Little Rock, Arkansas – The Arkansas National Guard and the Academies of Central Arkansas have announced a new partnership designed to give students more information about military careers while helping them explore a wider range of options after high school.
Officials from both organizations announced the agreement Monday in Little Rock. The partnership will connect interested students with Arkansas National Guard resources and provide opportunities to learn about military careers, leadership, technical training and education benefits.
The effort is part of a broader goal of helping students make informed decisions about what comes next after graduation. Officials said students will be able to explore more than 90 career and technical education tracks while also learning about possible paths through college, employment and military service.
One of the main components of the agreement will be the placement of a military career coach at each campus within the Academies of Central Arkansas network. The coaches will serve as a resource for students who want to learn more about opportunities with the Arkansas National Guard.
The Guard will also provide Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery testing and preparation for all juniors and seniors. The ASVAB is used to help determine how a person’s skills and abilities match different military occupations, giving students another tool as they consider possible career directions.
Students will also have access to programs highlighting military education benefits, leadership training and career opportunities. The partnership is designed to give students a closer look at what military service can offer while allowing them to consider it alongside other post-graduation choices.
The Arkansas National Guard will participate in the Academy’s Annual Career Expo and help arrange tours of Camp Robinson and other partner locations. Officials also said the Guard will assist with Veterans Day and Military Recognition Day events at each campus.
For school leaders, the partnership fits into an existing effort to connect students with employers, organizations and real-world career experiences.
Doctor of Educational Administration and Supervision Jeremy S. Owoh, Superintendent of the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District, said the new agreement supports the district’s goal of preparing students for one of three major paths after graduation.
“This partnership with the Arkansas National Guard strengthens our commitment to ensuring every JNPSD scholar graduates prepared for one of the Three E’s: Enrollment, Enlistment, or Employment,” he said. “Meaningful exposure creates opportunity, and this partnership will connect our scholars to career fields, leadership experiences, technical skills, and post-secondary pathways they may not have previously considered.”
The Academies of Central Arkansas already has an extensive network of business and community partnerships. Since the 2023-24 school year, officials said the network has established 171 business partnerships and generated more than 30,000 volunteer hours.
Those volunteer hours have been valued at more than $4.1 million, according to officials. The network has also helped students gain direct exposure to different industries through thousands of experiences outside the traditional classroom.
Since the 2023-24 school year, students have taken part in 3,442 industry tours, 736 job-shadowing experiences and 1,637 internships. These opportunities allow students to see workplaces firsthand, interact with professionals and gain a better understanding of the skills required in different fields.
Students have also earned 5,803 industry-recognized certifications and more than 5,200 college credits during that period.
The new partnership with the Arkansas National Guard adds another option to that growing collection of career and educational opportunities. Students interested in military service will have access to information and preparation directly through their schools, while those considering college or civilian careers can continue to explore those routes as well.
By bringing military career resources onto campuses and providing opportunities for students to visit Guard facilities, officials hope the partnership will make military career options easier for students to understand.
The agreement also gives students opportunities to learn about leadership and technical skills that can be useful both during military service and beyond.
For the Academies of Central Arkansas and the Arkansas National Guard, the partnership represents another step toward connecting students with practical experiences before they graduate.
As students prepare for life after high school, officials said the goal is not to steer them toward one specific choice, but to provide the information, exposure and connections they need to make decisions about their own futures.
