U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) led a dozen of their colleagues in encouraging the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to work with state education and data officials to develop a secure, effective protocol for sharing military service data with states.
“We urge DOD to respond promptly to state education officials’ requests to access this data and the complete information and perspective they need to maximize students’ prospects for career success — including through military service,” the senators wrote in a March 5 letter sent to Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Ashish Vazirani.
Sen. Cassidy, Sen. Moran, and the bipartisan contingent of lawmakers think that America’s schools should have insight into post-high school outcomes for all students, including those who enter the military.
“An educator’s ability to accurately communicate the benefits of all available career paths, including military enlistment, is essential when preparing students for college and other future careers,” they wrote.
To help support states in this endeavor, the senators wrote that federal agencies, including DOD and the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor, should collaborate with states to share necessary information about successful post-high school outcomes, such as military enlistment.
Among the 12 lawmakers who joined Sen. Cassidy and Sen. Moran in signing the letter were U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Tim Kaine (D-VA).
The senators wrote that state education officials say they’re “hamstrung” in their ability to support graduates without access to data on career outcomes for those serving in the military, and that the absence of such data leaves state data systems incomplete and schools blind to whether they are successfully preparing students to decide to serve.
“It’s clear that improved data-sharing will benefit schools, high school graduates, and the military by ensuring that enlistment is more clearly recognized as a viable and rewarding career option,” they added. “Students must hear this not only from military recruiters but also from their educators.”
The senators also requested a written update on establishing a cross-agency working group to create a standard, secure process for states to access military enlistment data and any other data that the working group deems appropriate by April 5.