A better alternative to these boot camp businesses would be to reestablish the military draft. Every able american should be made to go in the military at 18 with no exceptions or deferments. The military services instills character, discipline, and self worth that public and private sectors cannot give. Parents used to be able to give their children some guidance and meaning to life but laws have taken that responsibility away from parenting. Many a troubled teen was given a reality check in the military and they turned out to be the best americans we ever had. The military gives a sense of being an american, and what our forefathers fought and died for to create this country. Every american should be made to serve, and not for financial or educaitonal gain, but to be americans. These rouge boot camps are not effective to help troubled teens, they can do more harm than good and give them no purpose. Troubled teens need more than emotional criticisim and debassing. They need a purpose and not to be treated like a dog in a kennel. The military can give them purpose and meaning and a reason for their being alive and americans.

Spare the Rod and Spoil the child. It also states in the Bible to "discipline your child while he is in his youth and to not give in to his crying". I know that some parents take it too far. Too many 2nd marriages fail because the mom can't and won't let the step-dad be the father of the home. Most moms’ remarry because they want to replace the real father with the new guy but then they won't let either father be a disciplinary to their children. When I served in the Marines the drill instructors would say, "The mother's of America have spoiled their kids again". Come on people, don't be afraid to show your kid who’s the adult and who's the child. Teach your boy's to become men and your girls to become women. Teach them to take the world by the horns. My Jr. high daughter begs me to take her out of an abusive math teachers class but I won't do it because I'm smart enough to know that my daughter needs to learn to deal with difficult people in her future instead of running to daddy for help.

Military for everyone? what a joke. Have you seen the rabble of kids in the military? I have. I used to manage apartments where many lived in So. Cal. Just because they are in the military doesn't make them perfect individuals. Better parenting is what this world needs. Mom's who stay home and supervise their children and teach them proper behavior and discipline them when necessary. Dads who spend time with them rather than putting their fat behinds on the couch watching sports - which in my mind has little redeeming value. Good Grief. People can't see the forest for the trees!

Wow, Bob. So you really think that forcible servitude for the state is somehow character-building and patriotic? I don't know where you made the connection between required service to the government and the Founding Fathers. Do you have any quotes to back up that assertion? As I understand it, the Founding Fathers (with a very few exceptions) were generally against mandatory military service and standing professional armies. I have plenty of quotations for that if you need them.

O Great and Wise Federal Government, Save Us Wobegone Parents from Ourselves, for We Know Not What We Do. Keep Our Children Safe From Our Incapable Choices, for Congress is Wise and We are Foolish.

It is about time that the government intervenes in these boot-camp organizations. I've been following these groups for years, and know that kids have suffered from and sometimes have died from their "approaches". Cases of dehydration, starvation and physical abuse are common. There are no professional counselors or psychotherapists, just young kids recruited in McDonald's parking lots who follow orders from crazy leaders.

I can't believe most of these comments.Bob are you for real? The military won't solve the kids problems, that is what these boot camps are. 'spare the rod'are you kidding? Expose your child to an abusive teacher knowingly so she can'deal' with these type of people? Come on people teach your children how to be productive citizens don't just leave them to 'deal' with it or push them off on the government! Children need 2 parents wether they work full time or not, they need a supportive enviroment with adults they can turn to and confide in.

While I agree that some Wilderness Programs are pushing the limits, I have worked in residential treatment centers as a step-down program from wilderness. These residents come in with a whole new snese of self, and are ready for treatment unlike residents who do not come from a wildernes program. Those residents often continue to be oppositional defiant and accomplish little in treatment. There are a few good wilderness programs out there and I really feel the residents do benefit from them. There are a lot of factors regarding the decisions to court order youth to treatment the general public does not get to know. On a side note, as a teacher in a lock-down facility, I feel safer teaching my students than I would in todays mainstream schools.

IT IS ABOUT TIME I AGREE THIS HAS BEEN A BIG PROBLEM FOR QUIT SOME TIME NOW.WEED THEM OUT.BOOT CAMPS SHOULD NEVER HAVE DEATH!EVER!BOB I THINK YOUR IDEA IS INSANE.IF THE GOVERMENT LETS PARENTS DO THERE JOB AS LONG AS WE DONT ABUSE OUR KIDS AND MOST OF US DONT STAY OUT OF OUR BUSSNESS WITH OUR KIDS DISAPLINE.WHEN I GREW UP I WAS ABUSED WERE WAS THE GOVERNMENT THEN THEY CARED LESS RIGHT.HOW MANY OF US ARE DISABLED BECAUSE OF OUR PARENTS?BOOT CAMPS WERE SUPPOSED TO TEACH RESPONSIBILITY,RESPECT FOR OTHERS AND THERE PARENTS,TO DO WELL IN LIFE AND HOW TO BE PRODUCTIVE AND GROW UP!SO IF EVERYONE WOULD STOP TELLING PARENTS WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN NOT DO AS LONG AS THERES NO ABUSE LEAVE IT ALONE AND MIND THERE BUSSINESS.THEY DONT HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THAT.2 WORRY ABOUT THE REAL ISSUES WE HAVE IN THIS WORLD!WHAT THEY DONT HAVE ENOUGH TO DO?A SINGLE PARENT CAN DO JUST AS WELL AS 2 IF THEY KNOW HOW AND IF THEY DONT THEN GO TO PARENTING CLASSES BUT DONT PUT THIS ON ALL OF US.THE GOVER HAS NO RIGHT TO TELL THEM WHAT TO DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

Hey bob g."you hit the nail on the head"your comment was at the heart of the matter!!!!

If anyone can get through the warrior's post above, with the all-caps yelling, perhaps a summary of what he's trying to say could be helpful if there's anything good in it...

What took them so long? Any parent who would send their child there doesnt know what parenting is. People complain that raising 1 is hard enough and couldn't handle more.. even 2 or 3 is too much.

100 years ago there were more families with 5-12 children than you hardly ever see today and they could take it. Mothers were more at home and I'll give that, but people complain there is no handbook when there is a WEALTH of information in the world all it really takes is the desire to be a good parent. Everyone makes mistakes but some are inexcusable and these boot camps are.

Bob G,

Most of the children going to these boot camps are under the age of 18 -- are you really suggesting we start drafting 13-year-olds into the army?

All of you miss the point here. Parents that send their children to these places do it because they have tried everything else. You can watch your teen go down a narrow path of destruction and as a parent you have little choice of what you can do to help them. I would rather take a chance on abuse then take a chance that my teen will be dead because I didn't try to help him. Most parents can not help their children and grasping at any hope is better then nothing.

Thank you Jerry M! My husband and I are looking into any options we can think of for our son. We are losing him and are scared for him as well as the rest of our family. We love our son very much and feel that nothing we have tried is working. Does anyone know anything first hand about either Ascent or Alldredge Wilderness Programs.