Indiana National Guard hopes legislation can staunch enlistment losses

(Indiana National Guard photo)

Indiana’s National Guard has “never been more ready,” per Adjutant General Larry Muennich.

Citizen-soldiers have deployed during recent storms, to the U.S.-Mexico border and to the Middle East. But the guard has also struggled.

The force recorded a whopping 38% decline in enlistments from 2019 to 2023, Muennich told a Senate panel on Tuesday. And 77% of Hoosier youth aren’t qualified for service, whether because of education levels, medical standards, criminal history or other reasons.

“While there are signs of a modest recovery this year, our ability to attract the next generation of talent remains a significant challenge,” Muennich said. “This bill will help address our challenges.”

The Indiana Army and Air National Guard’s volunteer force is about 12,000 strong, according to Muennich. Members have dual roles: both Indiana’s governor and the U.S. president can call them into active duty for emergency help.

House Bill 1111 would add soldiers on state active duty to the definition of a state employee for death benefit and worker’s compensation laws.

It would increase the payout cap on reasonable funeral expenses to $20,000 from $8,800 and delete detailed, guard-specific processes for injury claims. A fiscal analysis said those claims are already paid from worker’s compensation funds, so the simplifications wouldn’t add costs.

Additionally, the legislation would let the adjutant general procure health insurance for members ordered to state active duty. Current law only lets the officeholder provide allowances to cover insurance premiums, according to the fiscal analysis.

“This bill helps protect soldiers and airmen who are often in harm’s way during state active duty,” Muennich told lawmakers.

Other provisions would benefit student-soldiers.

High-schooler Leonardo Martinez wanted to be the first from his immigrant family to serve his new country — and chose Indiana’s National Guard for its educational perks.

The 18-year-old, who called himself a “proud” member of the guard, told lawmakers that his friends were more reluctant to join. He said members may struggle to balance guard service and officer training with school and work — and to afford to do it all.

“I feel like this would help us reach those Hoosiers,” Martinez said.

Guard members who are 21st Century Scholars would win in House Bill 1111. That state program covers tuition to Indiana colleges for foster children and low-income Hoosiers who meet academic requirements. Lawmakers recently allowed the program to auto-enroll eligible students, but before that, they had to sign up as middle-schoolers.

Under the proposal, scholars would be able to use guard grants to pay up to $5,000 for room and board, plus other approved expenses, for two years. That could increase or shift expenditures by $250,000 in the first year and $500,000 annually, at full utilization, according to the fiscal analysis.

Martinez said that’s a “great” idea.

But he asked lawmakers to consider expanding the provision further. He said he was unaware of the 21st Century program as a middle-schooler. His mother, meanwhile, didn’t understand how to navigate the website and application process because of a “language barrier.”

The legislation also would let members apply for guard tuition supplement scholarships and use the awards on credentialing programs, apprenticeships and more for “in demand occupations” determined by the adjutant general and Department of Workforce Development. The fiscal analysis said that could increase or shift scholarship expenditures by up to $400,000 annually.

The panel advanced the bill on a unanimous, 7-0 vote. It next heads to the Senate floor.

Indiana Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Indiana Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Niki Kelly for questions: [email protected].