Charleston Leader

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito and a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues are urging the Departments of Defense, Labor, and Education to emphasize the value of military service as a viable career option for students. In a letter addressed to Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Ashish Vazirani, the senators highlighted the importance of providing accurate information about military enlistment to students.

“We feel that our schools must have insight into post-high school outcomes for all students, including those who enter the military,” the senators emphasized in their letter. They stressed the significance of educators being able to effectively communicate the benefits of various career paths, including military service, to adequately prepare students for their future endeavors.

The senators underscored the necessity for collaboration between federal agencies and state education officials to share relevant data on successful post-high school outcomes, such as military enlistment. They pointed out that the absence of military service data hinders state education systems in supporting graduates and leaves schools unaware of their effectiveness in preparing students for military service.

State education officials have expressed their limitations in assisting graduates without access to comprehensive data on career outcomes for military personnel. The senators highlighted that improved data-sharing practices would not only benefit schools and graduates but also help the military by promoting enlistment as a viable and rewarding career choice.

The senators' letter referenced a prior communication from 31 U.S. state and territory chief education officers to the Department of Defense, emphasizing the need for a data-sharing protocol to provide accurate and timely information on military service outcomes. They urged the Department to prioritize engagement with states on this matter and requested an update on establishing a secure process for states to access military enlistment data by April 5, 2024.

In closing, the senators expressed their appreciation for the attention given to this issue and awaited a prompt response from the Department of Defense. They conveyed their readiness to collaborate with the Department in developing improved mechanisms for sharing military service information between the federal government and states.