J-1 PERSONNEL
Lieutenant Colonel Ellis Hopkins
augmentees. The directorate also supports area service members (Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen) and Families with over 2100+ ID identification and retiree ID Cards and retirement or veteran’s benefits. During this year, the directorate also serviced Rhode Island’s Congressional Delegation with eight Congressional Inquiries on medical services and military awards as well as conducting five military Retirement Briefings; and 200 Line of Duty Investigations. EDUCATIONAL SERVICES OFFICE Rhode Island Army National Guard Soldiers enjoy many educational benefits in connection with their service to the State and Nation. STATE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (STAP) In accordance with state law, Soldiers’ tuition may be waived at one of three Rhode Island state college for up to five classes each semester, to be used towards an associates, bachelors or masters degree. Service members must be in good standing to receive this incentive. Approximately 468 waivers were processed. EDUCATION ASSISTANCE Rhode Island National Guard Soldiers are eligible to receive up to $4500 per fiscal year of federal tuition assistance (FTA) to use towards an associates, bachelors and masters degree. Ninetyseven Soldiers utilized FTA through GoArmyEd at over 27 different institutions across the country, including Rhode Island institutions. In addition, many service members returning from
deployments are taking advantage of transferring Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to their dependents. Eighty-six Soldiers transferred their GI Bill benefits to dependents. Service members can also take advantage of educational benefits such as reimbursable testing for CLEP, GRE, GMAT and licensing and certification exams. The Education Office also administers a number of tests such as Armed Forces Classification Testing, Defense Language Proficiency Tests and instrument flight testing available to all Rhode Island service members and sister services as well. INCENTIVES Soldiers are eligible for a number of incentives to include enlistment, retention, health, officer bonuses and student loan repayment incentives. Approximately 33 Soldiers received payments under the Student Loan Repayment Program, for a total of $82,985 (134 payments). Bonus payments were made to 101 Soldiers at the tune of $615,000. TRANSITION ASSISTANCE ADVISOR The Transition Assistance Advisor (TAA) serves as a state-wide point of contact and coordinator for easy access to benefits and services provided by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). The TAA provided this support not only to members of the Rhode Island National Guard, but to all service members, both active and reserve, and to all Veterans, Military Retirees, and their Families. During 2013, TAA supported 401 Veterans with their claims, including accessing VA healthcare facilities, obtaining services through the Military Health System, and
2013 Annual Report
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