A 21st Century GI Bill
Free community college is not the answer, but a GI bill tied to national service and jobs in demand could be.
Since 1944, the GI Bill has helped qualifying veterans to defray some or all of the costs for school or training. It is considered by some to be one of the most transformative pieces of legislation passed. It does not presuppose whether someone will pursue community college, trade school or university, or whether the funding provided will cover tuition entirely or in part. It gives individuals the flexibility and choice to plan their own future. Those are aspects worth emulating.
Imagine a new GI Bill that extends to an array of national service options. National service could include not only military service, but options to serve in the Peace Corps, Teach for America, a revived Civilian Conservation Corps or Public Works Program, or new partnerships with groups like Doctors Without Borders.
The national service corps would be the greatest jobs program in American history, boosting the economy exponentially. It would give skills, experience, and opportunity to young adults. It could identify full career paths. In return, the U.S. would get help on some of the most pressing needs today — health care, climate pollution, infrastructure, education and security.
The GI Bill could also offer additional incentives to participants after their service commitment who choose training or education in fields that are in high demand and short supply, such as nurses and medical professionals, data analysts, plumbers and electricians, software engineers, cybersecurity experts, new energy technicians, AI experts, and veterinarians, among others. Normal market forces have not produced sufficient skilled workers for high-demand jobs in the current economy. The GI bill should continually update the list of priority training and education to mirror demand.
The national service corps would also provide another significant benefit. We are a nation divided. We cannot hear each other through the din of cable and social media that are making us angrier with every click. National service is one way to bring Americans together for a common purpose. Let’s rebuild America better not just by providing opportunities for training and education, but by bringing Americans together to tackle the most important problems facing our nation today.
