Troops-to-Teachers Program
Troops to Teachers (TTT) was established in 1994 as a Department of Defense program. The
National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2000 transferred the responsibility for program oversight
and funding to the U.S. Department of Education but continued operation by the Department of
Defense. The No Child Left Behind Act provides for the continuation of TTT as a teacher
recruitment program. Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) manages
the TTT program. You can access the TTT website at
http://www.proudtoserveagain.com/.
Reflecting the focus of the No Child Left Behind Act, the primary objective of TTT is to help
recruit quality teachers for schools that serve students from low-income families throughout
America. TTT helps relieve teacher shortages, especially in math, science, special education
and other critical subject areas, and assists military personnel in making successful transitions
to second careers in teaching.
TTT assists eligible military personnel to transition to a new career as public school
teachers in targeted schools. A network of State TTT Offices has been established to provide
participants with counseling and assistance regarding certification requirements, routes to state
certification, and employment leads. Pending annual appropriation of funds, financial
assistance is available to eligible individuals as stipends up to $5,000 to help pay for teacher
certification costs or as bonuses of $10,000 to teach in schools serving a high percentage of
students from low-income families. Participants who accept the Stipend or Bonus must agree to
teach for three years in targeted schools in accordance with the authorizing
legislation.
The TTT link (
http://www.proudtoserveagain.com/)
leads to the home page, which provides information, and resource links, including links to state
Departments of Education, state certification offices, model resumes, programs leading to teacher
certification and job listing sites in public education. An Internet Referral System has been
established to enable participants to search for job vacancies online and post resumes for view by
school districts searching for teachers. A “Mentor Connection” site provides access to TTT
participants who have made the transition to teaching and are available to respond to questions
from prospective teachers.
Troops to Teachers Hire in Advance Program
The Troops to Teachers'
Hire in Advance Program, which in Las Vegas, Denver, and Newark, N.J., guarantees
teaching jobs for eligible military up to three years before they retire or separate from active
duty. Troops who qualify for the Hire in Advance program can send in applications and interview
with school officials, who can officially hire them up to three years before they leave active
duty. The Troops to Teachers and the Hire in Advance Program are both open to military spouses as
well. For more information, visit
http://www.proudtoserveagain.com/
Eligibility
Military personnel within several years of retirement are encouraged to register with Troops
to Teachers. Counseling and guidance is available to help individuals assess academic
background, identify programs that will lead to state teacher certification and identify potential
employment opportunities.
Financial Assistance: Individuals eligible for immediate financial
assistance are:
- Retired military personnel, active and reserve
- Personnel within one year of retirement
- Active duty personnel separating with six years active duty and join a Selected Reserve
component unit
- Current reserve component members with 10+ years of active and/or Selected Reserve service
creditable toward retirement
- Veterans separated due to service-connected disability
Educational Requirements
Those interested in elementary or secondary-teaching positions must have a bachelor’s degree
from an accredited college. Individuals who do not have a baccalaureate degree, but have
experience in a vocational/technical field may also submit an application. There is also a
growing need for teachers with backgrounds in areas such as electronics, construction trades,
computer technology, health services, food services and other vocational/technical
fields.
Current Information: The Troops to Teachers website is updated as new or
revised information becomes available. The website also provides a standard Power Point
briefing and other promotional materials.
Date Last Reviewed: September 27, 2011