COLUMBUS, Ind. – U.S. Army Recruiting Command, in partnership with the Indiana Army National Guard and Ivy Tech Community College, established the nation’s first Enlisted Training Corps demonstration program this week during a signing ceremony held at Ivy Tech’s Sellersburg campus.
This initiative aims to introduce community college students to meaningful career opportunities in military and public service. In accordance with Section 548 of the 2024 National Defense
Authorization Act, the Army will pilot the ETC program on Ivy Tech’s Sellersburg and Columbus campuses beginning in fall 2025.
Ivy Tech is Indiana’s largest postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly-accredited statewide community college system, is the first community college to offer the program. The ETC
Program will be offered at no cost to Ivy Tech students enrolled at the Sellersburg and Columbus campuses. Program participants will complete a three credit-hour course taught by Army instructors titled “Foundations of Military and Public Service.” The students will learn about the benefits of military and public service, military history, military customs and courtesies, physical fitness requirements and ethical behavior and decision-making. Those who complete the program and earn an associate degree with Ivy Tech will have the opportunity to enlist in the Army at the E-4 pay grade – the highest rank available for junior enlisted recruits and a 30% pay increase over the standard entry
level.
This fall, Ivy Tech will also pilot an Introduction to Public Service course, a one-credit, one-week intensive offered at six campuses throughout Indiana (Bloomington, Columbus, Indianapolis,
Lawrenceburg, Marion and Sellersburg). The course will engage high school and undergraduate students in hands-on public service-learning experiences using Indiana National Guard facilities and expertise. High school students who complete the course through Ivy Tech’s dual credit or dual enrollment programs will have the opportunity to earn the enlistment and service readiness seal as part of the new Indiana high school diploma requirements.
