Volunteers :: National Military Role Model

U.S. Army Recruiting Command

Junior Achievement Military Role Model Program Strategy

1. PURPOSE: The Junior Achievement National Military Role Model Program (JANMR) will enable Recruiting Command to develop rapport and trust with high school educators, students and local community members. The partnership with Junior Achievement will build credibility for Army recruiters by creating a partnership that positions Army recruiters in high school classrooms with teachers, community volunteers and high school students.

a. Recruiting Command has formed a national-level partnership with Junior Achievement. "Junior Achievement is a non-profit education organization that prepares young people for the world of work" by providing series of lessons on various subjects pertaining to today's work environment.

b. Junior Achievement has created classroom teaching materials and programmed curricula designed to educate students on life skills, career opportunities and leadership, which are taught during the regular periods of classroom instruction. Junior Achievement professionals provide all curriculum materials and instructor training for JA volunteers prior to classroom exposure. During this training, which takes ½ to 1 day, instructor volunteers are prepared for the classroom experience through presentation and discussion of JA instructional principles, materials, and procedures.

c. The JA Partnership will present the Army as an organization that shares the community's concern for education and the future of its youth. The Army offers this public service to encourage youth to remain focused on education and the development of career goals so they will graduate from high school and "be all they can be."

d. Through our partnership, we will create an enhanced presence for recruiters on the high school campus. Research shows us that students are more likely to consider the military as a career when they view the recruiter as a positive role model. By placing recruiters in the high school in a normal classroom instruction period, teaching from an established professional curriculum, students are introduced to Army recruiters in a different way. By using an exposure-oriented approach, students develop trust and confidence in Army recruiters over a several week period.

e. Our partnership with Junior Achievement is a continuation of the Army's demonstrated commitment to higher education. We will continue to pursue partnerships with other organizations that have positive community reputations for helping youth establish solid life skills and focused goals. Army Recruiting Command is also signatory to the Department of Education's Community Promise. Under the umbrella of the TAKE CHARGE! Program, Army education outreach programs are designed to promote Army soldiers as positive role models, helping students stay in school, stay off drugs and plan for life.

f. Recruiting personnel will abide by the Joint Ethics Regulation, Section 3-209, which prohibits the stated or implied endorsement of a nonfederal entity, event, product, service or enterprise. While civic partnerships and co-sponsored events are permissible, recruiting personnel should be cautious not to appear to endorse the private organization's activities.

2. THE MESSAGE:

a. To students: Army recruiters know the value of a high school diploma and have been part of a mentorship program themselves. They serve as mentors, encouraging youth to graduate and start thinking about their future careers and education.

b. To educators, counselors and principals: Army recruiters are valid role models for students and present concrete reasons for staying in school and graduating. Recruiters raise students' expectations for successful careers, thus helping motivate them to graduate and start planning for their futures. Members of the military have mastered leadership and self-disciplinary skills and will provide stable role models for students.

c. To parents: Army recruiters are joining the community effort to promote the best education possible for America's youth. The Army needs young people who graduate and are drug free. The Army is a place where educational and career training opportunities begin.

d. To business and community leaders: The Army is actively involved with our nation's youth, and annually returns to the private work sector young people who have skills training, experience and a work ethic. In addition, Army veterans have financial support for college.

3. EXECUTION:

a. Representatives of Junior Achievement will contact the Education Services specialist at the Recruiting Battalion. After initial contact has been made, battalions will coordinate with JA personnel to develop their own best communications flow for presentation opportunities, tailored to the needs of the local area. It must be stressed that while participation in this program is encouraged by Recruiting Command, it may not be possible to match recruiting personnel to all opportunities presented by JA.

b. JA representatives are responsible for conducting the instructor training for the program. JA will provide all program materials. Company commanders will schedule this training during routine company training. Battalion Recruiter Trainers should also attend.

c. Commanders, recruiters, education services specialists (ESS) and advertising and public affairs (APA) specialists will participate in the coordination of this program. Company commanders and staff personnel are encouraged to volunteer for teaching opportunities; accordingly they will actively participate in classroom presentations. The APA specialists will be involved in the promotional aspects of this program as part of their ongoing marketing communication council process.

d. Personnel:

(1) Designated battalion Education Services Specialist (ESS) will function as POC for initial contact by JA personnel. The ESS will refer JA personnel to the appropriate company commander, based on the location of the high school presentation opportunities.

(2) APA specialists will ensure coordination of presentation schedules with battalion and local JA offices. Schedules and numbers of schools vary with each battalion and each JA office. Coordination of presentations will begin annually in September and continue throughout the year.

(3) Battalion commanders will support JANMR by encouraging recruiter volunteerism and by overseeing the battalion JANMR program. Commanders will document battalion JANMR activities in the Unit Status Briefings (USB).

e. Battalions are encouraged to participate in local JA team building events and activities as part of their COI program. Consider including JA professionals and volunteers in battalion initiated events such as educator tours and COI luncheons. Another very positive Junior Achievement opportunity is participation in the JA Ground Hog Job Shadow Day held annually in February.

4. MATERIALS:

a. Recruiters will be responsible for conducting class instruction and facilitating class projects in accordance with JA course materials and procedures.

b. Literature, lesson plans, project outlines, and other materials needed to teach the JA course will be provided by JA, at JA's expense to each Recruiter who volunteers as a JA instructor and who completes the JA instructor training.

c. All USAREC recruiters who volunteer to be JA instructors must complete the JA pre-class instructor training. JA instructor training will be provided to all USAREC recruiter volunteer instructors by qualified JA personnel, at JA's expense, during regularly scheduled work hours.

d. The USAREC recruiters who serve as JA instructors will be allowed to present each student who completes his/her class with a US Army Personal Presentation Item (PPI).

5. CONTROL AND EVALUATION:

a. Commanders are fully responsible for ensuring recruiters receive JA instructor training and for the implementation of the JA program at their level, including the distribution of program materials and presentations coordinated with their local JAs.

b. Battalion APA chiefs should compile evidence of successful media efforts in support of the program.

c. Any ideas or local success stories should be reported in a timely manner via e-mail to the USAREC APA Local Advertising and Promotions Division program manager, briefed at Unit Status Briefings (USBs) and/or submitted to the Recruiter Journal to be shared by the entire Command.

d. Commanders are encouraged to offer recognition to members of their command, communities and schools for their efforts in supporting the program. Recognition may include CG certificates, military/civilian volunteer medals, mentor of the quarter/year recognition, certificates of appreciation, and thank you letters to partner organizations, education officials and other supporters of the program.

e. Recruiting Command in conjunction with Junior Achievement will conduct an annual evaluation to assess effectiveness of enhancing the military's image with America's high school students.