Marines are known for their devotion to their country and to the Corps. That desire to help others doesn’t have to end at the completion of active duty service.
Marines looking for a career after the military have the opportunity to begin a teaching career with the help of the Troops to Teachers program.
Troops to Teachers is a nationwide program that provides financial assistance, counseling, referral services and placement assistance for service members interested in pursuing a career in public education.
The program also helps refer prior-service teachers to low-income schools with teacher shortages in areas such as mathematics, science and special education.
Some eligibility requirements for service members are retirement or separation from active duty or currently serving with six or more years toward retirement. All service members must also have an honorable discharge.
The educational requirements for referral services include a bachelor’s degree or an advanced degree from an accredited institution, a teacher’s certification, or proof of teacher certification program attendance.
Service members can also have the equivalent of one year of college with six years of work experience in a vocational or technical field or meet state requirements for vocational and technical teacher referral.
According to the Troops to Teachers Web site, one of the main benefits of placing former military teachers in public schools is to provide positive role models for the students.
“You’re tremendous role models with a sense of duty, honor and country that our children would do well to emulate,” said former First Lady Laura Bush at a conference about the Troops to Teachers program. “I think retiring military personnel who choose teaching as a career will find that it is a very rewarding career.”
Marines have many options when they decide to leave the military, but with the help of Troops to Teachers, they can continue to serve their community again by becoming an educator.
For more information on the Troops to Teachers program, visit the Web site www.proudtoserveagain.com.
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