Suspention Of Military Tuition Assistance

Every time I read the news there seems to be another promise broken to our veterans and active duty military members. This time it’s tuition assistance. The Army and Marine Corps have both suspended tuition assistance and the Air Force and Navy are reviewing their current programs. The reason they are giving for these cuts is the sequestration and budget restraints.

For those that are not familiar with tuition assistance, it is a program where the military pays tuition for active duty military members to take college classes. It is not like there is no payback to the military. The various branches get better educated members to support their mission. In these days of high tech weaponry and global reach politics, a well educated military is essential. Tuition assistance is also a great recruitment and retention tool.

When I joined the Air Force in 1979 and when my Son joined the Army in 2010, tuition assistance was one of the first things that came out of the recruiters mouth. Both of us and everyone else going into the military is promised free education while on active duty should they choose to pursue it. The military itself puts such a high emphasis on education, in many cases promotions are based on an individual members pursuit of education. Young military members who do not take collage classes do not get promoted.

I would like to say to all of our nation’s leaders, no matter your party affiliation, do not mess with the military and keep your promises. These young men and women lay their lives on the line keeping our nation safe and our way of life intact. They do all of this with low pay and broken promises despite the childish bickering of you, our leaders on Capitol Hill.