In today's dangerous world, America needs a strong military to keep our country safe and to preserve freedom for the next generation. Currently, our military is strong and ready to respond, and our service members are smart, capable and healthy.

Our men and women in uniform operate the most sophisticated technology in the world. They are charged with demanding tasks and complex missions that require intelligence, diligence and grit. They have to determine who is friend and who is foe in live combat situations.

So consider this startling statistic: The Pentagon is reporting that 75 percent of young Americans between the ages of 17 and 24 are unable to enlist in the U.S. military.

How is this possible? Because they are either physically unfit, failed to finish high school or have a criminal background.

A limited pool of qualified recruits will erode our national security and could even diminish the readiness of guard units right here in Pennsylvania.

Those of us who have served as military leaders know our country needs to act today to ensure our military readiness for tomorrow's world. The most important long-term investment we can make for an effective fighting force is in the health and education of the American people. Early education is a tested strategy proven to help more Americans achieve personal and career success.

Over 40 years, researchers followed the progress of two groups of children -- one attended a high-quality Michigan preschool, the other did not. The at-risk children who attended the early-education program were 44 percent more likely to finish high school. The children who did not participate in the preschool program were also five times more likely to be repeat offenders by age 27 than their peers.

The contrasts could not be more clear. Children who attend early-education programs are more likely to be employed and pursue higher education. Those who lack early learning experiences are more likely to become dependent on welfare.

Early education is key to providing young learners with a foundation for many options in adulthood, including a career in the military should they choose to pursue one.

Unfortunately, thousands of the children in our state who would get the most out of quality early education are unable to attend because the programs are inadequately funded.

Pennsylvania is at a crossroads. If too many of our students continue to slip academically and get off track, it could ultimately undermine the strength of our armed forces. We need strong early-learning programs to help prepare young people for success in life.

Pennsylvania's elected leaders have an opportunity to help more at-risk kids gain access to early childhood education. The Legislature should prioritize early education and find room in this year's tight budget for Pre-K Counts, the high-quality pre-kindergarten program that helps Pennsylvania's at-risk 3- and 4-year-olds get the right start. They should also maintain state funding for Head Start so that more at-risk children are on track for success early on.

At the federal level, the president is asking for grants to states for quality early-learning programs that promote school success. Pennsylvania's congressional delegation should help pass legislation to authorize and fund this proposal so that more children start school ready to learn and succeed in life.

Make no mistake about it--our military stands ready to protect us against those who would threaten our security. But to sustain our military strength for the future, we must ensure that our educational system is keeping pace with the needs of a 21st-century economy and military.

By investing in high-quality early-childhood education, we help more children receive the right start in life and ensure our national security for years to come.