FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. -- Men and women who help shape the lives of young Missourians are now being asked to help their nation in a time of war. It’s the newest push in the battle for new National Guard recruits.

With two ongoing wars abroad and the possibility of more foreign threats, the nation is becoming more reliant on the National Guard. In this environment, recruiting is an uphill battle -- so the Guard is trying to boost its image and beat back misperceptions.

On a recent foggy autumn morning, it was educators who loaded into a Blackhawk helicopter and flews at 1,000 feet over the Ozarks, only to be dropped in the middle of the woods at Fort Leonard Wood.

“Next time, I'm wearing my hunting boots,” said teacher Aundrea Morris of Glendale High School in Springfield. “We're going to get lost.”

Morris was counting on a 17-year-old Glendale junior to ace his land navigation test, in only his second try since he enlisted.

“I've been wanting to join since I’ve been 8 years old,” said Peter Mullen.

Delta is a National Guard company from southwest Missouri. It has about 100 soldiers right now, and the majority of them come right out of area high schools. For the first time, the National Guard has invited area teachers to see and feel its training drills up close.

It's meant to improve relations with schools at a time when meeting recruiting goals can be as tough as completing the fort's endurance course.

“It is definitely harder to recruit today than it ever has been before,” said Staff Sgt. Kevin LaChance, a National Guard recruiter.

With wars on two fronts, the chance that a Guard member will end up overseas is high. Vietnam War veteran Dave Davison has concerns about how recruiting pressures can impact a teenager's decision.

“We need to educate the kids in a fair way during the recruiting presentation to make sure the child knows what they’re getting into,” said Davison.

Davison is critical of the recruiting efforts, pointing to the $40,000 bonuses that some recruits can receive just for signing up.

“The money in many cases is a very big influence,” he said.

Republic High School senior Michael Heston was recruited after a principal notified the Guard about his discipline problems.

“The cops were following me, and I just decided to change and do the right thing,” said Heston.

For many adrift teens, the Guard provides structure and stability. But Heston lists financial help as the top reason he decided to give it a try.

“I grew up less fortunate and the National Guard could help me with schooling. They could help me with benefits,” he said.

Mullen would be proud to serve in a war zone if called but even he had reservations when asked whether he wants to go overseas eventually.

“Kind of, kind of not. Yes and no. There are dangers I don't want to face,” said Mullen.

“The recruiters should be laying out statistics. They should be telling, ‘We've had this many people die in the war, this many people injured in this war,’” said Davison.

“If you put the uniform on, whether it looks like mine or someone else's, you stand the chance you might be called to active duty service,” said LaChance, who believes that possibility sinks in, even to a 17-year-old high school student.

What it takes to become a soldier certainly sunk in for the group of teachers after a day with their own boots on the ground.

“It will definitely help me in promoting what students are going to be able to learn,” said Morris.

And that's one small battle won in a recruiting mission that's never really fully accomplished.