Senators Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven announced the National Guard Bureau has selected North Dakota as one of 14 states to participate in a pilot program providing college tuition assistance to members of the state’s Air National Guard.

The Air National Guard expects the Federal Tuition Assistance pilot program will begin in late 2020.

Cramer is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Hoeven is a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee.

“Tuition assistance is a critical part of the benefits we provide to active duty military personnel, and it should be provided to the members of our Guard as well,” said Hoeven. “I’ve been working hard to establish an Air National Guard benefit program, and I’m very pleased that North Dakota will be included in the initial stages of the new program.”

“Tuition assistance is an excellent recruitment tool,” said Cramer. “Being able to offer some of the same benefits as others is only fair, and I applaud the Air National Guard for advancing these efforts. With a growing economy across the country and a booming economy in North Dakota, this move represents an important step toward helping the Guard compete for new members.