Manning Awarded for Historic Investment in Early Childhood Care and Education

Major General Paul Sullivan, left, and Brigadier General Charles O. Dillard (Ret.), right, both members of Mission: Readiness Ohio, give National Security Leadership Award to Ohio Sen. Nathan Manning for historic early childhood investments in the state budget at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 21, 2020. Photo/Mike Elicson

Mission: Readiness Ohio this week honored State Senator Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) with the “National Security Leadership Award” for his support of historic investments made in early childhood care and education in the state’s operating budget, signed into law earlier this year.

“I am honored to receive this award and I am proud of our work in the budget to support early childhood care and education,” said Manning. “It is critically important that we continue to create opportunities for Ohio’s young people.”

“Fewer than 30 percent of young adults qualify for the military. This is a national security challenge. Research informs us that high quality programs focused on infants and toddlers as well as pre-school can significantly improve their life outcomes and prepare them for service in the military or workforce,” said Major General (Ret.) Paul J. Sullivan. “We thank the legislature for addressing this issue with historic investments in critical early childhood programs.”

Mission: Readiness Ohio is part of a national military leadership organization comprised of retired Admirals and Generals. The organization began in response to a Pentagon statistic that approximately 71% of young adults are ineligible for the military due to fitness, education or legal qualifications.