How helpful are Military Science classes in college?

I'm quite interested in the military science courses offered in my college. Just wondering about their practical benefits- do they really prepare you for a military career or are they more academic in nature?

Military Science courses in college can serve a dual purpose. On the one hand, they're structured to give students a good understanding of the military's structure, operations, and history, which can lead to a more nuanced appreciation of armed forces and global strategy. In this sense, they can indeed be seen as academic.

However, they're also designed to prepare students for direct entry into the military, particularly via officer entry pathways such as ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps) programs. These courses often include elements of leadership development, physical training, and practical skills that would be directly applicable to a career in the military. For example, you might learn navigation, military law, and organizational leadership, among other things.

So, if you're considering a career in the military, these classes could be very beneficial as they'll likely introduce you to the principles of leadership, tactics, law of war, management that several military officers require. But if you're simply interested in the subject from an intellectual or historical perspective, they can provide that as well.

Just remember, each college might structure their courses differently, so it could be helpful to check out the course syllabus or speak with someone from the department to get a sense of what kinda focus (practical training vs academic theory) the program has.