The Pennsylvania "GI Bill" signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf in 2019 provides ten semesters of ... [+]
During a visit Tuesday to the campus of Pennsylvania State University where he was joined by Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi, Governor Tom Wolf praised the success of Pennsylvania’s innovative “GI Bill,” more formally known as the Military Family Education Program (MFEP).
Under the provisions of House Bill 1324, which became law on July 1, 2019, the spouses and children of Pennsylvania National Guard members can attend college in Pennsylvania for free or at reduced cost. (Pennsylvania’s National Guard members are also eligible for the Education Assistance Program that, with their initial service obligation of six years, gives them a non-transferable educational benefit.)
Here’s how MFEP works. Pennsylvania National Guard members who commit to an additional six years of service receive five years (ten semesters) of tuition-free higher education that they can assign to their family members. The benefit must be used at a Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency approved educational institution, and at the tuition rate set by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
This year’s base tuition for in-state undergraduate students at the System's universities is $7,716, the same rate as for the last three years.
Although many states provide generous tuition benefits to their National Guard members, Pennsylvania became the first state in the nation to offer a program of this kind when Wolf signed it into law in 2019. Since the program began, 2,879 Pennsylvania Army and Air Guard members have enrolled, registering 3,357 of their dependents to participate.
Guard members’ spouses are eligible to use the educational benefit immediately, and they have up to six years after the service member separates from the Guard to use it. Children can use the assigned MFEP benefit anytime before they reach 26 years of age.
MFEP grants can be used for a degree-granting or certificate-granting curriculum 0r for training programs required for specific careers. An eligible guard member can assign the entire benefit to one dependent or allocate portions of the benefit to more than one dependent.
Pennsylvania Guard members can even extend the MFEP benefit to future dependents. If a member completes both his or her initial and subsequent 6 year service obligation and is later separated under honorable conditions, the member will be issued a certificate of eligibility that can be used for the future dependents.
“The PA National Guard is one of the largest, hardest working national guards in the nation. Whether it is foreign or domestic – peacekeeping missions or a pandemic – these dedicated service members never fail when it comes to serving our commonwealth and this nation,” said Wolf. “The backbone of the Pennsylvania National Guard is their families. It was imperative that Pennsylvania reward these soldiers and airmen by securing the future of their spouses and children, adding to a better quality of life for everyone.”
The bill won unanimous support from Pennsylvania’s legislators. “The Pennsylvania GI Bill is the kind of legislation that made me want to serve in the Senate,” said state Senator Lindsey Williams (D, 38th senatorial district) in Wolf’s news release. “I’ve heard from National Guard Members who have taken advantage of this program over the last few years and this educational investment is helping their families achieve their dreams. I’m so proud to have been the prime co-sponsor of the legislation that created the Pennsylvania GI Bill and I cannot wait to see the legacy of amazing work that these students create come to life.”
“Two years ago, the legislature worked together in a bipartisan effort to pass the PA GI Bill, part of our commitment to the men and women who serve in the Pa National Guard,” added state Rep. Scott Conklin (D, 77th district). “The federal GI Bill has produced generations of leaders, including three presidents. Over time I believe we will see similar benefits with our state program – which will not only help our veterans get the education they need, but also in that the investments we make today in them will produce the leaders our state needs tomorrow. This is a wonderful program, and I am proud to have supported it.”
Will other states follow Pennsylvania’s lead and enact similar programs? One would think so. With all branches of the military - including the National Guard - now struggling to meet their recruitment goals, an enhancement of incentives, like family higher education benefits, may be a necessary and increasingly useful strategy, just as it has been in the private sector.
