Supports for Educators of Military-Connected Students
Professional Development for Military Family Points of Contact
All educators may access free professional development within the military family point of contact training section of the Purple Star Award website.
Identifying Military-Connected Children in West Virginia Schools
A guidance document school staff may use to run a report in WVEIS 2.0 to help access military student data.
Assessing Student Knowledge and Identifying Ideal Careers
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)
The ASVAB helps students to find out how their knowledge across four domains (verbal, math, science and technical, and spatial) compares with their peers and identifies which civilian and military careers align closest to their abilities. While the exam is primarily known for its use in determining eligibility for military enlistment and specific military occupational specialties, the exam has multiple options test takers may choose from which determine how the results may be used. This includes one option not allowing data of the results to be sent to the United States Department of Defense. Although it is similar in some ways to the ACT or SAT, the ASVAB analyzes knowledge in additional areas of vocation including electronics, automobile technology, shop practices, mechanical comprehension, and the assembly of objects. It is administered annually to more than one million military applicants, high school and post-secondary students.
Careers In the Military
At careersinthemilitary.com students participate in guided career exploration of the many jobs they can pursue in the military. Those participating in the ASVAB and ASVAB Career Exploration Program may create an account to have their scores used to identify within each branch of service the specific occupational specialties they might be able to qualify for in the military. The website also features profiles of soldiers, information about pay and benefits.
March2Success
March2Success is a free, online and self-paced academic readiness program, designed to provide high school and college students easy access to test preparation training. Specifically, the interactive program offers instruction in math, science and English, with trainings for the SAT, ACT and the ASVAB. Students are provided coursework that is designed to prepare them for college entrance exams, including seven full-length timed practice tests for the SAT and ACT. Educators may access a free curriculum and resources that can supplement lesson plans. The program provides an option which may allow educators to track student progress and performance online. More than 1.7 million people have used the program since its inception in 2003 and potentially many others can benefit from using this online resource in the future.
Military Based STEM Programs
Common Ground Partners offer a wide variety of programs that help educators boost student engagement and explore career fields related to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).
Student Data Requests for the Purpose of Military Recruitment
Access a student data guidance document school systems may use to run reports requested by military organizations for the purpose of recruitment as required by the federal government.
Junior Reserve Officer Training Courses and National Defense Cadet Corps
These programs are designed to prepare high school students for leadership roles while making them aware of their rights, responsibilities and privileges as American citizens
- Army – https://www.usarmyjrotc.com
- Air Force – https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Holm-Center/AFJROTC/
- Marines – https://www.mcjrotc.marines.mil/
- Navy – https://www.netc.navy.mil/NSTC/NJROTC
Programs Offered By The WV National Guard
Future Leaders Program
This program is described by the West Virginia National Guard as a four-year leadership-based high school curriculum instilling leadership, promoting citizenship, military science, and teaching life skills. FLP uses a hybrid academic/career technical education (CTE) delivery format. FLP is a completer program and students receive one credit for this elective per school year. Lesson plans fall under one of four broad categories: leadership, citizenship, life skills, and military science. The curriculum allows schools to offer the FLP as a one year or multi-year program and is advertised as a low-cost alternative to JROTC and the National Defense Corps of Cadets programs.
To learn more about the Future Leaders Program, visit the WVNG website or the WV Future Leaders Program | Charleston WV | Facebook, or contact State Director of the Future Leaders Program, Mr. Chadwick Moneypenny at chadwick.l.moneypenny.mil@army.mil.
Mountaineer Challenge Academy
This residential program for qualifying students falls under the National Guard’s youth challenge program. The mission of the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy is described on their website as training and mentoring selected at-risk youth to become contributing members of society using the 8 Core Components in a quasi-military environment during a 22-week residential and one-year Post-Residential follow-up program. High School Diplomas are made available through the program for those who qualify under the Option 1 Pathway.
For information on how to participate, please contact one of the program’s facilities in Kingwood, WV or Montgomery, WV, or contact the State Director of the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy, Mr. Nickolas Lambruno at nickolas.w.lambruno@wv.gov.