1. Educational Opportunities for Guardsmen
The National Guard is a military service with the mission to support and defend not only the
Constitution of the United States, but also that of individual States. Therefore, as members of the
National Guard, Georgia Guardsmen are also members of the “Reserve Components.”
Guardsmen may qualify for numerous federal education benefits – some of which are unique to
the ARNG while others come as part of being a member of the Reserve Components team.
Guardsmen, their family members, and their employees are eligible for a variety of Federal
Education benefits to assist in the pursuit of higher education objectives.
Soldiers of the Georgia Guard have a variety of resources to pay for higher education. Upon
enlistment, all Guardsmen qualify for Federal Tuition Assistance program which covers up to
100% of tuition and mandatory fees (capped at $4,500 per year) for accredited courses at
colleges, universities, trade, or secondary schools.
These funds are paid on a first come, first served basis, so early application and a proactive
attitude is vital. Some Guardsmen are also eligible for VA benefits like the Montgomery GI Bill
– Selected Reserve, or Post 9/11 GI Bill.
These funds are in addition to FTA, and can go toward paying for school essentials like
books, fees, and housing. The National Guard Service Cancelable Loan Fund may repay up to
$1,819 per semester for eligible Guardsmen. HERO scholarships are available for those
Guardsmen who have deployed to combat zones, or the children of those Guardsmen. These
scholarships can cover up to $2,000 per academic year, capped at $8,000.
For more on educational opportunities, visit the Georgia Guard’s website on the subject:
http://www.jfhq-ga.com/education/
(Word Count 275)