Amarillo Gazette

Representative Jackson introduced legislation this week, alongside Senator Ted Cruz (TX), Senator Raphael Warnock (GA), and Representative Marc Veasey (TX-33), aimed at improving military recruitment at senior military colleges. The proposed legislation would allow students to opt to share their information with senior military colleges, such as Texas A&M, when applying to U.S. service academies. This initiative seeks to provide applicants who are denied admission to a service academy with an enhanced opportunity to attend a senior military college, thereby addressing the ongoing recruitment challenges faced by the military.

Jackson expressed his concerns about the current recruitment crisis in the military: "Having spent nearly my entire career in the Navy, I am deeply concerned with our military’s recruitment crisis and will do anything I can to address this issue, including encouraging young, patriotic Americans to begin their military training while working toward their degrees. As the only Aggie in Congress, I have seen firsthand the critical role that senior military colleges, like Texas A&M, play in preparing young men and women to join our great military. Students should have as many options as possible when voluntarily pursuing a life of service, and this legislation will help them do just that. I want to thank my colleagues for joining me in this important legislation, and I will continue fighting to strengthen and support our military so we are ready for any threat our nation may face."

Senator Cruz highlighted his previous efforts in facilitating alternative pathways for aspiring military leaders: “Throughout my tenure, I have been proud to nominate many highly qualified and talented Texans to our nation’s Military Service Academies, and I recognize the challenges many deserving candidates face due to the high level of competition. Those reasons are why I initiated a program, in partnership with Texas A&M, that successfully provided an alternative pathway for aspiring military leaders. Now, I am proud to be working with Sen. Warnock to expand this proven model nationwide and ensure the United States Armed Forces attract the best officer candidates to face future challenges. I call upon the Senate to expeditiously advance this legislation.”

Representative Veasey emphasized the bipartisan nature of the bill: "The bipartisan Improving Military Recruitment at Senior Military Colleges Act will expand military service opportunities for our next generation of leaders. Our legislation will help qualified military recruits break through barriers by ensuring that they are aware of the full range of higher education pathways to the military, such as colleges with military programs like Texas A&M rather than just the service academies."

General Mark Welsh III, President of Texas A&M University remarked on Texas A&M's significant contribution: “Except for the service academies, no school sends more officers into military service than Texas A&M. Aggies everywhere are very proud of that fact. Thanks to our great Texas congressional delegation, we will now be able to give even more talented young men and women the incredible privileges of being an Aggie AND wearing our nation's cloth.”

The full text of the bill is available online.

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