Photo By Joseph Siemandel | Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, the adjutant general, Washington National Guard and Nancy...... read more read more
Subscribe
When the economy and job market improve, the increase in the number of career opportunities often leads to a decrease in the number of young men and women who volunteer to serve.
"Our personnel numbers are the lowest they've been in years, and that threatens our organization's ability to provide life-saving assistance and help our communities respond following a disaster," said Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, the state's adjutant general and commander of the Washington National Guard.
Daugherty testified before the Washington state Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee in support of Senate Bill 5197, which would create a Washington National Guard Post-Secondary Education Grant Program. Washington state is one of just a handful of states that doesn't provide up to 100 percent tuition assistance to its members of the National Guard as an incentive to join and remain a drilling member.
"It's a modest investment to help our Washington National Guard get back to full strength and prepared to assist our state and communities when needed."
If approved, Senate Bill 5197 / House Bill 1201 will provide tuition assistance to any active drilling member of the Washington National Guard in good standing who has not already earned a bachelor's degree or higher. The member must enroll at an in-state institution of higher education accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. The grant would be designed to cover the cost of tuition that federal tuition assistance, federal grants and scholarships don't cover.
Most state's already offer a similar program, to include Oregon and Idaho.
"We have had members that live in the border communities transfer because they offer this benefit," said Daugherty. "Others have chosen to leave our organization and take jobs with private organizations, like Starbucks, which offers tuition assistance to even part time employees."
"This is for members of the Washington National Guard that are reaching for their hopes and dreams," said Sen. Steve Hobbs, the prime sponsor on Senate Bill 5197. "Our members join the Guard to provide a better life for themselves, their families and ultimately their communities."
Currently Army National Guard members are provided the ability to use federal tuition assistance, or the Montgomery GI Bill. Air National Guard members have less education benefits.
"Our Guardsmen want to serve our local communities while providing a good life for their families," said Daugherty. "Providing tuition assistance and the opportunity for career advancement will help offset the time-commitment of serving in the Guard. It will also ensure that Washington employers have the skilled workforce necessary to succeed and support our economy."
| Date Taken: | 01.25.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 01.25.2019 14:11 |
| Story ID: | 308277 |
| Location: | OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 1,200 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Proposed legislation seeks state tuition assistance for Washington National Guard members in school, by Joseph Siemandel, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
