New college benefit for Calif. Guard p1 - Military - College News and Information - Military Times EDGE

Certain members of the California National Guard will become eligible for college financial assistance under the new California National Education Assistance Program, which is intended to encourage retention. Maj. Gen. William H. Wade, the California Guard’s adjutant general, will choose which high-demand specialties to make the new benefit available to, according to officials.

The award will be available to 1,000 eligible service members a year for up to $3.6 million in the 2010 fiscal year. Eligible members must have been members of California National Guard — or the California State Military Reserve or California Naval Militia — for at least two years; be accepted to, registered for or enrolled in one of California’s state community colleges or public universities; and be taking at least three academic units, the equivalent of one traditional college course.

Now that the law authorizing the program is passed, officials will write regulations and create a formal application process. The program kicks off Jan. 1, 2010.