Enlistment and
Service Seal
Explore and prepare for military, law enforcement, or emergency service careers. Photos courtesy of Indiana Army National Guard
The Track Ahead
Potential Careers
Enlistment & Service Seals Pathway
Location: Monroe Central High School
Program Schedule: 8:15 – 10:40 AM
- Enrollment: Juniors or Seniors
- One year pathway
Enlisted Training Corps (ETC) Pathway Overview
The U.S. Army and the Indiana National Guard, Ivy Tech Community College, in coordination with Rural Alliance Zone – 32 (RAZ-32) high schools will launch the first-ever high school Enlisted Training Corps (ETC) course in Indiana starting in August 2026 as a pilot program. Authorized by the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, ETC is a credit-bearing, pre-enlistment program modeled after the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) but focused on enlisted service.
- The Enlisted Training Corps (ETC) is a three-credit-hour course that introduces students to military and public service careers through classroom instruction, leadership development, hands-on activities, and experiential learning. The course provides college credit through Ivy Tech Community College, explores military history, leadership, fitness, and career opportunities, and includes visits to military and public service sites across Indiana.
- ETC is designed to help students explore military service without any enlistment obligation. Students gain awareness of military career pathways, education benefits, and tuition assistance programs, while also becoming eligible to earn the high school Enlistment & Service Seal. Those who choose to enlist later may qualify for preferred job placement and a more favorable basic training date, provided they meet enlistment requirements.
Opportunity to Earn the Enlistment & Service Honors Plus Seal
- Students will earn dual credit for completion of the Introduction to Public Service course and also the Foundations of Military & Public Service – Enlisted Training Corps (ETC). In addition, students will participate in a structured physical education and fitness program focused on strength, endurance, injury prevention, and personal wellness aligned with military and public service readiness standards.
- The program also incorporates historical and civic studies examining major conflicts, the evolution of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the social and political impacts of military service. Through these studies, students gain insight into strategy, sacrifice, ethical leadership, and the role of the military in national and global history.
- This pathway prepares students for future opportunities including military enlistment, ROTC programs, service academies, public safety careers, homeland security programs, or further college study.
- The pathway instructor will support students in completing all Enlistment & Service Seal requirements, including dual credit coursework, ETC course completion, ASVAB preparation, skill development in communication, collaboration, work ethic, and tracking public service hours, leadership activities, and other career-readiness experiences.
- Learn more about Indiana National Guard careers!
- Photos courtesy of the Indiana Army National Guard
Indiana Mean Wage – All career and salary information cited from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Photo Gallery
Earn Credits, Gain Speed
| HS Courses | HS Credits | Ivy Tech Dual Credit Coursework | Dual Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Semester: 3524 Introduction to Public Service | 1 | IVYT 119: Public Service and Student Success | 1 |
| Yearlong Course: 0590 Pilot Course: Foundation of Military and Public Service/Enlisted Training Corps. | 2 | IVYT FMPS ETC Course – Foundation of Military and Public Service | 3 |
| 3560 Elective PE or 3542 Physical Education I | 2 | ||
| 2nd Semester: 1538 Topics in History/Historical Perspective & Analysis of Wars | 1 | ||
| Program HS Credits | 6 | Program Dual Credits | 4 |
Career Activities
The Indiana Army National Guard will provide pathway students with firsthand opportunities to visit Indiana National Guard training facilities, interactions with Soldiers from a variety of career fields, demonstrations of military equipment and training activities, and participation in age-appropriate leadership and team-building exercises. Students may also experience elements of military physical readiness, such as learning about and participating in portions of the Army’s physical fitness training and assessment standards. These activities will assist students with a better understanding of military life, career opportunities, personal fitness, leadership, and the Indiana National Guard’s role in serving communities across the state and nation.
Enlistment & Service Honors Seal Requirements will be achieved through completion of the following courses and activities:
- 3524 Introduction to Public Service Course.
- 0590 Pilot Course: Foundations of Military & Public Service/Enlisted Training Corps (ETC).
- ASVAB Testing will be conducted twice a year along with needed remediation to achieve the required ASVAB score of 31+.
- ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP) includes ASVAB testing, career interest inventory, and career exploration and planning assistance.
- Meet Attendance Requirements: Per Indiana Department of Education, no more than 3 unexcused absences in a school year.
- Demonstrate skill development in Communication, Collaboration, and Work Ethic through completion of a project that will be externally verified through a mentorship experience with current military personnel, veterans, or other public safety professionals.
Completion of the Enlistment & Service Honors PLUS Seal Requirements will be addressed through these activities:
- Completion of the ETC – Foundation of Military and Public Service (FMPS), dual-credit course fulfills the requirement for collegiate ROTC enrollment.
- Demonstrate excellence in leadership through completion of 100 hours of public service which are part of the ETC coursework. (Optional: Holding a leadership role in a co/extracurricular activity or completion of two seasons of a team-based physical sport or activity.)
Guided by Experience
Meet The Pathway Instructor
RAZ-32 Career and Technical Education Instructors are experienced, credentialed educators who are dedicated to providing high school students with a positive experience as they embark on learning about a career field through hands-on learning, related academics, technical skills attainment, and engagement with military service personnel, law enforcement, emergency services, and Homeland Security and public service representatives.
Instructor: Mr. Jeremiah Ferguson
- 20+ years of Military Experience and Leadership
- Expert Infantryman’s Badges: Parachutist, Ranger Tab, Special Forces Tab, Green Belt in Combat Jiu-Jitsu, and numerous awards, commendations, and decorations
- Bachelors of Arts Criminal Justice
- Masters of Business Administration
Where the Road Leads
When You Finish...
- Indiana Diploma Seals: Earn the Enlistment & Service Honors Seal or Honors Plus Seal
- Earn Ivy Tech dual credit for IVYT 119 and IVYT Foundation of Military and Public Service – Enlisted Training Corps.
- Work Ready: Enlistment in the Indiana Army National Guard (over 150 Military Occupational Specialties) on a part-time basis or full-time employment, EMT, police officer, firefighter, Homeland security agent, and more.
- Postsecondary: Enroll in the Ivy Tech Enlisted Training Corps (ETC) Associates Degree pathway, where dual credits earned in this pathway apply. Students who complete the ETC Associate Degree and join the U.S. Army or Indiana National Guard are eligible to enlist at the rank of E-4, bypassing standard entry-level pay an earning approximately 30% higher starting pay.
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