April is designated the Month of the Military Child, a time for recognizing and paying tribute to the youngest soldiers fighting the war at home. Though the sacrifices of military members and their families are always worth valorizing, this month is set aside for focusing specifically on the experiences of the dependent children of military members serving at home and overseas.

Whether living the life of a "military brat" and bouncing from town to town or country to country, or having to live without a deployed parent for months at a time, military children have unique and often trying experiences that their civilian counterparts likely could never relate to.

Month of the Military Child 2019 is sponsored by the Department of Defense Military Community and Family Policy and supported by many other organizations, including the Department of Defense Education Activity.

Celebrate Purple Up! For Military Kids Day

Each April, DoDEA communities around the world celebrate the Month of the Military Child with Purple Up! For Military Kids Day, in which participants wear purple to show their support and appreciation of military children. The symbolism of that color is meant to convey that all branches of the military are supported, as it combines Air Force blue, Army green, Navy blue, Marine red and Coast Guard blue into a purple shade.

According to the agency's website, this year's Purple Up! celebrations will take place from April 8 through 12 at DoDEA Americas schools, and on April 17 at DoDEA Europe and Pacific schools.

You can celebrate Purple Up! in your own community by, of course, wearing purple, but also by encouraging others to participate, as well. Ask schools and teachers to recognize the event, and see if you can get local businesses and officials to wear purple, as well.

Other Month of the Military Child 2019 events in April

Like many similar celebrations that focus on military recognition, the Month Of The Military Child tends to be observed within military communities, often with parades, fairs, seminars and special events. There are, however, some communities, schools and organizations outside of military bases that participate as well.

Some military-related private organizations use April as an opportunity to tout some of their year-round programs. The Military Child Education Coalition, for example, will emphasize its stated goal of ensuring "inclusive, quality educational opportunities for all military-connected children affected by mobility, transition, deployments and family separation."

The group offers student-led "Student 2 Student" programs, as well as a "Parent To Parent" version year-round, and during the month of April, provides Month Of The Military Child downloadable toolkits and other resources.

Throughout the month, there are also the usual military base-level events, ceremonies, contests and special nights celebrating military families and their children. Because so many of these events are sponsored by military communities, those looking for ways to get involved in the celebrations should search for events with the base Public Affairs office, Military Family Readiness Centers, Department of Defense Dependent School admin offices and on-base Child Development Centers. The Military Times also recommends checking for activities listed at Morale Welfare and Recreation Centers in military installations both at home and abroad.

Whether you simply "purple up" your wardrobe, participate in a celebratory event or do something special for the military child in your life, this month is the perfect time to show the son or daughter of a U.S. Armed Forces member how much you appreciate them.

On April 14, 2019, the United States Air Force Reserve will turn 71 years young.

Last year, the Air Force Reserve held a cake-cutting ceremony at the Pentagon in honor of its 70th anniversary. Now that the military organization is turning 71, you may marvel at its advanced age, but it is actually the youngest of all the various reserve components. At 110 years old, the U.S. Army Reserve is the oldest of the bunch, followed by the 104-year-old Navy Reserve, the 102-year-old Marine Corps Reserve and the 78-year-old Coast Guard Reserve. Even the Air National Guard is one year younger than the Air Force Reserve.

Despite being the youngest sibling in the family of reserve corps, the Air Force Reserve has piled up an impressive number of accomplishments over its more than seven decades of history.

Over 70 years of distinguished service

Although the reserve component traces its lineage back over a century to the Reserve Airpower that was established by the National Defense Act of 1916, the official birth date of the U.S. Air Force Reserve is April 14, 1948. That's the date when the Army Air Corps Reserve was transferred to the Air Force, officially creating the Air Force Reserve as a separate component. The air reserve was formally established by President Harry Truman, who was seeking to create a program similar to one established during WWI, in which Reservists stood ready to serve during wartime.

The Air Force Reserve replaced Continental Air Command, which inactivated in 1968, at which point AFRES assumed command of all personnel, equipment and aircraft previously assigned to ConAC.

In 1970, Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird adopted the Total Force concept, which Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger declared policy in 1973. Once implemented, the Air Force Reserve became a multi-mission force, flying the same modern aircraft as the active Air Force and being held to the same readiness standards and inspections as regular Air Force units.

During the Cold War, Reservists continually volunteered for both military and humanitarian efforts, from the Israeli Airlift of 1973 to the resupply and evacuation missions undertaken in the aftermath of 1989's Hurricane Hugo.

Within days of Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Air Force Reserve airlift and tanker crews were in the air, with AFRES special operations and rescue forces and Air Force Reserve A-10s operating close to the frontlines. According to the Air Force Reserve Command, it was a Reservist who scored the first-ever A-10 air-to-air kill.

When the United States was attacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001, Air Force Reservists were quickly out in full force, with Air Force Reserve F-16 fighters flying combat air patrols over America's cities with KC-135 tanker and AWACs providing air refuelings and security.

In recent years, the Air Force Reserve has become an increasingly integral part of the Air Force's efforts to engage in combats and global operations.

Today there are nearly 70,000 Citizen Airmen stationed in communities throughout the United States and overseas, serving every Combatant Command in air, space, and cyberspace.

"From the sands of Iraq to the mountains of Afghanistan from the jungles of South America to the Antarctic icecap, in the skies above the nation, inside hurricanes threatening our coastal areas and through wildfires endangering our countryside, dedicated Reservists answer the call to duty symbolizing the values of integrity, service before self, and excellence in all we do," according to the Air Force Reserve's official mission statement.

In honor of its 71 years of service to the United States, Americans everywhere should take the opportunity on April 14 to salute the U.S. Air Force Reserve for providing Citizen Airmen prepared to "fly, fight and win."

In 2011, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs surveyed U.S. veterans and found that a third of them were interested in childcare services, and more than one in ten said they had canceled or rescheduled at least one VA appointment due to lack of childcare. In response, the VA initiated a pilot program that set up three child care centers with free drop-in services for veterans with children.

Because the pilot was set to expire after one year, Congress had to reauthorize it four times since it first launched. However, it now appears likely that the program will finally become permanent, after the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed legislation that would provide free child care for certain veterans at VA facilities nationwide.

Bill would help veterans with issues requiring intensive and recurring treatment

The Veterans' Access to Child Care Act, H.R. 840, would provide free child care to veterans who are seeking help from the VA for certain intensive and recurring medical and mental health care issues, such as treatment for cancer or therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder. The law would expand and make permanent the 2011 pilot program, which has grown from three to five locations in the last few years.

In 2015, the VA estimated that more than 10,000 children had received free daycare in the first four years of the program's existence, with women veterans taking advantage of the program in significantly higher numbers than their male counterparts, according to Stars and Stripes. This was part of the VA's justification for starting the pilot, based on their estimation that women would constitute 10 percent of the veteran population by 2020, and 9.5 percent of all VA patients.

The legislation requires the VA to either provide child care on site, provide veterans with a stipend for the full cost of child care at licensed facilities, directly pay the facilities or collaborate with other agencies. The bill would also extend to grandparents and other primary caretakers.

"We made a promise that our veterans will get the care they've earned," Rep. Julia Brownley of California told the Military Times. "We can't put insurmountable roadblocks in front of their ability to receive that care."

Brownley introduced the legislation, and said that the VA secretary will ultimately determine which veterans are eligible for the program, but the intent is to help those with serious health care problems that require

"For example, a veteran who is undergoing cancer treatment cannot afford to miss medical appointments – and may need a safe place to leave their young child while they receive chemotherapy or radiation therapy," said Rep. Brownley. "Likewise, veterans who have regular mental healthcare appointments may need assistance with child care, because it would be inappropriate for young children to be present for tough conversations with a therapist."

The bill still needs to pass the Senate before it can be signed into law, but it appears to have broad bipartisan support. 

The results of Super Bowl LIII, which saw the New England Patriots win their sixth title overall and their third in just the last five years, left some football fans overjoyed and others highly annoyed. But there was one group of patriots celebrated at this year's Super Bowl that everyone should be able to appreciate, regardless of their team loyalties.

During the big game, Verizon debuted another entry in its "The Team That Wouldn't Be Here" ad campaign, titled "The Coach That Wouldn't Be Here: Anthony Lynn." The 60-second spot, which reportedly cost over $10 million to air, features Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn speaking to a group of first responders and telling them the story of the time his own life was saved by police officers and paramedics who came to his aid after a "horrible" car accident.

In the video, Lynn describes how in 2005 he was struck by a car traveling at 50 mph. He credited the first responders who came to the scene of the accident with saving his life.

At one point, three of the first responders in the crowd identified themselves as the individuals who had first arrived at the scene of Lynn's accident, causing him to become visibly emotional. With tears in his eyes, Lynn embraced the first responders and thanked them for being his guardian angels.

Company also funding new public safety tech

According to Verizon, over 40 million people in America wouldn't be alive today if not for the efforts of a first responder.

To show its gratitude, the cell phone service provider pledged to support first responders in a variety of ways, including through the website AllOurThanks.com. Verizon asked users to visit the website, promising that for every share of the content, the company would donate $1, up to $1.5 million, to First Responders Outreach.

Verizon also offered a special discount available only to first responders, which included lower prices for one of its service plans, as well as a $100 prepaid card per new phone line for those who switched, bought or activated a new smartphone.

The most notable commitment, though, is Verizon's 5G First Responder Lab, a "first-of-its-kind innovation incubator" that will provide first responder technology companies with access to 5G technology they can use to develop, test and refine 5G solutions for public safety. On March 6, 2019, Verizon announced the five participating companies for the first cohort of the 5G First Responder Lab: Adcor Magnetic Systems, Aerial Applications, Blueforce Development, Kiana Analytics and Qwake Technologies.

"5G is transformative and will bring new possibilities in technology," said Nick Nilan, director of public sector product development for Verizon. "The companies chosen for the 5G First Responder Lab could bring unseen, potentially life-saving innovations to public safety."

Located in Verizon's 5G DC Lab at Alley in Washington DC, the 5G First Responder Lab will ultimately bring together a total of 15 innovators in three separate cohorts over the course of one year, with the goal of developing public safety solutions. Each three-month cohort will allow five first responder technology developers to have access to the lab and its 5G network to assist them in their mission. 

Every year on March 25, the United States of America observes National Medal of Honor Day, a time for remembering and honoring those who have earned the highest and most prestigious personal military decoration that may be awarded to U.S. military service members for acts of valor.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Medal of Honor is awarded to military members who have distinguished themselves "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity" that went above and beyond the call of duty.

All five branches of the military are eligible for the honor, though there are only three versions of the medal: one each for the Army, Air Force and Navy, with personnel of the Marine Corps and Coast Guard able to receive the Navy version.

To understand the significance of the MOH, as well as the reasoning behind its annual holiday on March 25, it helps to educate yourself on the history of this incomparable honor.

Over 150 years of recognizing our nation's finest

Though there were several precursors to the MOH, including the George Washington's Badge of Military Merit and a Fidelity Medallion presented to three persons who helped capture a spy associated with Benedict Arnold in the 1700s, it was not until 1862 that the Navy Medal of Honor was created, quickly followed by the Army Medal of Honor, according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The Air Force did not design its own MOH until 1963, over a century later.

On April 11, 1862, a group of Union soldiers led by civilian spy James J. Andrews boarded the train General disguised as a group of new recruits traveling north from Georgia to join the Confederate army. During a breakfast stop, Andrews' Raiders uncoupled the passenger cars and took off with the General, traveling seventy miles on the Western and Atlantic Railway, along the way cutting telegraph wire, uprooting railroad tracks and setting bridges on fire, according to the National Archives.

The group was eventually captured and Andrews was executed by the Confederacy, along with seven of his fellow Raiders. Twelve remaining members of the group were taken prisoner, six of whom were exchanged within a year.

On March 25, 1863, those six exchanged soldiers were summoned to the secretary of war's office, where Edwin M. Stanton greeted them as heroes and surprised them with medallions.

"Congress has by a recent law ordered medals to be prepared… and your party shall have the first," Stanton said upon presenting the first ever Medals of Honor.

Then and now

In the 156 years since that initial ceremony, there have been more than 3,500 Medals of Honor awarded to America's bravest soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coast guardsmen. Among the thousands honored, there are currently 72 living recipients of the MOH. Ranging in age from 29 to 98, the list of living recipients includes four heroes who earned their Medals of Honor in World War II, five who fought in the Korean War, 50 in the Vietnam War, and 13 in the War in Afghanistan.

In 2016, Congress authorized the VA's National Cemetery Administration to issue, upon request, a medallion, headstone or marker signifying a Veteran as a recipient of the Medal of Honor. Two years later, during a private ceremony at West Grove Cemetery in Lexington, Mississippi, the first Medal of Honor Medallion was placed upon the private headstone of Pfc. Milton L. Olive III, a decorated war hero who fought in Vietnam.

"Private First Class Olive was posthumously awarded a Medal of Honor for his service during the Vietnam War after he heroically used his body to cover a grenade to save the lives of his fellow soldiers," said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. "The Medal of Honor Medallion illustrates VA's commitment to ensuring all who see this symbol will know of the courageous sacrifice of our nation's distinguished service members."

Each March 25 provides Americans the opportunity to reflect on the heroism of all Medal of Honor recipients, both living and dead. 

Role shapes strategy and direction for council and its members

ALEXANDRIA, Va – 5Star Life Insurance Company announced today that Mark Singleton, President and Chief Executive Officer of 5Star Life, was named Chair of the Life Insurers Council (LIC) at its annual meeting in February in Destin, Florida.

“I’m pleased that Mark has accepted this leadership role within the industry. It underscores the fact that we have a cadre of senior leaders at 5Star Life with a high level of expertise and industry knowledge,” said General Ed Eberhart, USAF (Ret.), Chairman of 5Star Life.

“We are delighted to have Mark Singleton serve as Chair of the Council. Under his leadership, we plan to advance our mission of helping members drive performance through shared excellence,” said Jeff Shaw, Executive Director of the Life Insurers Council.

Part of LOMA and LL Global (LIMRA / LOMA), the Life Insurers Council provides a forum for senior-level life insurance executives, primarily from small-to-medium sized companies, to exchange information, ideas, and practical business solutions. Singleton has been a member of the LIC Board of Directors since 2015.

Singleton joined 5Star Life in 2012 bringing more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, including executive level roles in the life and health, property and casualty, retirement services, and real estate sectors. A seasoned industry veteran with proven abilities in developing and implementing growth strategies, Singleton guides strategic initiatives for 5Star Life. Prior to that, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ullico, Inc., a multi-line financial services company in Washington, DC. Earlier in his career, he was CFO and a founder of Inviva, Inc., and CFO of Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Company.

“I’m honored to take on the role of Chair and delighted to work with my esteemed peers and Jeff Shaw to guide the council as it tackles pressing issues affecting our industry today,” said Mark Singleton

March marks Women's History Month, a 31-day observance of female contributions made throughout history and in contemporary society.

The month-long celebration can trace its own history back to the very first National Woman's Day, organized by the Socialist Party of America and held in New York City on Feb. 28, 1909 – a full nine years before American women achieved the right to vote.

On March 19, 1911, the first-ever International Women's Day was celebrated by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, many of whom held demonstrations demanding suffrage and an end to employment sex discrimination. In 1917, after women in Soviet Russia earned the right to vote, March 8 became a national holiday there. International Women's Day was primarily observed in socialist and communist countries, until being taken up by the feminist movement in the late 1960s, and in 1975 the United Nations began celebrating the day.

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued a presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women's History Week, and in 1987 Congress designated the entirety of March as National Women's History Month.

Today Women's History Month provides an occasion to honor women who have broken glass ceilings and claimed major achievements in a variety of fields, including the United States military.

A decorated history of women in the military

Today there are over 216,000 women serving in the United States Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, accounting for over 16 percent of the total number of officers and enlisted personnel.

Women also now comprise 10 percent of the total U.S. veteran population, and represent 20 percent of veterans under the age of 35, according to the Department of Labor.

The very first woman to serve in the American military was Deborah Sampson, who in 1782 enlisted in the Continental Army under a man's name to fight in the Revolutionary War. At one point, she removed a musket ball from her own thigh so that her true gender would not be revealed in surgery. Once her identity was discovered, Sampson was honorably discharged, and her husband received a military widow's pension in 1832, according to The New York Times.

Female enlistees disguised themselves as men during the Mexican-American War and Civil War as well, though most women served as nurses during this period of American history. Most notably, Dr. Mary Walker acted as a surgeon for Union troops, and was held by the Confederacy as a prisoner of war after she crossed enemy lines to treat wounded civilians. To this day, she is the only woman to ever receive the Medal of Honor.

In the early part of the 20th century, Congress created the Army Nurse Corps and the Navy Nurse Corps. Though they did not possess military rank, nor were they entitled to the same pay or Veterans' Benefits as men, over 21,000 of these nurses served military hospitals both at home and overseas during World War I.

In WWII, roughly 400,000 women served in noncombatant roles, including as nurses, mechanics, clerks, pilots and ambulance drivers. Hundreds more acted as field intelligence agents in the OSS, 88 were taken as POWs and 16 were killed in action, according to Task and Purpose.

In 1948, the Women's Armed Service Integration Act enabled women to become permanent members of the military, rather than only serve during wartime. There was a female presence in America's subsequent wars, with 50,000 women participating in Korea, many as nurses in M.A.S.H. units, and 11,000 deployed to Vietnam, where Commander Elizabeth Barrett became the first woman to hold a command in a combat zone.

Congress authorized women to fly in combat missions and serve on combat ships in 1991 and 1993, and the first female fighter pilots flew combat missions in Iraq in 1998, the same year that Captain Kathleen McGrath became the first woman to command a U.S. Navy warship.

The 21st century has been filled with even more landmarks, including Col. Linda McTague becoming the first woman to command a U.S. Air Force fighter squadron in 2004 and Army Gen. Ann Dunwoody becoming the first woman to achieve four-star officer rank in 2008.

In 2016, the Department of Defense opened all combat jobs to women, without exception, paving the way for even greater female military heroics now and in the future. The following year, the first woman graduated from the U.S. Marine Corps infantry officer course. Though the female lieutenant requested that her name not be released, the Marines did put out a video that showed her training for her milestone achievement.

This Women's History Month is a great time for all Americans to reflect upon the rich history of women in the military, while also thanking current female officers and enlistees for their service. 

On Wednesday, March 13, patriots and dog lovers alike can join together in saluting our nation's four-legged heroes for National K9 Veterans Day.

This year's holiday will commemorate the 77th anniversary of dogs officially becoming a part of the U.S. Armed Forces. According to Military.com, it was on March 13, 1942, that the Army first began training for its new War Dog Program, known also as the "K-9 Corps."

The United States Postal Service is among those paying tribute, having recently announced a new booklet of 20 stamps that "honors the nation's brave and loyal military working dogs."

According to the USPS, each block of four stamps features one stamp each of the four breeds chosen for inclusion in the booklet: German shepherd, Labrador retriever, Belgian Malinois and Dutch shepherd.

The patriotic stamps were designed by art director Greg Breeding, and created by the Los Angeles-based DKNG Studios. The stylized digital images feature red, white, blue and gold coloring, along with illustrations of dogs wearing tactical service vests. In the background of each stamp is the detail of a white star. A full white star on a gold background also appears on the center of each block.

Though an official release date for the military dog stamps has not yet been revealed, the Postal Service did promise that more details on dates and locations for the first-day-of-issue ceremonies would be forthcoming.

A distinguished breed of service

Though the K-9 Corps dates back to WWII, military dogs have been serving in the U.S. military since World War I. The most famous canine veteran of the Great War was a Staffordshire terrier mix named Stubby, who saved many sleeping soldiers by barking and waking them during a German mustard gas attack. According to History.com, Stubby went on to serve in 17 battles and survive at least two major injuries, including shrapnel in his chest and leg, before becoming the first dog to be given the rank of Sergeant in the U.S. Armed Forces.

When Sergeant Stubby died in his sleep at the age of 10 in 1926, his remains were gifted to the Smithsonian Institution where they continue to be displayed today.

Examples of canine heroism can be found in more recent conflicts, as well. Just this past November, an Army Ranger dog named Maiko was killed in action during a skirmish in Afghanistan, according to Stars and Stripes. The 7-year-old military working dog was leading Rangers into a compound when he was fired upon by a militant, revealing the militant's position and saving the lives of other soldiers, who then targeted that position.

There is a memorial in Holmdel, New Jersey, that recognizes such sacrifices. Although the War Dog Memorial was originally built to remember only those dogs that served in Vietnam, it now honors all dogs that have served in the United States military.

Today an estimated 2,300 military working dogs serve on U.S. bases worldwide, performing dangerous tasks alongside their human counterparts. These canine warriors often use their noses and smaller sizes to engage in search and rescue missions that more traditional service members are less equipped to complete.

"These military dogs, and search-and-rescue dogs, are putting themselves on the line. They're out in the front lines," Diane Whetsel, head of the Sage Foundation that works to help fund medical services for military dogs, told CNN.

While it may be true that "all dogs go to heaven," surely a special place there is reserved for all of the pups that we remember and pay tribute to on National K9 Veterans Day.

Fox’s background in the first responder market aligns with strategic growth plans

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The 5Star Life Insurance Company announced today that Joseph Fox has been appointed to its Board of Directors effective March 1, 2019.

“I am pleased to welcome Joseph Fox to the 5Star Life board of directors. As an esteemed law enforcement leader, his knowledge will be invaluable as we serve the first responders who serve this great nation,” said General Ed Eberhart, USAF (Ret.), Chairman of 5Star Life.

Mark Singleton, President of 5Star Life added, “We have experienced tremendous growth in the first responder market over the last five years, and Chief Fox will be instrumental in ensuring this growth continues.”

Fox enjoyed a long and honorable 37-year career in law enforcement. He joined the New York City Police Department in 1981, beginning as a patrol officer in Brooklyn’s 70th precinct and ascending through the ranks to become a three-star Chief. Before retiring in 2018, he served for six years as the head of the NYPD’s Transit Bureau leading the team of 2,600 men and women that secures the nation’s busiest metropolitan rail system. Currently, he is the Chief of Staff at SEAL Security, a full-service global security firm based in New York and London. He is also a renowned public speaker, translating the power of personal loss into purposeful messages that inspire others.

“I am pleased to join the 5Star Life Board of Directors and look forward to working with the management team of this organization that so proudly serves our first responders,” said Joseph Fox.

About 5Star Life
5Star Life Insurance Company (5Star Life) is the primary underwriter of the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) member policies and is also a growing provider of group and worksite voluntary products. Its business model enables 5Star Life to serve the needs of a diverse clientele as an insurance advisor to individuals and organizations, and as a trusted partner to brokers. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, 5Star Life is currently licensed in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.

Veterans often have a difficult time finding jobs after leaving the military for a variety of reasons, ranging from employers with unconscious hiring biases to soldiers themselves having skill sets that do not easily translate to the civilian workforce. One potential career path that would provide veterans with the ability to continue doing meaningful work is the role of educator.

For over 25 years, the Troops to Teachers Program has enabled military members with a baccalaureate degree or higher to complete a teaching certification process and become an academic subject teacher for kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Military members who wish to use their unique experiences and knowledge to transform young lives can do so through TTT, and they can even get started while still on active duty.

How to transition to teaching through TTT

All current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces interested in a career in teaching can receive counseling, referrals and job assistance through TTT.

Though a bachelor's degree or higher is required to teach elementary or secondary school, becoming a vocational or technical instructor requires only the equivalent of one year of college and six years work experience in the technical or vocational field in which you wish to teach.

Those who qualify and choose to participate in TTT can receive stipends of up to $5,000 to defray the cost of teacher certification training. There are also bonuses of up to $10,000 available to those who teach in high-needs schools. In order to receive a stipend or bonus, a program participant must commit to teaching for at least three years at targeted schools, typically located in low-income areas.

It's important to keep in mind that Troops to Teachers is not a teacher certification program itself, but rather a program that works through a network of state offices to provide participants with certification counseling, certification tuition funds and referrals for employment leads.

Participants can use an Alternative Certification Program or University Teacher Preparation Program to complete their certification. According to The Balance, those stationed in Europe would likely benefit the most from ACP, since it allows individuals to complete their teaching certification through online courses.

There are 31 state TTT offices operating across the country, providing placement assistance for the more than 50 states and territories that are part of the program. These offices will help military members with state certification requirements, though participants can also use the TTT website to speak with representatives and receive alternative certification information.

A history of serving in uniform and in the classroom

The Troops to Teachers program began in 1993, as a response to the military downsizing of the early nineties and a way to transition service members to a rewarding and vital teaching career. In the last 26 years, more than 20,000 veterans have made their way from the military to the classroom, becoming teachers and establishing the program's credibility and reputation through their impressive performances in the classroom.

"School systems are finding former military members to be very valuable assets," John Gantz, director of the TTT program, told The Balance. "They bring leadership skills, a concern for their students [similar to their troops] and a lot of experience to the classroom."

Over the course of the program, schools have also noticed a higher retention rate from former military members than from teachers who just finished college.

Service members who would like to learn more about the Troops to Teachers Program can obtain more information from their state TTT office, or by visiting www.ProudToServeAgain.com.