Arkansas National Guard Signs Agreement With UA Cossatot
The agreement establishes an ROTC-style collaboration to increase student awareness of Arkansas National Guard service and benefits as well as streamlining the National Guard Tuition Waiver program for any Guardsmen studying on the De Queen, Arkansas campus.
“The hope for this program is get the information out there to everybody, all the students in the community,” said Staff Sgt. Alexis Veliz, the Arkansas Army National Guard recruiter who will be coordinating events from the campus office.
The MOA with UA Cossatot is the third agreement the Arkansas National Guard has signed following the Arkansas State University system, and Black River Technical College, and it is the first agreement signed with the University of Arkansas system.
Veliz will organize initially two events a month from her office on the campus of UA Cossatot that meet the focus of the MOA to provide an ROTC-style experience, open to all students, that teaches leadership, physical fitness, and awareness of the Arkansas National Guard.
“To know what options are available to them [through the Arkansas National Guard], because a lot of the time they don't know.” Explained Veliz. “And, if they if they know, then they have this other door open that they can also walk through. My mission is to provide [students] with all the information about the benefits of the Arkansas National Guard and what we offer, so they can make the decision that best suits their lives.”
The program also provides guest lecturers and advisors for courses in fields related to military occupational specialties. Veliz will also assist in streamlining the National Guard Tuition Waiver process for students already serving in the Arkansas National Guard.
“I just think that this is a wonderful, wonderful thing, and kind of historic,” said Dr. Steve Cole, chancellor of the University of Arkansas Cossatot. “We’ve been trying for this for many years. We just think that it’s good for the college. And, we think that it's good for our students to be able to see that there are some extremely wonderful benefits of [serving in the National Guard].”
The new partnership will build on the ties the community already has with the National Guard armory in De Queen, Arkansas by providing a career resource office on the UA Cossatot campus, and offering courses in leadership and mentorship, as well as supporting students with resources such as tuition assistance, scholarship guidance, and academic credit opportunities for military training.
“I feel like this is a testament to the commitment that you make to all of your students,” said Brig. Gen. Michael Henderson, director of joint staff, Arkansas National Guard to Dr. Cole and the gathering of students, faculty, and state representatives at the UA Cossatot amphitheater. “We share your passion for the development of young people. We are strong believers that ‘the engine’ for the state of Arkansas in terms of supporting Governor Sanders’ initiatives to prepare our young people through education, enlistment and employment for the future can be the Arkansas National Guard.
“It’s an investment in the future of the young people and the prosperity of Arkansans, and we're just so excited to have the opportunity to be here on your campus and partner with you to make lives better for the young people of Arkansas.
“We want to keep them here in Arkansas, so that Arkansas continues to thrive and grow and develop. And the best way to do that, in our opinion, is through the Arkansas National Guard.”
(U.S. Army National Guard story by 1st Sgt. Jim Heuston)
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