TO PROTECT AND DEFEND

Instead of dorm rooms, there are barracks. Instead of parties, there are strenuous physical training sessions. Instead of an escape from parents' rules, there is increased discipline and structure. While most teens head off to college at 18, some choose a different route: the military.

Even during wartime, teens continue to enlist in the armed forces.

John Callahan recently enlisted in the Navy Reserve. After graduating from Arbor View High School in 2009, he went to a Military Entrance Processing Station to begin the procedures of joining over the summer. He is now attending the University of Nevada, Reno until boot camp begins Dec. 16 in Chicago.

Callahan decided to join the Navy to help pay for his college education and jump-start his military career. "I figure it can be a good base experience as a war photojournalist," he says. "When I finish my 30 years in the Navy, I plan to join AP (The Associated Press)."

Maj. Jonathan T. Belmont, a regional commander of admissions for the United States Military Academy at West Point, attributes sustained interest in the military to multiple factors. He says most enlist because of a desire to serve their country, though there are some who join to take advantage of the benefits of a steady job and free education.

Increased exposure to the armed forces also may affect the number of teens who enter the field. "Since 9/11, the military has been much more visible," Belmont says. "Everyone is constantly talking about the war, and this may be a contributing factor to people enlisting."

However, one of the biggest roadblocks for high school students who hope to attend a military academy is lack of time, he says. As a senior applying to colleges, a teen would need to quickly complete all requirements to be eligible for acceptance, such as a physical fitness test, medical exam and a completed application.

Another hindrance is the impression that military students do not have any fun. Belmont combats this misconception with the phrase "work hard, play hard." He says that wild parties aren't commonplace on West Point's campus, but cadets still can let loose in a more responsible way.

West Point recently was named America's Top College by Forbes. As one of the nation's military academies, it offers the opportunity for students, ages 18 to 23, to earn a college degree while training to be an officer in the U.S. Army. Upon graduation, West Point requires a mandatory five years of Army service, starting at the rank of second lieutenant.

Though some teens may aspire to be a part of the armed forces, their parents are not always in agreement. Callahan says that his parents always have been supportive, but Belmont acknowledges that about half of the parents he meets with aren't sure what to believe.

Belmont helps potential students at West Point with the process of deciding whether to attend. "This profession is not for everyone," Belmont says. "I'm happy if someone decides this is right for him. But I'm also happy if someone realizes that it isn't before they waste their time."

Serving in the Reserves has proven to be flexible for Callahan. He will be able to continue attending college while serving only two days per month and two weeks per year for the Navy.

For Callahan, the benefits of joining the military outweigh the risks. He hasn't regretted his decision, "even for a moment," he says. "I'm ready for what comes at me."