I can speak to my personal experience as a Norwich grad--both as a Cadet and now 20-year alum. The basic answer is that Cadet life, whether at Norwich or any similar institution, is spartan and challenging. And that is what the design of such institutions demands. It is no-fun at the time as a Cadet; the standards are high (and, in some cases, purposefully unachievable--character is everything), the hours long, the academics a genuine challenge, and the stress is quite real. Ok, why? Because we need leaders who can be challenged and not defeated. Yes, at Norwich you will receive a world-class education, but to quote the school's now ancient mission statement (and this is my best attempt at an off-the-cuff paraphrase)--"education is measured in mental, physical, and moral proportions." That is what going to a place like Norwich will provide, a truly whole-person experience. As the president of a state college in California I can reliably offer that is something you will not get outside of a military academy.
At the same time, it takes the right type of person at 17 or 18 years old to commit to such a grueling four-year experience. I remember on a random Tuesday in February of my junior year, while I was standing in morning formation thinking to myself "it takes a pretty motivated individual to be willing to give up the trappings of a civilian college experience to get up at 5 AM, wear a uniform, go out in the cold, salute the flag, struggle through academics, and accept the challenge of leadership." I never forgot that moment. But it is those motivated people that go from individual to leader, and in so doing the sacrifice made at a place like Norwich pays dividends decades in the future. Norwich, and other institutions like it, school their Cadets in the true meaning of service. I am privileged for having had the experience.
This fall is my 20th class reunion. Its is tough to believe. And in those 20 years I have met with some professional success...but, the professional touchstone for my success has been the education, development, training, and experiences I had at Norwich. Let me share this--and none of this is meant from the perspective of bragging--rather, I am sharing these things to put some data behind my claims: when I showed-up at the University of California to begin my PhD as a brand new captain, I found the experience in a top-tier PhD program to be academically challenging, but that Norwich had prepared me well academically; after I completed my PhD, I reported to the Intelligence Officer Course...I graduated then reported to my first operational unit and was well-prepared to effectively lead my troops...Norwich was the core of that preparation; and as a brand-new college president I had tons of opportunity to choose the "easy right over the hard wrong" and never did. Norwich had refined my character and personal integrity in ways I still do not fully appreciate, and that refinement gave me the ability to do the right thing "when no one was looking." Most importantly, Norwich built me into a man--and officer--that my troops were proud to call "their own."
So, please do not read me as trying to brag...the credit should go to Norwich, the NCOs that trained me to be a better leader, and my superior officers who mentored me.
No matter what you do--do it right. You will never regret it.