U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) is urging the Air Force to support Air National Guard members by making a federal tuition assistance pilot program permanent.
In an Oct. 19 letter to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, Sen. Hoeven and U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) underscored the success of the Air Guard federal tuition assistance pilot program. That program has played an important role in supporting the recruitment of National Guard members needed for the Air Guard’s MQ-9 mission in Fargo, N.D., and other high-tech missions.
The senators called for Air National Guard benefits to match their peers in the Army National Guard. They requested that in addition to establishing a permanent Air National Guard federal tuition assistance (TA) program that the Air Force include at least $4 million in funding in its fiscal year 2025 budget request.
“Our Armed Forces seek to recruit the best and brightest young people to protect and defend our nation, and educational benefits are one of the most appealing ways to help attract, develop, and retain outstanding Airmen,” the senators wrote.
“Drill Status Guard members serving in the Army National Guard currently have access to a strong and successful Fed TA program, and given today’s recruiting and retention challenges across all service branches, it is imperative that the Air Force have a similar Fed TA program in place for DSG members of the ANG,” the letter said.