[October 20, 2025] An Army Major General (retired) shared an interesting idea: he was encouraging the best high school students to join the U.S. military. The reward system he designed has been in use for several years and has seen some success in recruiting qualified students for the Armed Forces. When he told me about the idea, I immediately recognized its value.
Cities and counties should implement a similar approach.
Each year, before graduation in the spring, this retired General and his team, a township Veterans Affairs Committee, organize a small ceremony for these military-bound students. A classroom is selected and decorated with a patriotic theme to encourage student participation and foster a culture that promotes engagement with our military.
At the ceremony, several deliverables are presented to each student:
- There is a certificate from the local Congressman, along with a folded American flag that was flown over the Capitol.
- Certificate of Honor from the local Veterans Affairs Committee
- A Certificate of Commendation of Military Commitment from the local Township, including an attached “Thank you for your service” challenge coin.
- A Blue Star coin and holder (see article thumbnail).
At the ceremony, parents, relatives, and friends of the students are invited to attend. Community leaders deliver a few brief speeches. Local veterans and military recruiters are present to encourage others to pursue further opportunities. The goal is to create something truly exceptional. Various veteran organizations are also included.
Should we consider implementing something similar in our own County? Or should we partner with local townships to use their own Veterans Committees to handle this separately? Or should we not act at all? This would require working closely with local high schools.
These are the topics we need to cover at upcoming municipal meetings.
————
Please read my books:
I would hope that we continue to encourage those in schools to join our military. Of course, we only want those who are trustworthy, strong, and have he mental abilities to fulfill their military role, regardless of what job they will do while there. We need a strong military: peace through strength, as President Ronald Reagan once said. The powerful don’t have to worry about bullies because bullies are cowards who will only pick on the weak. America and other nations know this to be true.
Keep encouraging folks to join, no matter what.
Right, Anya. Let’s pray that these young people learn discipline and trust in their newly attained jobs.
I hope it works. Looks like it will. There’s an old saying that if you want more of a certain behavior, then reward it. If you want less, punish it. In this case, the reward will drive more to enlist in the military. Good!!
We can only hope that the very best volunteer.
An Army Major General (retired) shared an interesting idea: he was encouraging the best high school students to join the U.S. military. The reward system he designed has been in use for several years and has seen some success in recruiting qualified students for the Armed Forces. When he told me about the idea, I immediately recognized its value. Cities and counties should implement a similar approach. As Gen. Satterfield has noted, a reward system sometimes has to be built and used to encourage good decisions by our youth.
Teaching good decision making is an obligation that only the best among us are willing to voluntarily take upon themselves.
Thanks for sharing.
“The goal is to create something truly exceptional.” And there we have it in a nutshell.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Gen. Satterfield, I think I can speak for others and say “thanks” to you for throwing out for us to consider ideas that can help make our communities better. In this case, the lives of high school students can be made better as they transition to military life, learning discipline and American values. They also learn it through sacrifice and hard work, the very acts that help us become successful.
EXCELLENT IDEA
…and why I always read the article by Gen. Satterfield. This one is fairly simple but it works. Reward young folks for doing good, and you’re more likely to get more of that behavior. 🫡