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Army and National Guard recruiters brief Forest Lake board on in-school career pathways and ASVAB support
Summary
Army and National Guard recruiters told the Forest Lake Public School District board that classroom presentations, simulator events and the 'March to Success' program help students explore careers and prepare for the ASVAB; a recent graduate described using military benefits to fund college.
Principal Kurt Caldwell introduced a delegation from Army and National Guard recruiting offices to the Forest Lake Public School District board, emphasizing the district’s long-standing relationship with military recruiters and the role recruiters play in career-readiness programs.
Sergeant Stanton, representing the Army active-duty and reserve recruiters, described frequent in‑school visits, simulator demonstrations and partnerships with the district’s college-and-career counselor, Molly Bonnett. Stanton said the recruiting team brings interactive assets—“semi truck trailers with a whole bunch of different virtual simulators”—to give students hands‑on exposure to job pathways and training opportunities.
Recruiters highlighted a free online study tool called “March to Success” used to help students prepare for standardized tests including the ASVAB. A recruiter summarized the challenge: “Out of 703 practice tests that we’ve done, it was like 40% pass rate,” and said targeted preparation and repeated practice tests can improve outcomes.
Private (PFC) Brown, a Forest Lake graduate who enlisted in 2025, told the board that classroom visits made recruiters approachable and that the Guard helped him access educational benefits. He said the Guard’s guidance made it feasible to plan for college while serving: “The Army and the National Guard gives you a family that you didn’t know you had,” Brown said, and he described using an EMT course and PSEO credits to reduce training time for field‑medic pathways.
Board members asked about how recruiters gauge student interest, timelines for interventions and the extent to which training and credentials (for example EMT certification) reduce in‑service training. Recruiters said they use classroom visits and short follow‑up touchpoints (sign‑up cards or office meetings) to move interested students toward practice testing and eligibility screening. They also distinguished Guard opportunities (state‑focused, often compatible with in‑state college attendance) from national active‑duty options.
The board and the audience applauded at the end of the presentation. Recruiters left contact information and the board encouraged them to continue coordinating with district staff on possible career‑day and military‑only recruitment events.
