Maj. Gen. Stephen Osborn, the adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard, re-upped his request to lawmakers for changes to the Iowa National Guard service scholarship to include more non-traditional higher education paths.
Osborn gave the Condition of the Guard address Thursday. In his 2024 speech, Osborn called for an expansion of the Iowa National Guard service scholarship (INGSS) to include more options for education outside of four-year, undergraduate degree programs, allowing financial assistance for credentialing and certification programs.
He repeated that request in his Wednesday speech, asking the Legislature to allow the National Guard to “modernize and improve on the most utilized state benefit afforded to our service members.”
“We are seeking flexibility for our evolving workforce as we work with the Iowa Department of Education to expand INGSS beyond undergraduate degree programs and include certificate and credentialing programs at accredited state institutions,” Osborn said.
As part of this expansion, he said service members seeking financial education assistance would be required to apply first for military federal tuition assistance before state tuition assistance would be used. According to the Iowa National Guard 2023 annual report, nearly 1,000 service members utilized the scholarship program with payments costing nearly $6.5 million in total.
Request for school absentee exception for military service
The adjutant general also requested lawmakers add an exception to the state’s chronic absenteeism law that went into effect July 1 that defines “chronic absenteeism” as missing 10% of school days during a specified grading period or more, requiring schools to notify the county attorney and send a latter to the student’s parent or guardian. Truancy is defined as 20% or more days missed in a grading period.
Adding an exception to the law for military applicants and those enlisted would allow these students to fulfill their duty “without being penalized academically,” he said.
“We ask for your support of this provision to help our high school military applicants and recruits seamlessly enter the military and begin their service,” Osborn said.
Modernization projects underway
As 2025 begins, the top Iowa National Guard official said the “modernization of our military” was a goal for the organization as they prepare for future security threats. Many of those modernization efforts are already underway, Osborn said, pointing to several new facilities and infrastructure projects set to be completed in the upcoming year.
In May, he said the Iowa National Guard plans to open its West Des Moines Readiness Center, a $24 million facility financed through state and federal dollars that will serve both the national guard and the West Des Moines Fire Department. The state National Guard also plans to begin construction on a new Army National Guard maintenance facility in Sioux. City, a $14 million federally funded project, and plans to complete the design of a $95 million federally funded replacement runway in Sioux City.
“We continue to work with our Siouxland partners, elected leaders and National Guard bureau for funding this critical military construction project,” Osborn said. “These investments will modernize both Army and Air National Guard facilities and allow for continued mission execution and expanded growth into the future, a future that is both volatile and uncertain as we space an evolving set of complex threats.”
Osborn’s was the final speech marking the first week of the 2025 session following Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Condition of the State and Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen’s Condition of the Judiciary in the days prior.
It was Osborn’s second time addressing the Iowa Legislature as adjutant general, taking the role in February 2023 after Maj. Gen. Benjamin Corell’s retirement. In 2024, the Iowa National Guard was deployed in missions ranging from support for Texas’ “Operation Lone Star” along the U.S. southern border in April and support for North Carolina’s Hurricane Helene relief efforts in September. National guard solders and airmen also deployed to help with Gov. Reynolds’ response efforts in north central and northwest Iowa following severe flooding in June, performing services like search and rescue operations, high water transportation and debris removal.
“Our service members have met every challenge with excellence and a steadfast commitment to serve and protect the people of Iowa and our great nation,” Osborn said.
