Why Teaching About the Military in High School Matters
When we talk about life after high school, most conversations start with college or the trades. But there’s another powerful postsecondary option that often gets overlooked in classrooms: the military.
Teaching about the military can feel like tricky territory, but it doesn’t have to be political or persuasive. My goal isn’t to recruit, but rather to inform. Students deserve to understand all of their options for education, training, and personal growth after graduation.
The Military as a Postsecondary Option for Students
For many students, especially those with limited financial resources, family support, or a clear plan, the military can provide structure, education, and purpose. It’s not the right path for everyone, but for some, it’s life-changing.
For example, one student I worked with early in my career grew up in a neighborhood rife with gang activity. He had never known anyone who served in the military, and his exposure was limited to what he saw on TV.
Then he joined JROTC in high school. That single decision introduced him to positive role models, discipline, and a sense of direction he hadn’t experienced before.
After high school, he went on to the Air Force Academy and has now served all over the world, thriving in his career. When he comes back to visit our school, he talks to students about how service opened doors that he hadn’t even known existed when he was younger. Without that early experience, he says, he might have followed a dangerous path like some of his friends and family before him.
Stories like his remind me that awareness is powerful. When students know the full range of possibilities, including the military, they can make informed choices about their futures.
About 4% of students plan to join the military after graduation, according to a 2024 study from the National Center for Rural Education Research Networks. That number may seem low, but when you consider the millions of students graduating each year, it represents a significant group of young adults who deserve support in making informed decisions about their future.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 6.1% of U.S. adults, or roughly 15.8 million people, identify as veterans, and over 1.3 million serve on active duty, with another 739,000 in the reserves.
The numbers show that military service is not a fringe pathway; it’s a major part of American life. And for many, it’s often the first step toward higher education: 62% of student veterans are first-generation college students, compared with 43% of their non-military peers.
If you’d like a ready-to-use way to introduce these conversations, check out the Exploring Life After High School – College, Career & Training Options Lesson, which walks students through comparing college, trades, apprenticeships, the military, and more.
The Military as Part of Everyday American and School Life
Even if the military isn’t the right fit for a particular student, chances are they know someone who serves or has served. Many have family members, classmates, or community members connected to the armed forces. Building awareness helps students better understand and relate to those experiences, especially around topics like deployment, relocation, or reintegration into civilian life.
Students may live near bases, attend schools with military families, or take part in community parades and ceremonies. They hear about Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Armed Forces Day, but may not know what these observances mean or whom they honor.
Teaching students about military customs, symbols, and traditions helps them fully engage as informed citizens. For example, understanding why the flag is flown at half-staff or how to address a veteran teaches civic literacy, respect, and awareness.
A simple and engaging way to explore these ideas is with the Exploring Military Service Puzzle Set, which includes a word search, crossword puzzle, presentation (Google Slides or PowerPoint), note-taking worksheet, and definitions sheet.
It’s designed to help students build familiarity with the six branches, types of service and roles, and the symbols and honors that surround military service, all while learning how to interact respectfully with those who serve.
Classroom-Ready Ways to Explore Military Awareness
If you’d like to start small, here are a few easy, no-prep ways to introduce military awareness and career exploration in your classroom:
Research Prompt: Have students investigate one branch of the military. What are its core missions, career fields, and educational opportunities?
Guest Speaker: Invite a local service member or veteran (or even a JROTC instructor) to share their story (focusing on career paths, not recruitment).
Writing Activity: Ask students to write a reflection on the concept of service. What does it mean to serve your community, your country, or others?
Holiday Connection: Use upcoming observances like Veterans Day or Memorial Day to discuss what those days commemorate.
Bingo & Pathways Discussion: Pair this lesson with Postsecondary Pathways Bingo to help students identify which postsecondary paths they’ve heard of, what they’re curious about, and how military service fits into the larger picture.
These short, discussion-based activities can be used as bell-ringers, advisory lessons, or quick reflection exercises in any subject area.
For more structured support, you can also read Helping Students Explore Education & Training Options, which expands on how to help students research and compare postsecondary paths.
Frequently Asked Questions About Teaching Military Awareness
Isn’t teaching about the military too controversial for school?
It doesn’t have to be. Teaching about the military can focus on history, civics, and postsecondary awareness—not politics. The goal is to inform students about all their options, just as you would with college, trade school, or apprenticeships.
How can I talk about the military without promoting enlistment or violence?
Keep lessons fact-based and reflective. Discuss service, structure, and career paths alongside other postsecondary options. Highlight the education and training opportunities—as well as the soft skills and life lessons—that military service can offer. Emphasize informed choice, critical thinking, and respect rather than recruitment or glorification.
What if I don’t have a military background?
You don’t need one. Use structured, neutral classroom materials such as the Exploring Military Service Puzzle Set or invite a local veteran, JROTC instructor, or community speaker to share their experience within a balanced discussion.
Is this relevant for students who don’t plan to enlist?
Yes. Many students have friends or family members who serve, attend schools near bases, or hear about military holidays without fully understanding them. Learning about the military builds civic literacy, empathy, and awareness—skills every student benefits from.
How does this connect to transition or life skills education?
Military awareness ties directly to transition planning and employability standards. It helps students explore structured career paths, understand benefits like education and training, and see how service fits into adult life.
Wrapping It Up
Whether your students dream of college, career training, or jumping straight into the workforce, it doesn’t hurt to know that military service is one of the many paths available to them.
By teaching about the military in an informed, balanced way, we help students:
Discover new options they may never have considered.
Understand and respect the experiences of others.
Participate more fully in their communities and civic traditions.
It’s not about steering them in any one direction, but instead about opening doors.
So the next time you’re planning a transition or career exploration lesson, make sure the military is on the list of options.
A single discussion might change the way a student sees their future.
Recommended Classroom Resources
Exploring Life After High School – College, Career & Training Options Lesson
Step-by-step guidance to help students explore a range of postsecondary pathways.Military Service Puzzle Set
Word search, crossword, presentation, and worksheets to build awareness and respect for military service.Postsecondary Pathways Bingo
A free, ready-to-print classroom icebreaker to spark conversations about college, career, and service options.
