Articles

HCC military program empowers students for future leadership roles

Dec 17, 2024

Houston Community College’s (HCC) new Military Education Program offerings are progressing with multiple partnerships with military branches and Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) programs to cultivate future military leaders.

Under Robert Glover, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel serving as HCC’s interim executive director for Military Education Programs, HCC is collaborating with the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force Junior ROTC organizations, leveraging partnerships with surrounding school districts such as Houston, Aldine, Fort Bend, Spring, Katy, Spring Branch and Alief Independent School Districts, and Stafford Municipal School District to provide opportunities for high school students.

HCC has 14 Centers of Excellence, ten of which serve as pipelines for military education. The program also offers scholarships and internships to help cover educational costs.

“This collaboration will pave the way for tailored academic and career pathways, catering to the diverse strengths, interests, and career aspirations of HCC students,” said Glover. “This presents our prospective students with the opportunity to gain real-world education and experience.”

The largest cadet recruitment currently comes from the Air Force and Army ROTC programs, with 11 students enrolled in the inaugural year and 17 more undergoing the screening process.

Fifty-one students from Houston ISD’s Worthing High School Junior ROTC program have committed to entering HCC’s military education program in spring 2025, along with an additional 300 students anticipated to join through dual credit and ROTC programs across the district.

HCC is also working with the U.S. Coast Guard to directly enlist HCC graduates into the Coast Guard to fill critical military positions that support the nation’s national security interests. Currently, this means that nursing, emergency medical technicians and culinary specialists who graduate will transfer into the Coast Guard at increased ranks with applicable pay and benefits. Additionally, more military occupational specialties will be added to the program as the cooperative agreement continues to grow.

With an overall focus on providing exceptional education and training experiences, the HCC initiative prioritizes leadership development through rigorous training, mentorship and hands-on experiences. Students who complete degrees can complete HCC two- and four-year programs or transfer to other universities, sometimes on full scholarships. Others can end up even completing graduate school in uniform.

“HCC’s military education program also offers pathways for all students, including high school students, active-duty military and veterans seeking additional certifications,” Glover said.

The initiative comes at a time when more than 5,700 students in the greater Houston region participate in Junior ROTC programs across various school districts within HCC’s service area.

“We are delighted that this initiative is underway, and we welcome the chance to play a part in the defense of our nation through our military education programs,” said HCC Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher, Ed.D. “In the years ahead, students can learn the leadership skills needed for successful military careers while receiving real-world, affordable education at HCC.”

Learn more about HCC’s efforts at hccs.edu/military-education.