What is the Military Preparation Program?
NDCDE’s Military Preparation Program (MPP) gives students a structured, high-quality opportunity to explore military service and leadership pathways while earning high school credit.
Developed in collaboration with the North Dakota Army National Guard, the program aligns to clearly defined Military Pathway standards and supports North Dakota’s Choice Ready Framework under the Military Ready indicator.
Students gain a strong foundation in leadership, discipline, service, and readiness—skills that prepare them for success whether they pursue enlistment, ROTC, or civilian careers supporting national defense.
Why Choose MPP?
- Career Readiness – Build leadership, teamwork, discipline, and ethical decision-making skills valued across all branches.
- Choice Ready Alignment – Pathway coursework helps students meet the Military Ready requirements in the ND Choice Ready Framework.
- Guard Partnership – Students connect with Guard mentors and may participate in physical fitness testing, drill observations, and job-shadow opportunities.
- Community Impact – Service learning and leadership projects are integrated into the program experience.
Available Courses (2.5 Total Credits)
Recommended for Grades 11–12
- Introduction to Military Careers (½ credit)
- SVAB Essentials: Skills for Military Success (½ credit; Prereq: Introduction to Military Careers)
- (Coming 2026) Military Health & Fitness (½ credit) – includes physical readiness testing with the ND National Guard
- (Coming 2026) Career Foundations in Military Leadership (½ credit; Prereq: ASVAB Essentials)
- (Coming 2026) Military Leadership Capstone: Skills for Success (½ credit; Prereq: three other MPP courses) – includes in-person job-shadow or mentorship experience
Program Standards
Students demonstrate competencies across four standards:
- Military Context – Understand U.S. military history, missions, organization, and the dual state/federal role of the National Guard.
- Holistic Military Personal Readiness – Develop physical and mental readiness, leadership, ethics, and the ability to lead diverse teams
- Military Career Readiness – Explore career paths; prepare for the ASVAB; understand benefits, advancement, and veteran/community support.
- 21st Century Skills – Apply critical thinking, digital literacy/cybersecurity awareness, clear communication, and teamwork in military and civilian contexts.
Choice Ready Alignment & Completion
To meet the Military Ready indicator, students can:
- Earn an ASVAB score of 31+ or meet military acceptance requirements, and
- Complete 2.0 credits within the Military Preparation Program (4 courses), and
- Maintain good citizenship and physical fitness (e.g., C or higher in PE).
Full pathway completion includes capstone leadership experiences, embedded community service (25 hours), and recognition of military readiness.
Getting Strarted
Look for the CertX > Military Preparation Program (MPP) tile in the NDCDE Store to view course offerings and enroll.
Discounts for North Dakota Students
Thanks to a 2025 legislative appropriation, MPP courses are only $20 each through NDCDE.
Contact Us & Resources
For questions or support, email ndcde.support@k12.nd.us and include MPP in the subject line.