A service academy is an educational institution that specifically prepares students for careers in the military. There are several other terms that are commonly used as synonyms for service academy. Some of the most common ones include military college, military academy, and military institution. Other related terms include officer training school, reserve officer training corps (ROTC), and military preparatory school. Regardless of the specific term used, these institutions all share the common goal of preparing students for successful military careers through rigorous academic and physical training programs. Many of these schools also have a strong emphasis on leadership development and character-building, in addition to providing a strong academic foundation.