LANSING, Mich. –
The first 10 years of service in the Michigan Army National Guard (MIARNG) has contributed to Sgt. Lettia Morgan’s continued education, as she pursued degrees in psychology first, and now nursing. The Michigan National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program (MINGSTAP) and Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) became Morgan’s sources of financial aid.
Morgan enlisted in the Michigan National Guard in 2011, joining the 464th
Quartermaster Company as a shower and laundry specialist, which entails shower operations, multi-thousand-gallon collapsible tank operations, and mobile repair operations of various pieces of equipment.
“Joining the MIARNG was one of the best choices I ever made,” said Morgan. “I needed college assistance and the MINGSTAP program and MGIB provided those benefits that I will always be thankful for.”
Morgan, born and raised in east Detroit is currently mobilized with Task Force Red Lion COVID-19 Vaccination Testing Team (CVTT) and serving the very community she has lived in.
“The MINGSTAP and MGIB have made it possible for me to afford my education while also allowing me to take on a mortgage for the home I am raising my son in,” said Morgan.
Morgan’s commitments go far and wide. Her number one priority is her son. She also attends classes at Davenport University in the nursing program while working full time as a talent acquisition manager recruiting for the automobile industry when not serving on active duty orders.
“I learned to juggle a heavy schedule from my mother who served in the U.S. Army and learned lessons in discipline from my years in the MIARNG,” Morgan said.
The National Guard can offer an array of benefits, from college assistance to providing life-long experiences.
The mobilization of Michigan National Guard members also offers additional educational benefits.
“I have now earned the Post-9/11 GI Bill that I will be able to transfer to my son for his college education,” said Morgan.
Since MINGSTAP started, it has been utilized by more than 6,000 Michigan Army and Air National Guard members. For the academic year (2019-2020), more than 1,600 Michigan National Guard members have used it. The MGIB provides up to 36 months of education benefits to eligible service members and veterans for programs such as college, business, technical, or vocational schools; apprenticeships; on-the-job training; correspondence courses; remedial, deficiency, and refresher training.
Building leadership skills has been Morgan’s highest priority as a Soldier.
“Sgt. Morgan has been a great team leader and I’ve appreciated her motivation,” said U.S. Army Pfc. Lorna Hoffman, a combat medic with the 1171st Medical Company Area Support Battalion, based in Ypsilanti, Michigan, currently serving with CVTT Task Force Red Lion. “She has truly been a mentor and helpful with directing me toward my education benefits.”
The National Guard is providing focus and direction to help set Morgan up for success.
“Several friends and family members have struggled financially getting themselves through college,” said Morgan. “With all of life’s struggles, college debt has not been one of them in my life.”
Individuals looking for more information about how service in the Michigan Army National Guard or Air National Guard can lead to opportunity and a life changing experience, contact: Michigan Army National Guard Recruiting at www.miarmyguard.com, 888-906-1636 or the Michigan Army National Guard app or Michigan Air National Guard recruiting, 1-800-432-4296 or Facebook at https://facebook.com/MIANGRecruiting/.