PNGAS advocates in Washington D.C. and Harrisburg to fight for our Guardsmen, Veterans, and Families. Find out how.
See the results we have achieved legislatively in Washington D.C. and Harrisburg.
All members are invited to submit resolutions. Resolutions inform our legislative teams and set our priorities for action.
PNGAS and the PNGF in conjunction with the Family Programs Office provide grants for PA NG members in need.
SSLI provides group term life insurance exclusively for NG members and their dependents.
Get information about the PNGAS Annual Conference and Military Tradeshow at VETCON 2025 - Presented by Comcast.
This hyperlink will take you to the exhibitor registration form, where you can register to exhibit at the PNGAS Annual Conference and Military Tradeshow at VETCON 2025. Alternatively, you can contact us at pngas@pngas.org for more information.
Join the Pennsylvania National Guard Association at the EANGUS 54th Annual Conference in Reno, NV, August 11-14, 2025, to connect with fellow Guard members, advocate for our future, and enjoy a week of professional growth and networking at the Grand Sierra Resort!
The NGAUS 147th General Conference & Exhibition is your opportunity to connect with National Guard leaders, advocate for our community, and engage in professional development. Join us in Milwaukee, WI, from August 22-25, 2025, for a week of impactful sessions, networking, and camaraderie under the theme "America's National Guard: Affordable, Accessible, Lethal."
PNGAS Guard-Friendly Schools
Developed by the PNGAS Education Advisory Council, the PNGAS Guard-Friendly School standards were designed to recognize colleges, universities, and trade schools that meet or exceed ten (10) baseline criteria that create a supportive learning environment to assist members of the Pennsylvania Guard pursuing post-secondary degrees.
The PNGAS Guard-Friendly School designation logo serves as a beacon and star-rating that promotes the institution to members and veterans of the Guard, their spouses and families, as well as to state leaders, high school and college counselors, citizens and prospective recruits of the Guard.
Guardsmen have unique responsibilities that active duty troops and reservists do not have, and this creates different challenges for them when pursuing a degree. These 50 schools have made a deliberate effort to be flexible, accommodating and supportive of Guardsmen-Students and deserving of recognition. The PNGAS Guard Friendly School designation is a win-win!
-Brigadier General (Retired) George Schwartz, former Chairman of the PNGAS Education Action Council.
For many years, the Education Assistance Program (“EAP”) has been the number #1 recruiting tool for the Pennsylvania National Guard. Since its inception, Pennsylvania has distributed more than $281 Million through the EAP so Guard members can get college, university and trade school degrees. The EAP provides a tuition benefit equivalent to the yearly tuition rate set by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) so that members of the Pennsylvania National Guard can attend one of 488 Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) approved schools. Presently, the EAP is an almost $32,000 tuition benefit for each Guardsman.
With the July 2019 enactment of the Military Family Education Program (MFEP), there is a now a non-lapsing fund providing EAP-like tuition benefits to spouses and children of members of the Pennsylvania National Guard when a Guardsman re-enlists for another 6-year term too. Next year, the MFEP will be an almost $32,000 tuition benefit for spouses and/or children of a Guard member that reenlists for 6-years.
In less than 3 years the EAP and MFEP could exceed $30 million a year in tuition benefits. As state and national emergencies and global warfare become increasingly sophisticated, technology-driven and complex, having a well-trained and educated Guard force is more strategic and valuable than ever.
In 2016, to help optimize taxpayer dollars and increase the positive impacts of the EAP program for Guard recruitment and retention, PNGAS started collecting and sharing best practices among K-12, colleges, universities, trade, certification and training schools. PNGAS discovered many examples of inflexible, intolerant and unfair practices against members of the Guard. PNGAS also found that few schools knew how many Guard members even attended their school or how much EAP funding they received on an annual basis. But, by promoting and championing best practices, dozens of schools began improving many aspects of their relationships with members of the Guard and Veterans.
To further their efforts, PNGAS formed the PNGAS Education Action Council (EAC) in 2018, chaired by Brigadier General (Retired) George Schwartz to jumpstart these initiatives. Very quickly the EAC had discussions to define and create an application for the designation of a PNGAS Guard Friendly School. For months, dozens of colleges, universities and trade schools gave edits, insights, commentary and suggestions of the definition and application process for a PNGAS Guard Friendly School designation. Released in April 2019, the PNGAS Guard Friendly School application, designation and logo were designed to showcase and promote the schools that meet and exceed the ten standards adopted by PNGAS.
We welcome all colleges, universities and trade schools to apply for the PNGAS Guard-Friendly Schools designation. The cost is FREE. To learn more contact PNGAS@PNGAS.org and to apply, complete the free online application.
2024-2025 PNGAS Guard-Friendly Schools:
- Kutztown University
- Lehigh Carbon Community College
- Millersville University
- Montgomery County Community College