“The College Board doesn’t care about military history,” I tell my AP-bound Accelerated US History students—though always tongue in cheek, because what historians mean by military history often differs from student assumptions. While AP US History rarely covers grand strategy or the social history of the military in depth, it does offer space to explore military history as part of broader historical processes.

One well-intentioned assembly missed the mark. Here’s how a veteran engagement project went wrong and what it taught about meaningful student connections.

If you’re a secondary teacher, chances are you already teach military history—you just haven’t called it that. This post affirms your work without piling on more.