Recognizing the Contributions of National Guard and Reserves
March 6, 2007
By Rep. Stephanie Herseth

In South Dakota, we know well the enormous contribution and sacrifice of National Guard and Reserve units from communities across the state. These brave soldiers continue to support military missions in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere around the world. Unfortunately, although these servicemen and women are being called to duty and mobilized for an average of 18 months, their educational benefits do not reflect their increased service to our nation. When the Montgomery G.I. Bill was signed into law in 1984, servicemembers of the Guard and Reserve were rarely mobilized, and that simply is not the reality today.

While National Guard and Reserve servicemembers work side-by-side with their Active Duty counterparts in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is a disparity when they return home from duty. Under the Montgomery G.I. Bill, educational benefits for the Guard and Reserve have dropped from 48% parity to 29% parity. As chairwoman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, I believe we need to do more to ensure equitable and appropriate recognition of their service when they return.

Recently, I joined a bipartisan group of colleagues to introduce the Total Force Montgomery G.I. Bill, which would modernize the Montgomery G.I. Bill by ensuring adequate and equitable military benefits for the Guard and Reserve components of our Armed Forces. This bill better reflects a comprehensive “total force” concept that ensures members of the National Guard and Reserve receive benefits that match their increased service to the nation.

Specifically, the bill enables National Guard members and Reservists who serve on active duty for at least 90 days to receive a month-for-month Montgomery G.I. Bill benefit for up to 36 months. For example, if a Reservist serves 18 months on Active Duty, he or she would get 18 months of benefits from the Montgomery G.I. Bill at the Active Duty rate, and could use the benefits for 10 years after leaving the service. Currently, the law does not allow Reservists or National Guard members from accessing their educational benefits once they leave the service; the new 10 year limit mirrors the benefit now received by Active Duty servicemembers.

Despite the increased military needs due to ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the administration has not proposed necessary improvements to the Montgomery G.I. Bill. As a result, its value is declining as a recruitment aid and as a readjustment tool for those returning to civilian life. As the nation asks more from our servicemembers, so too should they expect more in return.

In South Dakota and across the nation, National Guard and Reserve units have served with honor and distinction. This bill will better reflect the reality of today’s military and ensure that the enormous contribution and sacrifice of Guard and Reserve servicemembers are more equitably recognized.