UP Gazette

Lake Superior State University issued the following announcement on July 11.

Lake Superior State University and the Michigan Army and Air National Guard Renew Tuition Agreement

Lake Superior State University and the Michigan Army and Air National Guard celebrate their continued partnership. This partnership encourages active drilling members to seek degrees at LSSU. Essentially, the program takes the stipend active duty members receive through the National Guard Federal Tuition Assistance program, which is intended to partially cover the costs of taking college courses, and accepts that stipend as full payment for tuition.

When LSSU’s President, Dr. Rodney Hanley, was in the Illinois Army National Guard, he took advantage of a similar program at Eastern Illinois University. “When I was a member of the Illinois Army National Guard, I utilized a program such as this, and it not only fostered my appreciation for higher education, but opened my eyes to the limitless opportunities that a degree could offer me,” President Rodney S. Hanley stated. “I finished my bachelor’s, and then went on to obtain two master’s, and doctorate degree as well. I hope that our continued partnership with the Michigan Army and Air National Guard will inspire the next generation of leaders to achieve their higher educational goals.”

LSSU has a tradition of being a military-friendly institution. In fact, when it was established in 1946, it was to address the needs of returning World War II veterans, and to provide educational opportunities to the people of the Eastern Upper Peninsula. Thus this agreement, along with others like it, are a natural fit for the University.

“The 10th annual Memorandum of Agreement between the Michigan National Guard and Lake Superior State University represents the continuation of a tremendous opportunity for members of the Michigan National Guard,” said Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, Adjutant General and Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “The support of President Hanley and Lake Superior State University increases access to education for the men and women of the Michigan National Guard; their partnership is one of the many reasons Michigan stands as an ideal place for veterans and service members to live, work, and raise a family.”

The Michigan National Guard consists of the Michigan Army National Guard and the Michigan Air National Guard. The Michigan Army National Guard has more than 8,000 Soldiers serving in units located from Ironwood and Sault Ste. Marie to Sturgis and Monroe and they operate two premier training facilities at Camp Grayling and Fort Custer, near Battle Creek. The Michigan Air National Guard has nearly 2,400 Airmen serving in Mt. Clemens at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base, the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, Alpena Combat Training Facility, and in Lansing at the Joint Forces Headquarters.

The National Guard is the only military service with a unique dual mission that consists of both state and federal roles. For state missions, the Governor can call the National Guard into action during local or statewide emergencies, such as storms, fires, or civil disturbances. In addition, the President of the United States can activate the National Guard for participation in federal overseas missions for both peacekeeping and combat operations.

Original source can be found here.