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It's thousands of miles geographically and emotionally from commanding troops in Iraq. Teaching 21 advanced high school students calculus was never part of the planned career ladder.

However, this change in life path is shared by U.S. military veterans - many of them retired - who enrolled in the Troops to Teachers program. This Federal project has placed 11,500 teachers across the country in 15 years. The Obama administration has targeted it as a way to draw more men and minority members to fill public school vacancies in math, science and special education.

According to Maria Glod, writing in the June 4, 2009 The Washington Post, around 82 percent of the former service members who sign up for the program are men. This contrasts with an estimated 25 percent of all current teachers who are male. About 40 percent of Troops to Teachers enrollees are members of ethnic or racial minorities. The Post states that the program has placed more than 2,000 black teachers into classrooms.

A Florida study revealed that students taught by graduates of the Troops program achieved greater gains in reading ability than those students whose teachers had similar classroom experience. Math students also excelled beyond students of traditional teachers, some of whom had more experience than the Troops teachers.

Troops for Teachers graduates often tackle subject areas beyond math and science. Some coach athletics, serve as student government advisors or even coach cheerleading squads. They tend to see their duty as more than making sure their students earn good grades. They want to prepare them for life.

The Troops for Teachers program began in 1994 during a period of downsizing of the military. Although it's operated by the U.S. Department of Defense, it's the beneficiary of $14.4 million each year from the Department of Education.

Military candidates agree to teach at least three years in an area where many students live in poverty. They receive up to $5,000 for the training needed to become a teacher and a bonus of up to $5,000.

Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis.) is credited as being one of the program's creators. He currently leads a move to expand the program in order to place teachers in middle-class communities. He envisions it as a good option for veterans of service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

One segment of the Troops to Teachers effort is the Hire in Advance program. It guarantees active service members a teaching position for up to three years before they leave the military. It helps alleviate a growing shortage of teachers while providing a seamless transition to life in the classroom.

The program initially reviews the service member's background and credentials. If he or she is qualified, a position within a specific school district is guaranteed at the credential-qualified level. Although specific schools are never guaranteed, each service member receives a salary projection.

Members of the military who are interested in the Troops to Teachers program can both check their eligibility and register online at the web site.

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