For New York Rep. Nick LaLota, his service in the US Navy is a central part of his re-election campaign. That’s how he presented himself in a recent campaign ad. On his lawn signs, the “o” in his name contains the silhouette of a saluting officer.

The Republican congressman is running for re-election in New York’s 1st congressional district on eastern Long Island, a seat he has held since last year.

He said veterans can become great public servants because the military teaches self-sacrifice and trains troops to put aside their personal agendas to accomplish greater goals.

“That was definitely my training, that you put your ship and your mate before you,” LaLota said. “And the more time someone has in that culture — that selfless culture, that culture of pride in country, I think the more successful that individual can be in serving the government, whether it’s an appointed or elected role.”

During the World War II and Vietnam eras, military service was a common resume line for applicants. In 1973, about 75% of Congress worked. But as the army evolved into an all-volunteer force, that number dropped to a third.

A number of programs that nurture veterans with political aspirations are trying to change that.

“The people who serve in the U.S. military are some of the best trained and most capable people in the world,” said Steven Lux of Syracuse University’s Veterans Program for Policy and Civic Engagement. “The amount of money that we’re investing — appropriately, I would argue — in our military, you just don’t want it to go to waste in any way. So if they have the passion and the inclination, then let’s give them a little more training to be able to participate in public life.”

Over the course of several weeks, the Syracuse program teaches veterans how campaigns work, how to raise funds and how to define themselves to voters. They also learn ways to translate their military service into public service.

“The idea is to take the mystery out of what it takes to run for office,” Lux said.

Some veterans are a natural fit for elected office because they can be both resilient team players and leaders, Lux said. They can provide unique perspectives on issues such as public safety, national security, and veterans’ benefits.

But often, they come to the program very politically green.

“Step number one, actually, is figuring out what party you’re in,” Lux said. “A lot of the military walks in the door and says, ‘Well, I’m really more of a moderate. I would like to be independent. It’s a very, very hard thing to do running as an independent.”

The Syracuse University program has graduated about 250 candidates since it began about five years ago.

Nick LaLota said his service in the Navy is a signal to voters about his priorities.

“I rely on my service to tell constituents, especially those who don’t know me, who I am and what I’m about — not only in a rearview mirror … but more importantly, a future vision of how they can predict what I would do.”

LaLota’s Democratic challenger is former CNN anchor John Avlon, whose campaign did not respond to a request for comment. But Avlon said that regardless of LaLota’s history, he is too extreme to remain in office.

Military times counted 188 veterans now running for Congress.

This story was produced by the American Homefront Project, a public media collaboration covering military life and America’s veterans.

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