Guard Recruit Joins to Fund College Plans

St. Marie's Thomas Sebastian became the most recent recruit for the Montana Army National Guard in November of this year.

The GHS junior joined to be a 74D (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Specialist), a specialty Sebastian says he chose for the additional signing bonus and benefits.

Asked about his motivation for joining, Sebastian told the Courier, "Mainly, I didn't want to have loans after school." He plans to attend Montana State University Billings after graduation.

Both Sebastian's brother, Joel, and brother-in-law, Vuan Ellsworth, have served in the Guard, and his father, GHS math teacher Daniel Sebastian, served in the Air Force.

Asked about the benefits offered, SSG AJ Etherington mentioned the Montgomery GI bill, which pays a monthly stipend of $367 per month towards college costs and the State Scholarship which pays an additional $1200 a term towards college costs as well. Etherington added,

"We also have the Federal Tuition Assistance, which cannot be used until a year after completing training and has to be used before leaving the Guard." The latter program amounts to $250 per semester hour for up to 16 semester hours a fiscal year, or up to $4,000 a fiscal year. The benefits can be used at any accredited institution. For more information, Etherington can be contacted at (406) 890-4066.