STRONG Act Tuition Reimbursement Program

Evidence Step: Outcomes

Department: Military

Priority Area: Workforce Development and Employment

Program Description

The Tennessee STRONG Act Program provides tuition reimbursement to education institutions within Tennessee on behalf of eligible members of the Tennessee National Guard. Service members may use this benefit to pursue associate degrees, undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, and certificates or diplomas at colleges of applied technology. Since its inception in 2018, over 2,000 National Guard service members have utilized this benefit.

Learn More on Program Website

Details

Program Demographic: Adults

Delivery Setting: School

Current Participants: 833

Outcomes

Number of enlistments in the Tennessee Army National Guard

2024: 1,036

2023: 959

2022: 973

Number of Tennessee National Guard member-recipients who achieved a degree

2024: 65

2023: 45

2022: 70

Rate of reenlistment in the Tennessee Army National Guard

2024: 71%

2023: 65%

2022: 61.6%

Outputs

Number of applicants for tuition reimbursement

2024: 1,178

2023: 1,311

2022: 920

Number of schools that receive STRONG reimbursement funds

2024: 33

2023: 34

2022: 50

Number of service members who applied for tuition reimbursement

2024: 833

2023: 661

2022: 661

Logic Model

If we provide tuition reimbursement to Tennessee institutions of higher education on behalf of eligible members of the Tennessee National Guard, then we will create incentives for eligible recruits to join the National Guard and for currently serving members to extend their enlistment, increase the percentage of service members who have a degree, increase service members’ potential for growth and advancement both in the National Guard and the civilian sector, and thereby create a stronger pool of applicants for all jobs in Tennessee.