ACTE and the U.S. Army Sign Education Memorandum of Understanding

Nov 20, 2009

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Nov. 20, 2009) – Representatives from the U.S. Army Accessions Command (USAAC) and the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) this week signed an official Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) providing the cooperative framework to increase collaboration in supporting the Nation’s young people and improving the educational experiences, post-secondary readiness and career and technical pathways for the Nation’s high school students.

“Both ACTE and the U.S. Army are leaders in the effort to create a skilled and competitive Nation,” said Ed Melott, President, ACTE. “Earlier this fall, members of ACTE joined other education experts and Army leaders to share best practices and set actionable goals based on our mutual commitment to improving outcomes for our Nation’s youth. The expertise shared by these groups framed the collaborative paths outlined in this Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement represents our commitment to continued dialogue and joint actions with the U.S. Army to help ensure that young people are well prepared for success, whatever post-secondary path they choose – higher education, technical training, industry, military service or a combination of options.”

“Career and technical education is a proven and valuable path for many of today’s youth,” said Lieutenant General Benjamin C. Freakley, Commanding General, USAAC. “This remarkable partnership enables us to support ACTE’s efforts to create a skilled and competitive workforce and viable options for tomorrow’s leaders, and reflects the shared belief that helping students pursue successful futures ensures that our Nation remains strong and competitive for future generations.”

Specific areas of focus for collaboration identified in the MOU include building a comprehensive understanding of career and technical choices for students, improving graduation rates, elevating the health and fitness levels of the Nation’s young people, expanding test preparation and career exploration/assessment resources for educators and students, and addressing the need for well-trained teachers and instructors, particularly in the areas of science, mathematics and career and technical education.

The MOU also outlines a combined effort to identify productive ways of sharing the educational and expert resources of America’s Army with the education community; to improve post-secondary readiness and success; to increase educator understanding of the educational opportunities available to Soldiers; and to support ACTE in meeting its commitment to sound and thoughtful education policy development.

The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit education association dedicated to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. It provides advocacy, public awareness and access to information, professional development and tools that enable members to be successful and effective leaders. Founded in 1926, ACTE has more than 27,000 members including teachers, counselors and administrators at the middle school, high school and postsecondary levels.

The U.S. Army Accessions Command, headquartered at Ft. Monroe, Va., is charged with providing integrated command and control of recruiting for the Army's officer, warrant officer, and enlisted forces. Designed to meet the human resource needs of the Army, the command is charged with finding and recruiting the highest talent to be developed as Soldiers and Officers who will defend the Nation today and tomorrow.

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Note to Editors: Photos from the signing event and copies of the MOU are available upon request.