have daughters in cadet corps, how do they like it? My daughter isn’t into the military, but people keep saying it is good for leadership. She is also doing the scholars program.

She has no ambitions to pursue ROTC down the road. Thoughts? If this is super military oriented, she will probably pass, but hoping to get more info. Thanks!