New Jersey Guard turns to educators to help with recruitment

New Jersey Guard turns to educators to help with recruitment
By CHRIS NEWMARKER
Associated Press Writer

June 27, 2006, 8:26 AM EDT

FORT DIX, N.J. -- They ride Black Hawk helicopters, fire mock assault rifles in combat simulators and can learn what it's like to drive a Humvee. Some are so excited they want pictures of themselves holding guns.

But these enthusiasts aren't about to join the military. They're principals, teachers, coaches and mentors _ people who New Jersey military recruiters believe hold the key to getting more high school students interested in the armed forces.

The strategy seems to be working. With the military sometimes struggling to meet recruitment goals nationwide, New Jersey's National Guard has seen an increase in enlistment in the two years since the inception of its "Educate the Educator" program.

"If it wasn't for programs like this, educators wouldn't have an understanding of what we do," said Lt. Col. Dennis Devery, who runs recruitment efforts for the New Jersey Guard.
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http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--recruitingeducato0627jun27,0,1432791.story?coll=ny-region-apnewjersey

Why wait for their high school educators ... go straight to the source ... !!