Bill Would Extend Scholarships Currently Only In-State Residents Eligible For National Guard Education Funds

As education becomes more important for advancement in the military, Spokane-area National Guard members are pushing for increased access to college scholarships.

The Senate Committee on Higher Education passed a House-approved bill Friday that would extend National Guard Scholarship Program money to soldiers from other states who wish to attend Washington schools. Currently, only Washington Army National Guard members who are state residents can apply for portions of the $150,000 fund.

Rep. Lynn Schindler, R-Spokane, the bill’s sponsor, said the proposal came out of concerns from soldiers who serve in the linguistics department of a military intelligence battalion in Spokane.

About 25 of the battalion’s 100 soldiers come from Idaho, Montana and Oregon to participate in foreign language interpretation and translation services.

Sgt. 1st Class Ken Circle said the battalion has to look to other states to find language experts because they are few and far between.

Circle said Schindler’s bill would bring fairness to out-of-state soldiers who serve the state in every capacity Washington soldiers do.

“This is a tremendous retention and recruiting issue, especially with national linguists,” Circle said.

The bill would benefit more than just linguistics soldiers, said Col. Rick Read, who serves in the Spokane area.

He said several National Guard units near the Idaho border recruit soldiers from North Idaho for Spokane-area emergencies such as forest fires.

Maj. Carol Seger, administrator for the scholarship program, said several soldiers would like to continue their college educations. “I think that the level of interest for education is very high in the National Guard,” Seger said.

College degrees are often necessary for advancement to higher-paying positions. “The old days of, `We’re going to jail or we’re going to the army’ are over,” Circle said.

Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Higher Education, said her committee overwhelmingly supported Schindler’s bill. “I believe a very good case was made by (Circle) … especially in the linguistics department,” she said.

The bill now awaits a spot on the Senate calendar.

Upon the bill’s approval, enlisted soldiers and officers below the rank of captain would continue to be the only eligible applicants for scholarship, and recipients would still have to serve an additional year in the National Guard for each year they spend in school. They may only use the scholarship to attend Washington schools. Under the program, students receive scholarships for up to a year’s tuition, plus an allowance for books and supplies.