READY NWI hosted their monthly meeting for K-12 educators on Thursday, January 14. The meeting featured a presentation by U.S. Army representatives who shared the many opportunities the Army offers in way of careers and career paths.
Facilitating the panel discussion was Dr. Cassandra Gordon-Fletcher, Educational Services Specialist and liaison between education community the U.S. Army recruiters in the Chicagoland and NW Indiana area. Panelists included Lt. Colonel Benjamin Boardman who serves as Commander of the Chicago Recruiting Battalion and also served the 82nd Airborne Division’s First Squadron/17th Cavalry Regiment; Second Lt. Elena Cisneros, a Gold Bar Recruiter with the University of Illinois-Chicago ROTC Program and a current member of the National Guard; and Sgt. First Class and Human Resources Specialist Lisa Shipp, who completed multiple levels of professional military education and is currently working on her Masters of Science.
Panelists shared personal experiences on joining the military, while citing the positive outcomes that make the Army a viable course towards educational opportunities and a multitude of pathways for career success.
One panelist cited that fifty-five percent of high school students on track to graduate say they want to pursue some sort of post-secondary education, with only eighteen percent of the remaining forty-five percent selecting the military, leaving twenty-four percent who are undecided, many of which are just not aware of all the Army has to offer for a long-term career. Dr. Fletcher urged everyone to visit armyedspace.com to learn more.
“We had over 75 regional K-12 and post-secondary administrators, teachers, and counselors who attended today’s virtual meeting,” said Dr. Peggy Buffington, Superintendent for the School City of Hobart. “Those who attended today learned a bit more than they thought they knew about career pathways, scholarships, and other opportunities available to their students through the Army,” Buffington added.
For further information about READY NWI’s commitment to ensure that our region’s high school graduates are prepared to move on directly to post-secondary education and training, work or a career, visit www.readynwi.com or call the Center of Workforce Innovations at 219.462.2940.
The Center of Workforce Innovations provides oversight of the READY NWI initiative.