Where did the concept of boot camps originate?

The concept of boot camps originated in Georgia during the late 1980s as an alternative approach to traditional juvenile corrections. These programs were designed to instill discipline and promote personal responsibility among young offenders, using a military-style regimen that emphasizes physical training, hard work, and rehabilitation. The success and popularity of the Georgia model then inspired similar programs across the United States, though the original idea was firmly rooted in the practices initiated there.

While other states, including California and Pennsylvania, have developed their own versions of such programs, the distinctive origins tied to Georgia are crucial in understanding the modern boot camp initiatives within the corrections system.