JOIN THE US MEN’S ACADEMY

This page explains how entry works, what is expected, and how men and families engage with the Academy.

Read it carefully.

If the expectations outlined here feel excessive, this may not be the right path for you.

Before You Continue

The US Men’s Academy is not a service you consume. It is a standard you step into.

Men are expected to:

Take responsibility for their own development

Accept correction from senior men

Contribute time, effort, and reliability

Uphold standards even when inconvenient

Participation is voluntary but commitment isn’t casual.

Paths of Participation

The Academy serves adult men, fathers with sons, and youth participants.

All participation is structured.

All advancement is earned.

Adult Men

Adult men enter the Academy to develop discipline, competence, and leadership through mentorship and responsibility.

This path is for men who:

• Want structure and accountability

• Are willing to be evaluated by other men

• Understand that advancement is earned, not promised

Adult participants take part in:

• Local unit activities and meetings

• Skill development and physical readiness

• Service, logistics, and leadership support

Not every man advances into leadership.
All men are expected to carry weight.

Fathers with Sons

Fathers may enter the Academy with their sons.

This path exists because:

• Boys develop best under capable male guidance

• Fathers must remain actively involved

• Discipline and standards must be modeled, not outsourced

  Sons participate within a structured environment appropriate to their age and maturity, guided by:

• Their fathers

• Senior mentors

• The standards of the Academy

Fathers remain responsible for:

• Their son’s conduct

• Their son’s consistency

• Their own example

This is not childcare. It is apprenticeship.

Boys and Young Men

Boys and young men do not join independently. They participate:

• With the involvement of a father or guardian, or

• Under the explicit supervision of approved senior mentors

The focus for youth participants is:

• Discipline and respect

• Basic competence and reliability

• Learning how to operate within structure

The goal is preparation, not entitlement.

Entry and Assessment

All new members enter the Academy through the Auxiliary

(click on this link, to learn more about the Auxiliary)

The Auxiliary serves as an initial phase of participation and observation. It provides access to internal communications, materials, and activities while allowing senior members to assess readiness and alignment.

Application and assessment for advancement do not take place online.
Screening into the Green Troop occurs in person, through participation, conduct, and demonstrated reliability over time.

Advancement is earned. It is never automatic.

How Advancement Works

The Academy operates on progressive responsibility. There are:

• No guaranteed promotions

• No automatic leadership roles

• No shortcuts

Advancement follows:

• Demonstrated competence

• Consistent participation

• Reliability under expectation

• Willingness to serve others

Some men remain participants.

Some step forward into leadership.

Both roles matter.

Neither is owed.

Use of Dues

Member dues are used to support the practical costs of participation.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Campsite and facility registrations

• Permits and fees associated with outings and activities

• Shared equipment, materials, and administrative costs required to operate local units

Dues do not purchase rank, status, or advancement.
They support access, logistics, and the functioning of the Academy’s real-world activities.

Advancement within the Academy is based on conduct, readiness, and demonstrated responsibility, not payment.

Member dues do not entitle participants to personal gear, equipment, or uniforms.

Each member is responsible for arriving prepared, at the right place, at the right time, with the required gear and uniform appropriate to the activity.

The Academy understands that new members are just getting started and may not yet have everything they need. Quality gear is expensive, acquired over time, and best chosen through experience. Senior members will make reasonable efforts to help identify solutions, offer guidance, and close gaps as they arise.

However, the Academy is not obligated to provide personal equipment. Learning what to acquire, when to acquire it, and how to prepare properly is part of the process, and should not dissuade a serious man from stepping forward.

Before proceeding, ask yourself honestly:

Am I willing to be held to a standard?

Can I accept correction without resentment?

Do I follow through on commitments?

Am I prepared to contribute, not just receive?

If the answer is yes, continue.

If not, take your time. The door does not close, but it does not chase.

Next Step

Entry into the Academy begins in the Auxiliary

(Click on this link, to learn more about the Auxiliary).

Participation provides access, observation, and involvement while readiness is assessed in person over time.

Participation and Eligibility

The US Men’s Academy reserves the right to refuse or discontinue participation or membership to any individual, at any time, for any reason consistent with its mission, standards, and organizational requirements.

Participation in the Academy is voluntary and contingent upon conduct, readiness, and alignment with established expectations.