CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD TUITION BENEFITS STUDY

Due to federal requirements and our need to be ready for state emergencies, a strain is placed on our service members, their Families, and their employers.

In a December 2007 study conducted by the Military Department, 74% of the over 2,600 CNG members surveyed indicated that they would incur an additional service obligation to receive a state education benefit.

California is the only state that does not provide an educational benefit to members of its National Guard.

An education benefit will serve as an incentive and reward to our National Guard members and their Families for their service to the state by allowing them to achieve the goal of higher education without undue cost to the Family.

California has the smallest National Guard, as measured per capita of all of the states or territories.

California continues to be one of the most-tasked National Guard forces in the nation; the National Guard routinely supports state and local governments during emergencies.

This is a retention benefit for CNG members in recognition of the sacrifices they make on behalf of California.

A General Fund Appropriation of $1.8M for half-year funding in 2008-2009 (legislation takes effect Jan 10, 2009), $3.6M annually thereafter to establish the California National Guard Education Award Program.

49 states have successfully used educational assistance programs as a benefit to express their states commitment to their National Guard and as recognition of the sacrifices that their National Guard members make on behalf of their citizens each day.

The program is based on factual data obtained from our Soldiers and Airmen, as well as statistical analysis of several other state National Guard education programs. It is not just an idea, it is a necessary and viable part of a strong National Guard force.

State Economic Impact

Maintaining your Guard Force is essential to an effective state disaster response

During the 1990’s - The CNG was authorized for 28,000

Presently - the CNG is only authorized for 20,000

The loss of 8000 positions at $50K per position, equates to a loss of $400M in Federal funds that otherwise would flow into the state annually.

The CNG brings over $1 Billion in federal funds into CA for the support of the 20,000 California National Guard members.

Nowhere is this more self-evident than in the dramatic loss of 8,000 National Guard positions in California’s force structure and the hundreds of millions of dollars of equipment that was lost to other states since 1990.

Year/Event/CNG Authorized Strength
1990/Desert Storm/28,000
1996/Peace Dividend/26,000
2001/September 11th/24,000
2005/Transformation/20,000

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