S. 1530 — SERVE Act

This section states congressional findings on military recruitment challenges and the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program. The findings recognize that maintaining force levels requires balancing recruitment and retention amid the most challenging environment in 50 years due to a strong economy, shrinking eligible population, and declining trust in institutions among Generation Z, with only 12% of 2022 youth having a parent who served (down from 40% in 1995); note a disconnect causing lack of awareness of military benefits such as competitive pay and career training, with over half of youth never considering service; and describe JROTC as providing leadership and character development for high school students, with improved access available by authorizing use of JROTC units at other schools in the district.

This section revises military recruiters' access requirements for secondary schools and institutions of higher education and expands Selective Service System registration information furnished for recruitment purposes by— (1) revising secondary school access requirements to specify meaningful access including monthly visits or at a minimum no fewer than 4 times per academic year spread across the school year in high-traffic areas during peak school hours, lunch periods, and between classes (without interfering with attendance), and with reasonable notice in auditoriums, at athletic functions, and other group or social activities (previously, access same as generally provided to postsecondary institutions or prospective employers); (2) for both secondary schools and institutions of higher education, requiring provision of student directory information—including names, addresses, telephone listings, and academic grades (added)—by the 60th day after the start of the school year and thereafter not later than 30 days (previously, 60 days); (3) for institutions of higher education, further requiring access to (A) information on students age 17 or older not returning after enrollment in the previous semester, including the reason for not returning if collected, and (B) lists of such students who submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, along with directory information; and (4) requiring the Director of Selective Service to furnish annually (previously, upon request) to the Secretary of Defense, military services (added), or Secretary of Homeland Security, for recruiting purposes only, names, dates of birth (added), phone numbers (added), electronic mail addresses (added), and addresses of registered individuals (previously, names and addresses).

This section directs the Department of Defense to establish policy creating two affiliation types within the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program—a high school leadership and citizenship elective sponsored by military departments—and to issue implementing guidance clarifying roles, responsibilities, and requirements for each type. The affiliation types are (1) host units, located at high schools with a memorandum of agreement with a military department for full-time staffed JROTC programs; and (2) cross-town affiliations, allowing students from other high schools to enroll in and participate in a host unit’s program and activities without dedicated staff at their school.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a two-year pilot program recognizing high schools with military enlistment rates exceeding the state average for grades 9-12 as “HERO schools” (Honoring Excellence and Recruitment Opportunities). Qualifying schools must also provide programs supporting military service—such as access to recruiters, Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC), and military preparation coursework—and demonstrate positive relationships with local recruiting stations; the Secretary must issue formal designation letters and review program effectiveness after one year.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, to establish a policy providing priority consideration for admission to the military service academies—United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy, United States Air Force Academy, and United States Coast Guard Academy—for applicants graduating from high schools with military enlistment rates exceeding the state average for grades 9 through 12. To qualify, a high school must (1) exceed the state average enlistment rate, (2) provide ongoing support for military service (e.g., access to recruiters, Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs, and military preparatory coursework), and (3) have a documented history of encouraging military service; applicants from qualifying schools receive priority status for appointments, including those from congressional nominations.

This section designates the first week of April as National Week of Military Recruitment and requests the President to issue each year a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe it with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to submit the following reports: (1) not later than 180 days after enactment, to the congressional defense committees, on the status of the JROTC policy under section 4(a), including the number and locations of cross-town units established, total enrollment numbers for each cross-town institution, and recommendations for improvements; (2) not later than 90 days after the conclusion of the two-year pilot program under section 5, to Congress, listing schools designated as HERO schools, analyzing impacts on military enlistment rates and school culture, and providing recommendations for expansion or continuation; and (3) not later than 180 days after enactment, to Congress, outlining the process for identifying eligible high schools, criteria for determining military enlistment rates, and timeline for implementing the priority consideration policy under section 6; plus annual reports to Congress on the number of applicants receiving priority consideration, cities and states of their high schools, application outcomes, and impacts on military service academy enrollment patterns.