What does it mean for members of our National Guard & Reserve?

Washington, D.C. - In its first in a series of oversight hearings on education benefits, the Veterans' Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity explored the effectiveness of potential improvements that might improve recruiting and retention and increase the use of education benefits among members of the National Guard and Reserves.

"You cannot retain someone you don't recruit. A benefit must first attract someone to military service," said Subcommittee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Ark.). "Hopefully, once someone joins, aspects of military life such as comradeship, adventure, training, and just plain old patriotism will convince members to stay regardless of whether there are post-discharge benefits. For those who choose to leave, we should be wise enough to thank them profusely for their service and make them aware that they are always welcome back to the family."

Testimony from representatives of the Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs as well as the National Guard Bureau and the Adjutant General of the Arkansas National Guard, offered subcommittee members conflicting views of the need to significantly change education benefits for members of the Selected Reserves.

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Craig Duehring testified that educational assistance programs have been highly effective in helping DoD achieve its force management objectives while providing service members with a valuable benefit that helps them achieve their educational goals. Duehring also said that the Selected Reserves are meeting their recruiting and retention goals at the current level of benefits.

After the hearing, Boozman noted that DoD continues to recognize the need for change.

"I find it very interesting that our witnesses from outside the Pentagon have a very different view of how improving education benefits for the Selected Reserves will affect the force structure," Boozman said.  "I believe that Major General Wofford, the Adjutant General of the Arkansas National Guard had it right: there may be risk involved, but it is a risk he is willing to take, and I concur."