The SERVE Act (Service Enlistment and Recruitment of Valuable Engagement Act) is a bill to strengthen U.S. military recruitment by broadening how and when high schools interact with military recruiters, expanding access to student information for recruiting, and creating recognition and preference mechanisms to encourage military service. Key provisions include expanding meaningful high school access for recruiters (frequency, location, and data available), establishing two types of JROTC affiliations (host and cross-town), launching a two-year pilot to designate “HERO” military-friendly schools, and creating priority consideration for admissions to military service academies for graduates of high-enlistment-rate high schools. The bill also designates a National Week of Military Recruitment, and requires various reports to Congress on program implementation and outcomes. Overall, the measure seeks to align K-12 education environments with military recruiting goals and to incentivize schools and students to pursue military service.
Key Points
- 1Expands meaningful access to high schools for military recruiters:
- 2- Requires recruiters to have at least four visits per academic year (monthly or similar cadence) in high-traffic, reception-friendly venues during peak hours with non-disruptive access.
- 3- Allows recruiters to access student directory information, including names, academic grades, and genders, and to contact students who are 17+ (including those not returning after a prior semester) or who have FAFSA data on file.
- 4JROTC access and affiliation changes:
- 5- Adds flexibility for students at schools without a JROTC unit to participate in JROTC at other district schools.
- 6- Establishes two JROTC affiliation types: Host units (full-time staffed at a school with a MOA) and Cross-town units (students enroll in host unit and participate at both campuses).
- 7HERO schools pilot program:
- 8- Establishes a two-year pilot to designate high schools with above-average military enlistment rates as “HERO” schools (Honoring Excellence and Recruitment Opportunities).
- 9- HERO designation is issued by a formal Secretary of Defense letter and requires criteria including enlistment-rate benchmarks, programs that support military aspirations (recruiters, JROTC, military prep coursework), and demonstrated ties with military services.
- 10- A first-year review is required.
- 11Priority consideration for military service academy admissions:
- 12- Creates policy for priority consideration at USMA, USNA, USAFA, and USCGA for graduates of eligible high schools with above-average enlistment rates.
- 13- Eligibility requires a high enlistment-rate, ongoing school support for military pathways, and a documented history of encouraging military service; priority includes nominations and appointments.
- 14National Week of Military Recruitment:
- 15- Establishes a National Week of Military Recruitment and authorizes a presidential proclamation to observe it annually.
- 16Reporting and oversight:
- 17- Requires DoD to report within 180 days on cross-town JROTC units, enrollment, and recommendations (Sec. 4).
- 18- Requires a 90-day post-pilot report on HERO schools with list and impact analysis (Sec. 5).
- 19- Requires implementation and annual outcome reports on the priority-consideration policy for service academies (Sec. 6).