Digital Learning Opportunities for Educators
On April 14, we hosted a fascinating session exploring military pathways. Scholarship and Enrollment Officer Omar Cruz from The University of Texas at Austin guided attendees through enlistment options – including U.S. Army Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard – and highlighted opportunities to serve while pursuing college. He also discussed scholarship benefits available through the U.S. Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) programs.
Technical Sergeant Joshua Schlegel of the United States Air Force also joined us to share how service members can build meaningful careers in the air force while accessing valuable education and training benefits.
Military Options After High SchoolCruz provided an overview of the U.S. Army ROTC program and the sign-up process. Interested high school students can sign up by creating an account and completing an application on GoArmy.com; they’ll need to self-report their GPA, SAT scores, and high school activities. Participants can be considered for four-year scholarships based on their military potential, personal factors such as leadership participation, and math and science achievements. The first two years of the ROTC program do not require a commitment, but students must commit by their junior year in college. Military obligation after commissioning is eight years, and participants will have the option to select active duty, national guard, or reserves.
Opportunities, Stability, and a Clear Path for Students
Schlegel explained why students consider military service, highlighting the educational benefits that military members receive. Rising college costs, a desire for structure, job security, and financial stability are among the reasons students consider military service, along with educational benefits such as tuition assistance received through the G.I. Bill of Rights. Schlegel also shared that Air Force service members can earn an Associate of Applied Science degree through the Community College of the Air Force. He recommended that counselors identify interested students and encourage them to explore career opportunities in the military.
Academy Spotlight
The Supporting Military-Connected Families Module and the Military Pathways Module in the Texas OnCourse Academy are excellent resources to help inform your students and families on programs and policies for military-connected students. These modules provide interactive activities, downloadable infographics, and ready-to-use resources for advising students interested in military academies and service.
Texas OnCourse Academy Learning Community
Our new initiative, the Texas OnCourse Academy Learning Community (ALC), was designed to connect educators using the academy and help them advance their students’ college and career readiness. Our goal is to foster connections and support collaboration and growth among Texas educators. Whether you're just getting started with the Texas OnCourse Academy or you’ve been using it for years, the ALC was designed with you in mind.
Complete our short interest form to become part of the ALC and stay informed about upcoming activities and discussions with peers statewide. And download and share our informative ALC flyer with your colleagues.
Professional Learning Series and Tiny Takes:
You can view a recording of Navigating Military Pathways.
Our next Professional Learning Series session will take place on May 12. Join us to spotlight campuses that are implementing activities to raise awareness and encourage adoption of the My Texas Future platform. Also, get an overview of the new graduation requirements set to start in the 2026–2027 academic school year and celebrate our My Texas Future Schools of Excellence:
- Copperas Cove High School
- Tornillo High School
- Jose Alderete Middle School
You can register for this Professional Learning Series today.
We also invite you to join our upcoming Tiny Take session on April 23, taking an in-depth look at the Texas OnCourse College and Career Readiness Curriculum. Jamie Bell, program specialist at Texas OnCourse, will walk through the new Implementation Guide and cover how educators are using the Texas OnCourse curriculum and its advising tools and resources to help students build self-awareness, explore careers, and make informed decisions. You can register for this Tiny Take today. We look forward to seeing you there!
