Letter to Lieutenant General Rice - Provide Tuition Assistance Benefits

Letter

Dear Lieutenant General Rice:

The North Dakota Air National Guard performs critical national missions and also plays an important role in communities around the state. We want the best individuals to serve in the National Guard and, as you know, educational benefits are one of the best ways to attract and develop an outstanding Air Guard team. The state of North Dakota is discussing how it can best support the educational needs of our Guard members, and I want to make sure federal programs are aligned to match this effort.

Guard members often use post-9/11 GI bill benefits to pay for their education, and members of the Army National Guard also have access to Federal Tuition Assistance to pay for school. Unfortunately, to date, the Air National Guard does not provide a similar tuition benefit for its airmen. North Dakota seeks to cover costs not covered by federal benefits, but the disparity between the Army and Air Guard education benefits creates a strain on the state's tuition assistance program.

I understand that the Air National Guard is currently reviewing its policies on federal tuition assistance. I want to encourage completion of that review as soon as possible. I also request that you provide a briefing to my staff when the review is complete so that I can understand the costs involved in matching the Army National Guard's federal tuition assistance program as well as any statutory impediments to providing this educational benefit.

I hope that we can combine efforts at the state level with updated policies at the federal level to provide robust educational benefits to members of the Air National Guard. I stand ready to assist you in this effort. As always, thank you for your service to the nation and your commitment to our airmen and their families.

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